TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS NOVEMBER 22, 1918 P. 3
Somewhere in France
Oct 3, 1918.
Dearest Aunt and Uncle:
Was very glad to receive your most welcome letter, as a good letter looks better to us than something to eat. Boches shells do not cause us to quit eating unless he has the range pretty good but just let the Mail orderly come around to give out the mail and eating stops at once.
The Boche seems to delight in trying to hit the kitchens especially at meal time. But he would have to go some to bluff us out because all of we Yanks have good eats and we all like to eat.
I shall never forget the first time enemy shells hit somewhat close to me. We were at a certain point on the front and the enemy was trying to locate portions of our Battery, five of us fellows were watching our horses at one place waiting and were just getting to feel a little bit at ease when, Zing, came a shell, followed by several more. Well we all sure did hit the ground and hit it hard, and flattened ourselves out as much as possible. The shells landed too far away to do any harm to us but since it was our first experience we thought we were certainly blowed up.
It is very interesting and exciting to witntss an air battle. I have seen two enemy planes fall in flames from a great height. Our aviators are game fellows and are doing splendid work. You would be surprised to see how good the spirits of the soldiers are. The doughboys sure routed the Germans the last time they went over the top. We have them going toward Berlin now and winter weather is not going to stop us from driving them until they are whipped.
It isn’t going to be nice to fight this winter but we have plenty of good clothes and plenty to eat and a good spirit to carry us through to Berlin.
Well as chow call has sounded I must close.
Your nephew, Paul.
NOTES: Paul H. Johnson was born on July 24, 1895 and died on March 17, 1975. He enlisted in the army on February 25, 1918 and was discharged on June 5, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France
Oct 3, 1918.
Dearest Aunt and Uncle:
Was very glad to receive your most welcome letter, as a good letter looks better to us than something to eat. Boches shells do not cause us to quit eating unless he has the range pretty good but just let the Mail orderly come around to give out the mail and eating stops at once.
The Boche seems to delight in trying to hit the kitchens especially at meal time. But he would have to go some to bluff us out because all of we Yanks have good eats and we all like to eat.
I shall never forget the first time enemy shells hit somewhat close to me. We were at a certain point on the front and the enemy was trying to locate portions of our Battery, five of us fellows were watching our horses at one place waiting and were just getting to feel a little bit at ease when, Zing, came a shell, followed by several more. Well we all sure did hit the ground and hit it hard, and flattened ourselves out as much as possible. The shells landed too far away to do any harm to us but since it was our first experience we thought we were certainly blowed up.
It is very interesting and exciting to witntss an air battle. I have seen two enemy planes fall in flames from a great height. Our aviators are game fellows and are doing splendid work. You would be surprised to see how good the spirits of the soldiers are. The doughboys sure routed the Germans the last time they went over the top. We have them going toward Berlin now and winter weather is not going to stop us from driving them until they are whipped.
It isn’t going to be nice to fight this winter but we have plenty of good clothes and plenty to eat and a good spirit to carry us through to Berlin.
Well as chow call has sounded I must close.
Your nephew, Paul.
NOTES: Paul H. Johnson was born on July 24, 1895 and died on March 17, 1975. He enlisted in the army on February 25, 1918 and was discharged on June 5, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS