TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD JANUARY 30, 1919 P. 2
Dec. 31, 1918.
Dear Lil:
Well, what do you think of yours truly? It has been a long time since I wrote to you last, but better late than never. For the last four months of the war we were in the line nearly all of the time and our chances of writing were few and far between. But seeing that it is over, I am glad that I got to see so much of the big fight. Lorraine, Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, and two in the Argonne Forests were the fights we were in. We never failed to take what positions were assigned to us, and have received three citations. But no more for me. I have seen five European countries and am now ready to go home. And if rumors prove true, we will leave here for some place in France about the 10th of next month. Lord knows, what a happy bunch this 42nd (Rainbow) Division will be. We landed here on the 26th of November, 1917. After hiking and training we went into the front line on the 1st of March, 1918. From that until the armistice was signed we spent 16 days in the front line. Up until we left Chateau Thierry we had spent 2 days more in the front line than any other regiment in the A.E.F. So you can imagine what we had to go up against.
If my plans come out all right I will be able to come to see you within a month after I get out of the service. I intend to go to see mother and then to Birmingham. After a week or so there I intend to go back to Aken to go to work. My only trouble is going to be my financial standing. I have acted the part of a fool (as usual) and haven't saved a cent. I gave all of my old clothes away when I left because I knew they would be too small when I got back--and they would be, too. But I should worry. I'll get by some way. Have you heard from mother lately? I haven't had a letter from her in two months and have been worried. The last one she wrote was when the "flu" was at its height in Philadelphia. How did you spend Christmas. Mine was dull as it was due to be in Germany. Tomorrow I celebrate my 25th birthday. Gee, ain't I getting along in years?
Well, I am going to close and will write to you again soon. Love and best wishes.
Your brother,
JOHN.
Pvt. J. R. Jellison,
Hdqrs. Co. 167 Inf., A.E.F.
Sinzig, Germany.
NOTES: Jellison was writing to his sister Mrs. Lillian Allen who lived in Helena, Arkansas. He was serving with the Army of Occupation in Germany.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dec. 31, 1918.
Dear Lil:
Well, what do you think of yours truly? It has been a long time since I wrote to you last, but better late than never. For the last four months of the war we were in the line nearly all of the time and our chances of writing were few and far between. But seeing that it is over, I am glad that I got to see so much of the big fight. Lorraine, Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, and two in the Argonne Forests were the fights we were in. We never failed to take what positions were assigned to us, and have received three citations. But no more for me. I have seen five European countries and am now ready to go home. And if rumors prove true, we will leave here for some place in France about the 10th of next month. Lord knows, what a happy bunch this 42nd (Rainbow) Division will be. We landed here on the 26th of November, 1917. After hiking and training we went into the front line on the 1st of March, 1918. From that until the armistice was signed we spent 16 days in the front line. Up until we left Chateau Thierry we had spent 2 days more in the front line than any other regiment in the A.E.F. So you can imagine what we had to go up against.
If my plans come out all right I will be able to come to see you within a month after I get out of the service. I intend to go to see mother and then to Birmingham. After a week or so there I intend to go back to Aken to go to work. My only trouble is going to be my financial standing. I have acted the part of a fool (as usual) and haven't saved a cent. I gave all of my old clothes away when I left because I knew they would be too small when I got back--and they would be, too. But I should worry. I'll get by some way. Have you heard from mother lately? I haven't had a letter from her in two months and have been worried. The last one she wrote was when the "flu" was at its height in Philadelphia. How did you spend Christmas. Mine was dull as it was due to be in Germany. Tomorrow I celebrate my 25th birthday. Gee, ain't I getting along in years?
Well, I am going to close and will write to you again soon. Love and best wishes.
Your brother,
JOHN.
Pvt. J. R. Jellison,
Hdqrs. Co. 167 Inf., A.E.F.
Sinzig, Germany.
NOTES: Jellison was writing to his sister Mrs. Lillian Allen who lived in Helena, Arkansas. He was serving with the Army of Occupation in Germany.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD