TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BENTON COURIER OCTOBER 17, 1918 P. 1
Dear Father:
Will try and drop you a few lines today. It’s a fine day and I am feeling well. Hope this letter finds you all the same.
Well we landed safely across the sea had a fine trip of it and have seen some pretty country. Would enjoy myself if I could but speak French. Sure is some pretty country over here and some fine grain crops, grape vineyards and cattle. Would like to live here if the people spoke English.
When have you heard from May’s folks? Also Opal? How are they? How are the crops in Oklahoma this year, and what kind of crop has Will? Has Warren Gilbreath gone into training camp yet, and if so what place. Are you going to stay in Oklahoma this winter or not? If I were you I wouldn’t if I could help it for it is such bad weather there you know. I only wish we had a nice home in Arkansas. I think the day is near when we can settle down once more for things are looking good over here for me.
I haven’t much to write and can’t write very often, so you all write as often as possible and all the news.
Will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.
Corp. Osie J. Hester
Co. 11 323rd Infantry
U.S. Postoffice No. 791. A.E.F.
NOTES: Osie Jacob Hester was born in Yukon, Oklahoma on November 18, 1893 and died on October 15, 1953. He is buried in the Brookside Memorial Park in Houston, Texas. His military headstone identifies him as a Oklahoma Sgt. serving in the 323rd Infantry during World War I. He enlisted on October 12, 1917 and was discharged on July 22, 1919. He served with the 81st Division. He was writing from France to his father, James Knox Polk Hester of Liberty Township in Saline County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Dear Father:
Will try and drop you a few lines today. It’s a fine day and I am feeling well. Hope this letter finds you all the same.
Well we landed safely across the sea had a fine trip of it and have seen some pretty country. Would enjoy myself if I could but speak French. Sure is some pretty country over here and some fine grain crops, grape vineyards and cattle. Would like to live here if the people spoke English.
When have you heard from May’s folks? Also Opal? How are they? How are the crops in Oklahoma this year, and what kind of crop has Will? Has Warren Gilbreath gone into training camp yet, and if so what place. Are you going to stay in Oklahoma this winter or not? If I were you I wouldn’t if I could help it for it is such bad weather there you know. I only wish we had a nice home in Arkansas. I think the day is near when we can settle down once more for things are looking good over here for me.
I haven’t much to write and can’t write very often, so you all write as often as possible and all the news.
Will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.
Corp. Osie J. Hester
Co. 11 323rd Infantry
U.S. Postoffice No. 791. A.E.F.
NOTES: Osie Jacob Hester was born in Yukon, Oklahoma on November 18, 1893 and died on October 15, 1953. He is buried in the Brookside Memorial Park in Houston, Texas. His military headstone identifies him as a Oklahoma Sgt. serving in the 323rd Infantry during World War I. He enlisted on October 12, 1917 and was discharged on July 22, 1919. He served with the 81st Division. He was writing from France to his father, James Knox Polk Hester of Liberty Township in Saline County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD