TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER-INDEX NOVEMBER 19, 1918, P. 9
October 30, 1918
Dear Mother:
Have just received your letter dated September 30, also one dated October 3. Your letters have been coming to me fine, just as regular as if I was in the States. They are certainly full of good news to me. I write as regular as I can. When I am slow about writing don’t get uneasy about me. Sometimes am on duty so long that I hardly have time to eat or sleep.
Things that I would like to tell you and would be interesting, would be cut out, so will have to leave that off until I return to U.S. A.. I am surprised that you have been so long hearing gfrom me. Well, if you get this letter, dated October 22, 1918, I am feeling the best I have felt since I have been overseas. The first of the week I had a little cold but as quinine is easy to get, I took a few rounds and am feeling O.K. I think after we get adapted to the French climate we will have no trouble keeping well.
There are very few days that it doesn’t rain, so I have found that a Fish Brand slicker is the best part of a soldier’s uniform. I usually put mine on as soon as I get up and never take it off until I am ready to lie down, and then I usually cover with it, as the place I sleep in is not like my bedroom at home. But this is the best the government can do for the soldiers at present.
Am glad Lee county had good success with the Liberty loan drive, for Liberty loans, Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. are what are making it possible for the U. S. A. to be the leading nation of the world.
Mother, I went to church last Sunday. Of course, it was Catholic. I went with a pal of mine from Louisiana. They are all Catholics and everything he did I did, so I guess they thought I was a priest by the way I pulled things off.
I have learned all the history of Joan of Arc since I have been in France. It is interesting to know the life of the most famous, and most wonderful woman in the world.
I have at last received the sweater and helmet you started to me in August. I have made one of my friends comfortable by having two. Soldiers in France can’t carry too many sweaters on their long hikes.
I have not seen Rondy but know where his company is, so guess he is with it. Rose is looking fine. I saw him last week. I also saw Claywell a few nights ago but we both were in a rush and did not get to talk with him.
The war game is fine to those who like it but I will take mine trying to raise cotton. Some of the boys say they like France fine if everyone would only watch where they shoot. They seem to be a little careless about their shooting.
Regards to the family.
Your son,
SERGT. JESSE L. HUGHES.
NOTES: Hughes is writing from France to his mother Mrs. J. L. Hughes of Haynes, Arkansas in Lee County. He was born at Haynes on November 16, 1890 and died there on September 18, 1929. He is buried in the Andrews Cemetery in Lee County.
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE
October 30, 1918
Dear Mother:
Have just received your letter dated September 30, also one dated October 3. Your letters have been coming to me fine, just as regular as if I was in the States. They are certainly full of good news to me. I write as regular as I can. When I am slow about writing don’t get uneasy about me. Sometimes am on duty so long that I hardly have time to eat or sleep.
Things that I would like to tell you and would be interesting, would be cut out, so will have to leave that off until I return to U.S. A.. I am surprised that you have been so long hearing gfrom me. Well, if you get this letter, dated October 22, 1918, I am feeling the best I have felt since I have been overseas. The first of the week I had a little cold but as quinine is easy to get, I took a few rounds and am feeling O.K. I think after we get adapted to the French climate we will have no trouble keeping well.
There are very few days that it doesn’t rain, so I have found that a Fish Brand slicker is the best part of a soldier’s uniform. I usually put mine on as soon as I get up and never take it off until I am ready to lie down, and then I usually cover with it, as the place I sleep in is not like my bedroom at home. But this is the best the government can do for the soldiers at present.
Am glad Lee county had good success with the Liberty loan drive, for Liberty loans, Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. are what are making it possible for the U. S. A. to be the leading nation of the world.
Mother, I went to church last Sunday. Of course, it was Catholic. I went with a pal of mine from Louisiana. They are all Catholics and everything he did I did, so I guess they thought I was a priest by the way I pulled things off.
I have learned all the history of Joan of Arc since I have been in France. It is interesting to know the life of the most famous, and most wonderful woman in the world.
I have at last received the sweater and helmet you started to me in August. I have made one of my friends comfortable by having two. Soldiers in France can’t carry too many sweaters on their long hikes.
I have not seen Rondy but know where his company is, so guess he is with it. Rose is looking fine. I saw him last week. I also saw Claywell a few nights ago but we both were in a rush and did not get to talk with him.
The war game is fine to those who like it but I will take mine trying to raise cotton. Some of the boys say they like France fine if everyone would only watch where they shoot. They seem to be a little careless about their shooting.
Regards to the family.
Your son,
SERGT. JESSE L. HUGHES.
NOTES: Hughes is writing from France to his mother Mrs. J. L. Hughes of Haynes, Arkansas in Lee County. He was born at Haynes on November 16, 1890 and died there on September 18, 1929. He is buried in the Andrews Cemetery in Lee County.
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE