TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GRAND PRAIRIE BULLETIN JULY 4, 1918 P. 7
Somewhere in France
June 10, 1918.
Dear Father:
Received a letter from you a few days ago and was sure glad to hear from you.
I am fine and dandy, and getting along fine. Am still seeing the sights of France. I have sure seen some historical things since I’ve been here. I have been to Paris and most of the largest towns. France is a very beautiful country. Nearly all the land is farmed and they seem to have very good crops, and fine roads all over the country. Grain and grapes are the leading crops they grow, and believe me, they sure have lots of grapes. You know the French like their wine; they drink wine with their meals, as we do coffee or water. Well, I have learned to speak a little French, so I have to drink a little wine. But the wine isn’t like what we have in the states; it is sour, and it takes too much of it to get a kick out of, but the rum isn’t that way. Well, you would be surprised to see the boys taking their drinks, and not see any more drunks than what there are. It is very seldom you see a drunken soldier; now and then you might run across one that is talking kinda loud, but they seem to know about when they have enough.
And you down in Tennessee again. Well, how do you like it there now? The South didn’t look good when I went through it last winter. Don’t think I would like to stay here, either. Don’t blame you for not staying there.
Well, if I ever get back, which I intend to do, I’m going back to the state of Washington.
Well, dad, I have been in an air raid already. It was at night, and when the heaviest part of it took place, my knees didn’t even shake; it didn’t put any fear in me. I called it a pretty nice scene. They made it so hot for the Bosch that they had to retreat. Well, I am anxious to get to make a trip to the front, and I think I will get to before long.
I am at my job now, am driving, have been driving both trucks and cars, so you see at this job I get to see the country.
Dad, I am glad you sent the letter Fred wrote. I’ll take care of it, and the first time I hear from Billie, I’ll send it to him. I know he will be as glad as I was to get it. It was a pretty good letter, and besides, I learned his address. I’ll have to write to him now.
Well, dad, guess you have been reading about the big gun that is trying to destroy Paris; well, you had ought to hear it roar. I have heard it several times. They will wish they had a million of them befor they get through. That’s the way I fill about it.
Well, dad, this is about all I have to write, so guess I’ll have to quit. Answer soon, and give my best regards to all the people, and tell them to write, not to wait for me to write. It takes a letter a long time to get here, so write often, and I’ll do the same.
With my best ofwishes,
Your son,
Homer S. Ford,
803rd Aero. Repair Sqd.
American Eqp. Force.
NOTES: Homer Sydney Ford was born in Trenton, Tennessee on August 27, 1894 and died on February 2, 1967. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg, Washington. His military headstone identifies him as a Washington soldier serving as a Corp. in the 803 Aero Squadron. He was living in Stuttgart, Arkansas at the time of his enlistment. He departed from Brest, France on June 5, 1919 onboard the Leviathan and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on June 12, 1919. He was discharged on June 28, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France
June 10, 1918.
Dear Father:
Received a letter from you a few days ago and was sure glad to hear from you.
I am fine and dandy, and getting along fine. Am still seeing the sights of France. I have sure seen some historical things since I’ve been here. I have been to Paris and most of the largest towns. France is a very beautiful country. Nearly all the land is farmed and they seem to have very good crops, and fine roads all over the country. Grain and grapes are the leading crops they grow, and believe me, they sure have lots of grapes. You know the French like their wine; they drink wine with their meals, as we do coffee or water. Well, I have learned to speak a little French, so I have to drink a little wine. But the wine isn’t like what we have in the states; it is sour, and it takes too much of it to get a kick out of, but the rum isn’t that way. Well, you would be surprised to see the boys taking their drinks, and not see any more drunks than what there are. It is very seldom you see a drunken soldier; now and then you might run across one that is talking kinda loud, but they seem to know about when they have enough.
And you down in Tennessee again. Well, how do you like it there now? The South didn’t look good when I went through it last winter. Don’t think I would like to stay here, either. Don’t blame you for not staying there.
Well, if I ever get back, which I intend to do, I’m going back to the state of Washington.
Well, dad, I have been in an air raid already. It was at night, and when the heaviest part of it took place, my knees didn’t even shake; it didn’t put any fear in me. I called it a pretty nice scene. They made it so hot for the Bosch that they had to retreat. Well, I am anxious to get to make a trip to the front, and I think I will get to before long.
I am at my job now, am driving, have been driving both trucks and cars, so you see at this job I get to see the country.
Dad, I am glad you sent the letter Fred wrote. I’ll take care of it, and the first time I hear from Billie, I’ll send it to him. I know he will be as glad as I was to get it. It was a pretty good letter, and besides, I learned his address. I’ll have to write to him now.
Well, dad, guess you have been reading about the big gun that is trying to destroy Paris; well, you had ought to hear it roar. I have heard it several times. They will wish they had a million of them befor they get through. That’s the way I fill about it.
Well, dad, this is about all I have to write, so guess I’ll have to quit. Answer soon, and give my best regards to all the people, and tell them to write, not to wait for me to write. It takes a letter a long time to get here, so write often, and I’ll do the same.
With my best ofwishes,
Your son,
Homer S. Ford,
803rd Aero. Repair Sqd.
American Eqp. Force.
NOTES: Homer Sydney Ford was born in Trenton, Tennessee on August 27, 1894 and died on February 2, 1967. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg, Washington. His military headstone identifies him as a Washington soldier serving as a Corp. in the 803 Aero Squadron. He was living in Stuttgart, Arkansas at the time of his enlistment. He departed from Brest, France on June 5, 1919 onboard the Leviathan and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on June 12, 1919. He was discharged on June 28, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS