TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE MAY 17, 1918, P. 2
April 14, 1918
Mother I have already seen a lot of war. I have been right in the front line trenches, facing the Germans for four weeks and have had a good taste of the horrors of war. Have been in some real fighting. Was with the French when the boche launched their big attack on our lines. It was plain hell. For 24 hours they poured a rain of big shells on us and had it not been for deep dugouts we would have been wiped out. Then the Germans came over and I did what I could to help the French drive them for our position. A good many were killed and wounded on either side. I am now with the United States marines and they are all good fighters. Am in command of 60 men and we will be back in the front line trenches again soon. There we never pull off our clothes and there is very little sleep. The nervous strain is hard, nevertheless I am in better physical condition than ever before and weigh some 100 pounds. Believe I am in fighting trim.
Hope you at home are well and happy. Don’t worry about me, but ‘keep the home fires burning’ and I’ll be back to tell you lots of things when the job is finished over here. We get very little news from the outside and only know what is taking place in our own sector. Understand the British are having a hot time on their sector. Tell Mr. Stegar and Adam Guthrie about my being in the big fight and tell them I put in some good shots for my friends in Prescott. I can’t go into details for several reasons, but we mixed it good and plenty. All my love to everyone.
Your boy.
Roy
NOTES: Letter written by Lieut. Robert Roy Hale of Prescott to his mother Mrs. George Hale. He was born on December 18, 1887 in Prescott, Arkansas and died on August 9, 1974. He is buried in the Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Maryland. He departed New York on June 28, 1918 onboard Ship #529. He was serving as a 2nd Lieut. in the Casuals.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
April 14, 1918
Mother I have already seen a lot of war. I have been right in the front line trenches, facing the Germans for four weeks and have had a good taste of the horrors of war. Have been in some real fighting. Was with the French when the boche launched their big attack on our lines. It was plain hell. For 24 hours they poured a rain of big shells on us and had it not been for deep dugouts we would have been wiped out. Then the Germans came over and I did what I could to help the French drive them for our position. A good many were killed and wounded on either side. I am now with the United States marines and they are all good fighters. Am in command of 60 men and we will be back in the front line trenches again soon. There we never pull off our clothes and there is very little sleep. The nervous strain is hard, nevertheless I am in better physical condition than ever before and weigh some 100 pounds. Believe I am in fighting trim.
Hope you at home are well and happy. Don’t worry about me, but ‘keep the home fires burning’ and I’ll be back to tell you lots of things when the job is finished over here. We get very little news from the outside and only know what is taking place in our own sector. Understand the British are having a hot time on their sector. Tell Mr. Stegar and Adam Guthrie about my being in the big fight and tell them I put in some good shots for my friends in Prescott. I can’t go into details for several reasons, but we mixed it good and plenty. All my love to everyone.
Your boy.
Roy
NOTES: Letter written by Lieut. Robert Roy Hale of Prescott to his mother Mrs. George Hale. He was born on December 18, 1887 in Prescott, Arkansas and died on August 9, 1974. He is buried in the Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Maryland. He departed New York on June 28, 1918 onboard Ship #529. He was serving as a 2nd Lieut. in the Casuals.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON