TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LONOKE DEMOCRAT AUGUST 15, 1918 P. 1
June 14
I’m “Somewhere in France” at last and so glad to be here. While I’ve had many long waits in the states, yet I cannot kick, for now everything seems to be coming at once, and I feel sure that we’ll be in the thick of it real soon. I am tired out, having been on the march for several days, but am now in a rest camp, and will catch up on my sleep and get a hot bath occasionally. I’m in comfortable quarters and the food is good, plain but wholesome. Have lost weight on account of the excessive exercise, but will soon regain it. Feel fine.
June 14
Just a line. Heavy guns were going all last night. Have one soldier patient, gunshot wound of the abdomen, yesterday, but practically nothing today. Will go to the trenches in a few days. Am billeted in a pretty village and even have a bed. Don’t worry about me for I am doing fine.
June 25
It’s pretty lonely away up here without my folks, but there is enough excitement to keep my mind occupied. A German plane was over us all the morning. Our guns shelled it, but could only drive it up. I go into the front line tomorrow with my battalion, where I will remain for ten days or two weeks. I am getting along and feel fine. Don’t worry about me.
June 28
After a difficult climb, I am established in a dugout on top of a mountain with ten Medical Corps Men and am ready for business. We have a wide view of the surrounding country and judging from the number of shells passing over us, the Boches must have an equally good view. I had a strenuous day yesterday getting my medical supplies up here. I feel fine today. I will spend the afternoon visiting my front line dressing station. My dugout has two low ceiling rooms, which are bomb proof. I have a bunk which is springless but I am glad to hit it at bed time. As most of the action is at night I try to sleep a little during the day. There are very big rats here and they do not hesitate to use me as a passage way. The shelves in my room are filled with the arms and uniforms of wounded, dead or captured French soldiers. I have to treat both French and Americans. I am eating with the French officers who have good meals served. I am feeling fine and like the work. Don’t worry about me.
July 1
While I’ve an ever present longing for home and loved ones, yet I feel that I’ve no reason to complain, as I am in good health and getting plenty of good food. A few letters from home would help a lot. In spite of the misfortune which continually arises, I must say that the great adventure is quite interesting, there being very little monotony
At present we are with the French troops, who are (the officers) very nice people and quite interesting. The French Doctor, who is about three kilometers from here, is always quite willing to come up and help me out in an emergency. My dugout, while poorly ventelated and full of rats is dry and practically gas proff, so I can sleep without much fear of being unable to don my gas mask in time. The socks you gave me have proven a great help already and I know they will be doubly so when the winter days come. Ordinarily we are too much on the go to think of fire. When we get a few hours of rest, we are under our blankets of which I have been able to hold on to four so far. I will have to discard my cot and mattress when I leave here. They will make too much weight for the wagon. I will hold on to my warm clothing, steel hat, gas mask, toilet articles and warm under clothing and socks. I can get along nicely. I have about twenty Medical Corps men in my command, distributed so that they are so they can administer first aid and get the wounded to my central station without any unnecessary delay. I am in excellent health.
July 4
After an all night ride in trucks, we are now back of the front lines. I am comfortably billeted in the priest’s house and while there are no priests here at present yet there are many reminders in the form of Rosaries and crucifixes. I am now definitely assigned as surgeon of the Sixtieth Infantry and am glad to say that they have a very amiable bunch of officers. It is certainly a pleasure to discard temporarily, my steel hat and gas mask, without fear of bombardment. I am feeling fine and in good physical condition. I am eating at the battalion headquarters mess and if anything, our mess is better than in America. I have a sumptious appetite and if I did not take lots of exercise I would soon develop a waist line. Had my first experience darning socks today and believe my job would pass mothers inspection. Maybe a slight bomb now and then, but no so bad after all.
July 7
The village church bells are ringing and all the people are flocking to church in their Sunday best. After about two weeks training here, we expect to go up to a very active sector, where there will be plenty to do. I am feeling fine and having a good rest, preparatory to another session with the Huns.
July 8
Just received your letter of the thirteenth of May, and three letters from Vera, the latest June 7th. I was certainly glad to get some news from home. I felt shut off from you all but I now feel better. Here, all young men are in the army, and only the old men and women and children are left to do the farm work, but they plod along in wooden shoes or “sabats” as they call them and accomplish a great deal. Much love to all including my neighbors and Friends.
George B. Fletcher
NOTES: Extracts of letters from Lieut. George Fletcher of the Medical Corps to his Mother and Father from Somewhere in France.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
June 14
I’m “Somewhere in France” at last and so glad to be here. While I’ve had many long waits in the states, yet I cannot kick, for now everything seems to be coming at once, and I feel sure that we’ll be in the thick of it real soon. I am tired out, having been on the march for several days, but am now in a rest camp, and will catch up on my sleep and get a hot bath occasionally. I’m in comfortable quarters and the food is good, plain but wholesome. Have lost weight on account of the excessive exercise, but will soon regain it. Feel fine.
June 14
Just a line. Heavy guns were going all last night. Have one soldier patient, gunshot wound of the abdomen, yesterday, but practically nothing today. Will go to the trenches in a few days. Am billeted in a pretty village and even have a bed. Don’t worry about me for I am doing fine.
June 25
It’s pretty lonely away up here without my folks, but there is enough excitement to keep my mind occupied. A German plane was over us all the morning. Our guns shelled it, but could only drive it up. I go into the front line tomorrow with my battalion, where I will remain for ten days or two weeks. I am getting along and feel fine. Don’t worry about me.
June 28
After a difficult climb, I am established in a dugout on top of a mountain with ten Medical Corps Men and am ready for business. We have a wide view of the surrounding country and judging from the number of shells passing over us, the Boches must have an equally good view. I had a strenuous day yesterday getting my medical supplies up here. I feel fine today. I will spend the afternoon visiting my front line dressing station. My dugout has two low ceiling rooms, which are bomb proof. I have a bunk which is springless but I am glad to hit it at bed time. As most of the action is at night I try to sleep a little during the day. There are very big rats here and they do not hesitate to use me as a passage way. The shelves in my room are filled with the arms and uniforms of wounded, dead or captured French soldiers. I have to treat both French and Americans. I am eating with the French officers who have good meals served. I am feeling fine and like the work. Don’t worry about me.
July 1
While I’ve an ever present longing for home and loved ones, yet I feel that I’ve no reason to complain, as I am in good health and getting plenty of good food. A few letters from home would help a lot. In spite of the misfortune which continually arises, I must say that the great adventure is quite interesting, there being very little monotony
At present we are with the French troops, who are (the officers) very nice people and quite interesting. The French Doctor, who is about three kilometers from here, is always quite willing to come up and help me out in an emergency. My dugout, while poorly ventelated and full of rats is dry and practically gas proff, so I can sleep without much fear of being unable to don my gas mask in time. The socks you gave me have proven a great help already and I know they will be doubly so when the winter days come. Ordinarily we are too much on the go to think of fire. When we get a few hours of rest, we are under our blankets of which I have been able to hold on to four so far. I will have to discard my cot and mattress when I leave here. They will make too much weight for the wagon. I will hold on to my warm clothing, steel hat, gas mask, toilet articles and warm under clothing and socks. I can get along nicely. I have about twenty Medical Corps men in my command, distributed so that they are so they can administer first aid and get the wounded to my central station without any unnecessary delay. I am in excellent health.
July 4
After an all night ride in trucks, we are now back of the front lines. I am comfortably billeted in the priest’s house and while there are no priests here at present yet there are many reminders in the form of Rosaries and crucifixes. I am now definitely assigned as surgeon of the Sixtieth Infantry and am glad to say that they have a very amiable bunch of officers. It is certainly a pleasure to discard temporarily, my steel hat and gas mask, without fear of bombardment. I am feeling fine and in good physical condition. I am eating at the battalion headquarters mess and if anything, our mess is better than in America. I have a sumptious appetite and if I did not take lots of exercise I would soon develop a waist line. Had my first experience darning socks today and believe my job would pass mothers inspection. Maybe a slight bomb now and then, but no so bad after all.
July 7
The village church bells are ringing and all the people are flocking to church in their Sunday best. After about two weeks training here, we expect to go up to a very active sector, where there will be plenty to do. I am feeling fine and having a good rest, preparatory to another session with the Huns.
July 8
Just received your letter of the thirteenth of May, and three letters from Vera, the latest June 7th. I was certainly glad to get some news from home. I felt shut off from you all but I now feel better. Here, all young men are in the army, and only the old men and women and children are left to do the farm work, but they plod along in wooden shoes or “sabats” as they call them and accomplish a great deal. Much love to all including my neighbors and Friends.
George B. Fletcher
NOTES: Extracts of letters from Lieut. George Fletcher of the Medical Corps to his Mother and Father from Somewhere in France.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON