TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LONOKE DEMOCRAT JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 1
St. Florent, France, Dec. 3rd., 1918
Mr. Charles A. Walls, Lonoke, Arkansas
Dear Albert:
I have been intending to write you for some time but different things caused me to postpone. I have thought of you many times and I am sure you have heard that I am in a good job and getting along O. K. in every respect. The training I received in your office has been invaluable to me many times and I shall never forget, for I know when you took me into your office I was practically worthless as a stenographer and you certainly took time and helped me along.
I get the Lonoke papers and I have noticed what you have been doing for the Liberty Loan and other causes and now as it is all over I want to tell you that your work, as well as the other people back there is just what won this war, for without the backing at home the boys in the line were helpless. I never got up front, being all the time in the S. O. S. (Service of Supply) but I have done some hard work and had some long hours but all of us pushing together finally put the thing over. I have been Personal Secretary to a Division Paymaster since coming across and have had occasion to see lots of France, making the rounds paying troops and buying supplies. Its a great sight but you have probably read so many letters from France that you have a very good picture of it without coming over.
My Chief, Major Earl H. Smith, of Fairmont, West Virginia is a former Secretary to Senator C. W. Watson (Dem.) of that state. Probably you have heard of him in Washington, he is a fine man and well up to Washington affairs. His boss, now a Colonel over here got beat this last time as you saw. He is a fine officer and seems to think a lot of me and has shown me many favors.
Any man who has served in the A. E. F., no matter how soft a job he has had, has had a hard time, for being here as we are is no picnic. Riding in box cars, eating in the rain, and sleeping on floors or any dry place to be found is not much fun. Thats the life of an A. E. F. man.
For a while I saw lots of the boys from around Lonoke, but now they have all gone somewhere. The reward I receive for my work is probably to get to stay over here several months more. I am now in a Concentration Camp where soldiers will gather preparatory to going to the port, this is unpleasant for me but in the army all you can do is smile and go to it.
I have seen some awful sights here and not one third of the men killed have been published in the papers, that is going to be some job checking this list of killed and wounded. The war is over but the clerical work is just beginning. I have seen train after train pass our camp carrying wounded back to some base, although I have never yet met a wounded man I knew. I believe our boys have been lucky.
As the big game is over this country is getting back normal. In the cities times are rather gay as I have seen, but here in this town, about 2000 population its simply dead. Nothing the soldier wants but wine and beer. You know they are taking on their share of that. I would like to bring you all back a few bottles of good champagne if I could, and will if I get the chance. Its great stuff.
There is no comparison between the old U. S. A. and France. About the most valuable thing over here is fuel and this is some cold country. We are about on the line with Canada. I am near the center near the City of Bourges, one of the principal towns of France. I go there very often.
Sometime I hope to see you and will then give you some history of the things I have seen. I know I am coming home but the question is when.
With kind regards, I am
Very respectfully,
Joe P. Melton
NOTES: Joseph Philip Melton was born in Lonoke, Arkansas on December 26, 1894 and died on March 20, 1973. He enlisted on May 27, 1918 and was discharged on April 4, 1919. He departed Newport News, Va. August 6, 1918 onboard the Kursk. He was serving as a Private in Co. C 141 MGB 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
St. Florent, France, Dec. 3rd., 1918
Mr. Charles A. Walls, Lonoke, Arkansas
Dear Albert:
I have been intending to write you for some time but different things caused me to postpone. I have thought of you many times and I am sure you have heard that I am in a good job and getting along O. K. in every respect. The training I received in your office has been invaluable to me many times and I shall never forget, for I know when you took me into your office I was practically worthless as a stenographer and you certainly took time and helped me along.
I get the Lonoke papers and I have noticed what you have been doing for the Liberty Loan and other causes and now as it is all over I want to tell you that your work, as well as the other people back there is just what won this war, for without the backing at home the boys in the line were helpless. I never got up front, being all the time in the S. O. S. (Service of Supply) but I have done some hard work and had some long hours but all of us pushing together finally put the thing over. I have been Personal Secretary to a Division Paymaster since coming across and have had occasion to see lots of France, making the rounds paying troops and buying supplies. Its a great sight but you have probably read so many letters from France that you have a very good picture of it without coming over.
My Chief, Major Earl H. Smith, of Fairmont, West Virginia is a former Secretary to Senator C. W. Watson (Dem.) of that state. Probably you have heard of him in Washington, he is a fine man and well up to Washington affairs. His boss, now a Colonel over here got beat this last time as you saw. He is a fine officer and seems to think a lot of me and has shown me many favors.
Any man who has served in the A. E. F., no matter how soft a job he has had, has had a hard time, for being here as we are is no picnic. Riding in box cars, eating in the rain, and sleeping on floors or any dry place to be found is not much fun. Thats the life of an A. E. F. man.
For a while I saw lots of the boys from around Lonoke, but now they have all gone somewhere. The reward I receive for my work is probably to get to stay over here several months more. I am now in a Concentration Camp where soldiers will gather preparatory to going to the port, this is unpleasant for me but in the army all you can do is smile and go to it.
I have seen some awful sights here and not one third of the men killed have been published in the papers, that is going to be some job checking this list of killed and wounded. The war is over but the clerical work is just beginning. I have seen train after train pass our camp carrying wounded back to some base, although I have never yet met a wounded man I knew. I believe our boys have been lucky.
As the big game is over this country is getting back normal. In the cities times are rather gay as I have seen, but here in this town, about 2000 population its simply dead. Nothing the soldier wants but wine and beer. You know they are taking on their share of that. I would like to bring you all back a few bottles of good champagne if I could, and will if I get the chance. Its great stuff.
There is no comparison between the old U. S. A. and France. About the most valuable thing over here is fuel and this is some cold country. We are about on the line with Canada. I am near the center near the City of Bourges, one of the principal towns of France. I go there very often.
Sometime I hope to see you and will then give you some history of the things I have seen. I know I am coming home but the question is when.
With kind regards, I am
Very respectfully,
Joe P. Melton
NOTES: Joseph Philip Melton was born in Lonoke, Arkansas on December 26, 1894 and died on March 20, 1973. He enlisted on May 27, 1918 and was discharged on April 4, 1919. He departed Newport News, Va. August 6, 1918 onboard the Kursk. He was serving as a Private in Co. C 141 MGB 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON