TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SOUTHERN STANDARD SEPTEMBER 12, 1918 P.6
Somewhere in France,
Dearest Mother:
I suppose you are wondering why I don’t write and why you haven’t heard from me, and this little letter will let you know that I am well and trying my best to be a man.
Mamma I would like to write and tell you everything that I have seen since I left the United States but conditions are such, that we aren’t permitted to write anything that would be liable for information in reguard to the troops from home.
Now as to where I am, well you know I have left the United States for some place across the ocean, and I can report a successful trip, and as for as getting sea sick well haven’t been sick in any form in a good long time.
But mamma what makes me think of you more than anything else is the way these poor women work and it looks like this whole country is in mourning as they all dress in some kind of black cloth, but still I wonder how they live; this isn’t the country I expected to see, but of course they have been at war for a good long time, the houses are all built of stone and some kind of cement and very different from the homes you see in the U. S. Well really to look at them will make a person think of the story books I used to look at when I was small.
We are camped on one of the funniest little farms; all of them look just like the other.
Now in your very first letter that you write to me, promise me that you will try and not be worried about your son, Joe, because he is trying to be a good boy like you want me to be and I am sure that he will succeed and any way perhaps you will get to see me before many days have passed.
I am sure that this war wont last so awfully much longer and then I don’t think there will be any more wars for a great many years.
Well mamma give my love to all of the family, hug dad’s neck and don’t worry about me. I will write again soon and then maybe I can tell you a great deal more about this country and how the people live. I am sure as I am here that I would like to see all that I can and will be glad when we leave this Camp.
All of us are thinking a great deal of home and I am sure you will never be forgotten by myself.
So mother darling, promising to be good I will close.
As ever your son,
Joe L. Kaufman.
Address my letters:
Company “C” 153rdd Infantry.
American E. F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY PAYTON DHOOGE
Somewhere in France,
Dearest Mother:
I suppose you are wondering why I don’t write and why you haven’t heard from me, and this little letter will let you know that I am well and trying my best to be a man.
Mamma I would like to write and tell you everything that I have seen since I left the United States but conditions are such, that we aren’t permitted to write anything that would be liable for information in reguard to the troops from home.
Now as to where I am, well you know I have left the United States for some place across the ocean, and I can report a successful trip, and as for as getting sea sick well haven’t been sick in any form in a good long time.
But mamma what makes me think of you more than anything else is the way these poor women work and it looks like this whole country is in mourning as they all dress in some kind of black cloth, but still I wonder how they live; this isn’t the country I expected to see, but of course they have been at war for a good long time, the houses are all built of stone and some kind of cement and very different from the homes you see in the U. S. Well really to look at them will make a person think of the story books I used to look at when I was small.
We are camped on one of the funniest little farms; all of them look just like the other.
Now in your very first letter that you write to me, promise me that you will try and not be worried about your son, Joe, because he is trying to be a good boy like you want me to be and I am sure that he will succeed and any way perhaps you will get to see me before many days have passed.
I am sure that this war wont last so awfully much longer and then I don’t think there will be any more wars for a great many years.
Well mamma give my love to all of the family, hug dad’s neck and don’t worry about me. I will write again soon and then maybe I can tell you a great deal more about this country and how the people live. I am sure as I am here that I would like to see all that I can and will be glad when we leave this Camp.
All of us are thinking a great deal of home and I am sure you will never be forgotten by myself.
So mother darling, promising to be good I will close.
As ever your son,
Joe L. Kaufman.
Address my letters:
Company “C” 153rdd Infantry.
American E. F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY PAYTON DHOOGE