TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LITTLE RIVER NEWS JUNE 29, 1918 P. 2
May 29.
Dear folks at home:
I am at last located for a time, perhaps. I am at a naval aviation station in Southern France, a long ways from the firing line. From where I landed, I traveled three days and two nights on what the French call a train, it was a pretty tiresome trip. The country is wonderful. They cultivate every spot of ground and even the mountain sides. Their largest crop is grapes, but you see quite a bit of wheat, potatoes and vegetables. The climate where I am is about like California and they say it don’t get cold here.
I saw an old prison built by, J. Caesar. It was an old dungeon and had quite a bit of history to it. I hope to see many other historic things. I am near several small towns. One large town is near here, Bordeaux. I came through there. I also came through Nantes, a beautiful place.
At present, I am doing guard duty, but hope to get nearer the front soon and see some excitement. While I am here to work to win the war, I am going to try and see all I can in the meantime. There are lots of things that I would like to tell you, but of course I can’t as it would not be allowed. I am enjoying myself and am ___ ___. I am still with the bunch ___ the Lakes with and we all seem like brothers. There is a good Y. M. C. A. here and we never get blue or lonesome. We also get plenty of good food. I have not eaten any war bread yet but the French have nothing else. I am going to learn to speak French and then I can get by better. I would like to see you all, but I will not see you until after the war is over, and that I don’t know. I hear very little about the fighting here.
Write me and send all papers. Send __ packages as they would not allow ___ ___.Send this letter home, ____ ____. Everyone write.
Love to all.
Fred.
NOTES: Fred Martin Graves was born on October 29, 1891/2 in Lockesburg, Arkansas and died on March 10, 1962. He was buried in the Old Town Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. He was one of the editors of the Little River News when he went into the service. He was described as being of medium height and weight with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
May 29.
Dear folks at home:
I am at last located for a time, perhaps. I am at a naval aviation station in Southern France, a long ways from the firing line. From where I landed, I traveled three days and two nights on what the French call a train, it was a pretty tiresome trip. The country is wonderful. They cultivate every spot of ground and even the mountain sides. Their largest crop is grapes, but you see quite a bit of wheat, potatoes and vegetables. The climate where I am is about like California and they say it don’t get cold here.
I saw an old prison built by, J. Caesar. It was an old dungeon and had quite a bit of history to it. I hope to see many other historic things. I am near several small towns. One large town is near here, Bordeaux. I came through there. I also came through Nantes, a beautiful place.
At present, I am doing guard duty, but hope to get nearer the front soon and see some excitement. While I am here to work to win the war, I am going to try and see all I can in the meantime. There are lots of things that I would like to tell you, but of course I can’t as it would not be allowed. I am enjoying myself and am ___ ___. I am still with the bunch ___ the Lakes with and we all seem like brothers. There is a good Y. M. C. A. here and we never get blue or lonesome. We also get plenty of good food. I have not eaten any war bread yet but the French have nothing else. I am going to learn to speak French and then I can get by better. I would like to see you all, but I will not see you until after the war is over, and that I don’t know. I hear very little about the fighting here.
Write me and send all papers. Send __ packages as they would not allow ___ ___.Send this letter home, ____ ____. Everyone write.
Love to all.
Fred.
NOTES: Fred Martin Graves was born on October 29, 1891/2 in Lockesburg, Arkansas and died on March 10, 1962. He was buried in the Old Town Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. He was one of the editors of the Little River News when he went into the service. He was described as being of medium height and weight with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.