TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT FEBRUARY 20, 1919 P. 1
Still Here, Jan. 11, 1919.
Dear Folks:
Received your letter today; was pleased to hear from you but sorry to hear that mother's health is not the best. I am in the best of health and feeling fine.
We are having usual amount of rain but for a fact it did not rain for three days but it is certainly doing it now. I cannot say as to when I will be home. Seems as tho they are holding us: then again we may be ordered home any time. We are just waiting and longing for such orders to come. Nothing to complain about, only we are tired of the scenery around us; have been here two months so we desire a change.
Have not heard from any of the kids at all. Suppose they think I would not enjoy a letter from them. Oh well, that is a small matter to worry about. Tell Joe to keep the good work up as he will be a great m an some day but he must not forget his studies in school. If he does not forget all he learns he will make it thru the world in great shape. I never was taught much at school but you have the credit of my making good as a fellow citizen and in many other ways. I now see where I made my mistake by not going to school more but I am satisfied with life. I mean I will be when I get out of the army.
I suppose Dad is doing fine this winter; watch the flu. It does not bother us much; we have been in the mud, rain and French cowsheds so much that anything like that doesn't have any effect on us. The billets or places to sleep were great during our entire expedition. The one I am sleeping in now puts me in mind of a milk strainer. The chocolate barrage from the Y.M.C.A. still prevails: that is partly what won the war. We have the occasion to buy some of the so-called beer in this country now and then but none of it would float a straw.
Our 1st Sergeant indulged in a foot ball game today and the result is he went to the iodine station with a broken nose. Too rough a game for Eddie: am taking no chances now. About all I do is play solitaire.
About all we do is to have inspection and scratch. The French lost many a man but don't think there was a casualty among the Cooties, or better known in God's country as body lice. These lice have been here ever since Napoleon met his Waterloo so you see we have plenty of them. If it were not for these cooties in peace time the men of this country wouldn't have anything to do cause the women do all the work.
This is a great country sure enough. I turned out a 7 piece washing today: it looks good. I have it on the line in my room or billet.
I have been close run ever since I was on leave, paying back the francs I borrowed. But next month I will plunge deep into a poker game with 60 francs which will amount to about $10 in real money. If you could see all the different money they have in this country you would think you were looking at a large bill post or wall paper samples.
As it is still raining and my fire has gone up the flue, I must retire. So goodnight with love to all. Your son,
EDDIE.
NOTES: Edward Lorenzo Grimes was writing to his parents Abraham. L. and Carrie Grimes from east of Rogers, Arkansas. He was born in Kansas on August 10, 1895 and died on April 5, 1953. He is buried in the Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Wichita, Kansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Kansas soldier serving as a cook in Supply Company 137th Infantry 35th Division. He enlisted on August 9, 1914 and was discharged on May 5, 1919. He departed New York, NY on April 25, 1918 onboard the Adriatic. He was listed as a private serving as a cook in Supply Company 137th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on April 12, 1919 onboard the Manchuria. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on April 23, 1919. He was still serving as a cook with the 137th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Still Here, Jan. 11, 1919.
Dear Folks:
Received your letter today; was pleased to hear from you but sorry to hear that mother's health is not the best. I am in the best of health and feeling fine.
We are having usual amount of rain but for a fact it did not rain for three days but it is certainly doing it now. I cannot say as to when I will be home. Seems as tho they are holding us: then again we may be ordered home any time. We are just waiting and longing for such orders to come. Nothing to complain about, only we are tired of the scenery around us; have been here two months so we desire a change.
Have not heard from any of the kids at all. Suppose they think I would not enjoy a letter from them. Oh well, that is a small matter to worry about. Tell Joe to keep the good work up as he will be a great m an some day but he must not forget his studies in school. If he does not forget all he learns he will make it thru the world in great shape. I never was taught much at school but you have the credit of my making good as a fellow citizen and in many other ways. I now see where I made my mistake by not going to school more but I am satisfied with life. I mean I will be when I get out of the army.
I suppose Dad is doing fine this winter; watch the flu. It does not bother us much; we have been in the mud, rain and French cowsheds so much that anything like that doesn't have any effect on us. The billets or places to sleep were great during our entire expedition. The one I am sleeping in now puts me in mind of a milk strainer. The chocolate barrage from the Y.M.C.A. still prevails: that is partly what won the war. We have the occasion to buy some of the so-called beer in this country now and then but none of it would float a straw.
Our 1st Sergeant indulged in a foot ball game today and the result is he went to the iodine station with a broken nose. Too rough a game for Eddie: am taking no chances now. About all I do is play solitaire.
About all we do is to have inspection and scratch. The French lost many a man but don't think there was a casualty among the Cooties, or better known in God's country as body lice. These lice have been here ever since Napoleon met his Waterloo so you see we have plenty of them. If it were not for these cooties in peace time the men of this country wouldn't have anything to do cause the women do all the work.
This is a great country sure enough. I turned out a 7 piece washing today: it looks good. I have it on the line in my room or billet.
I have been close run ever since I was on leave, paying back the francs I borrowed. But next month I will plunge deep into a poker game with 60 francs which will amount to about $10 in real money. If you could see all the different money they have in this country you would think you were looking at a large bill post or wall paper samples.
As it is still raining and my fire has gone up the flue, I must retire. So goodnight with love to all. Your son,
EDDIE.
NOTES: Edward Lorenzo Grimes was writing to his parents Abraham. L. and Carrie Grimes from east of Rogers, Arkansas. He was born in Kansas on August 10, 1895 and died on April 5, 1953. He is buried in the Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Wichita, Kansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Kansas soldier serving as a cook in Supply Company 137th Infantry 35th Division. He enlisted on August 9, 1914 and was discharged on May 5, 1919. He departed New York, NY on April 25, 1918 onboard the Adriatic. He was listed as a private serving as a cook in Supply Company 137th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on April 12, 1919 onboard the Manchuria. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on April 23, 1919. He was still serving as a cook with the 137th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD