TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 17, 1918 P. 1
Somewhere in France, Aug. 27th.
DEAR FOLKS:
Had intended writing you Sunday but had a chance to go to the canal and take a swim, so took advantage thereof. I am still feeling all o.k. I think this climate must agree with me pretty well as I am always ready for "chow" three times a day.
Suppose you are all very busy buying hay and fruit. Sure do wish I were there to help you. Am very anxious to know where Jim is and how he likes soldiering. I expect him over here soon. I landed in France two months ago today. Seems like the time has passed pretty quick when I think of all the places I have been.
I have been up to the front line trenches twice. Remained four days the first time and six days the last time. I never saw a single Boche all the while, but could hear him shooting every little bit. Sometimes the artilery would turn loose and that reminds one of a cyclone more than anything else, but you would have to be right in the center of a cyclone to get a good idea of how the bursting shrapnel sounds. this sector is considered a very quiet one. Bombardments don't usually last over a half-hour and not very much danger from them if you get in a dugout or shell hole.
We are all very much encouraged over the brilliant success of the allies now. Only hope it will continue right along until the kaiser gets it into his bean that is ready for peace. A French general said the other day that the war would be over inside of two months. I hope he knew what he was talking about, but I don't think it will end before spring, or maybe next summer.
I am doing a banking business lending money to unlucky crap shooters, but they pay me good interest. Will try to send in a hundred or so by the end of next month. Now don't fail to send me the Democrat regularly, and a copy of the Republic would look good. It is a very hard matter to get any kind of reading material.
Well I guess a good many more of the boys will register under the new law--Jim C., Fred N., Will Edwards, in fact about all the fellows that are able to work. Tell Fred and Jim they will make fine soldiers and if they are called the best thing for them will be to dig right in and learn the game. Hoping that I will get a whole bundle of letters right away, will close.
Pvt. Wm. J. Hutchinson,
Co. F 114 Inft., A.E.F., A.P.O. No. 765.
NOTES: This letter was written by William Joshua Hutchinson to his parents Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Hutchinson of Gladys, Arkansas. He was born on December 8, 1892 in Scotland, Arkansas and died in 1964. He is buried in the Bee Branch Cemetery in Bee Branch, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Somewhere in France, Aug. 27th.
DEAR FOLKS:
Had intended writing you Sunday but had a chance to go to the canal and take a swim, so took advantage thereof. I am still feeling all o.k. I think this climate must agree with me pretty well as I am always ready for "chow" three times a day.
Suppose you are all very busy buying hay and fruit. Sure do wish I were there to help you. Am very anxious to know where Jim is and how he likes soldiering. I expect him over here soon. I landed in France two months ago today. Seems like the time has passed pretty quick when I think of all the places I have been.
I have been up to the front line trenches twice. Remained four days the first time and six days the last time. I never saw a single Boche all the while, but could hear him shooting every little bit. Sometimes the artilery would turn loose and that reminds one of a cyclone more than anything else, but you would have to be right in the center of a cyclone to get a good idea of how the bursting shrapnel sounds. this sector is considered a very quiet one. Bombardments don't usually last over a half-hour and not very much danger from them if you get in a dugout or shell hole.
We are all very much encouraged over the brilliant success of the allies now. Only hope it will continue right along until the kaiser gets it into his bean that is ready for peace. A French general said the other day that the war would be over inside of two months. I hope he knew what he was talking about, but I don't think it will end before spring, or maybe next summer.
I am doing a banking business lending money to unlucky crap shooters, but they pay me good interest. Will try to send in a hundred or so by the end of next month. Now don't fail to send me the Democrat regularly, and a copy of the Republic would look good. It is a very hard matter to get any kind of reading material.
Well I guess a good many more of the boys will register under the new law--Jim C., Fred N., Will Edwards, in fact about all the fellows that are able to work. Tell Fred and Jim they will make fine soldiers and if they are called the best thing for them will be to dig right in and learn the game. Hoping that I will get a whole bundle of letters right away, will close.
Pvt. Wm. J. Hutchinson,
Co. F 114 Inft., A.E.F., A.P.O. No. 765.
NOTES: This letter was written by William Joshua Hutchinson to his parents Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Hutchinson of Gladys, Arkansas. He was born on December 8, 1892 in Scotland, Arkansas and died in 1964. He is buried in the Bee Branch Cemetery in Bee Branch, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD