TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER MARCH 20, 1919 P. 1
Ehrang Germany,
Feb. 23, 1919
To All at Home:
How are you all? Guess every body is getting ready for farming. The people over here are not doing anything in that line of work but they sure need to be for the poor people are in a serious condition.
The factories are not running and they depend on that kind of work for a living. But I think everything will be in full speed before very long.
Is very many of the boys coming home? Has Lee come yet? I suppose Elevell is still in France.
I have never met any one I know but sure would be glad to.
Well how is Lucion and Marion are they still on the place? Did you notice the place on the map I sent you. It is a map of Rhineland. Trier and Ehrang are both on it. We are in about 6 miles of Trier. It is a town of about 40000 population, which is a very good town for this country.
There is quite a lot of work at Trier and Ehrang they pay about 500 marks per month which is about $60 in our money in peace time but the German money has decreased in value so now it is about 12 1/2 cts per mark. (Before the war was 24 cents)
They have to pay 20 cents a pound for bread and it is black Gee, and made of rye and saw dust, "mostly sawdust."
Well, I see in the K.C.S. that Gen. Wood has gone to Camp Funston to demobilize the 89th Division but they say we can't come home till June. We boys sure do want to get home, all you can hear is "when do we go home."
Well I can tell you something when I do get home. So be good and write me often.
I am your Loving Son,
Rebert A. Harrell
NOTES: The paper spells his Rebert, I suspect it is Robert.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Ehrang Germany,
Feb. 23, 1919
To All at Home:
How are you all? Guess every body is getting ready for farming. The people over here are not doing anything in that line of work but they sure need to be for the poor people are in a serious condition.
The factories are not running and they depend on that kind of work for a living. But I think everything will be in full speed before very long.
Is very many of the boys coming home? Has Lee come yet? I suppose Elevell is still in France.
I have never met any one I know but sure would be glad to.
Well how is Lucion and Marion are they still on the place? Did you notice the place on the map I sent you. It is a map of Rhineland. Trier and Ehrang are both on it. We are in about 6 miles of Trier. It is a town of about 40000 population, which is a very good town for this country.
There is quite a lot of work at Trier and Ehrang they pay about 500 marks per month which is about $60 in our money in peace time but the German money has decreased in value so now it is about 12 1/2 cts per mark. (Before the war was 24 cents)
They have to pay 20 cents a pound for bread and it is black Gee, and made of rye and saw dust, "mostly sawdust."
Well, I see in the K.C.S. that Gen. Wood has gone to Camp Funston to demobilize the 89th Division but they say we can't come home till June. We boys sure do want to get home, all you can hear is "when do we go home."
Well I can tell you something when I do get home. So be good and write me often.
I am your Loving Son,
Rebert A. Harrell
NOTES: The paper spells his Rebert, I suspect it is Robert.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD