TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRING NEW ERA JANUARY 9, 1919 P. 3
Luxemburg, France, Nov. 25,
Dear Papa, Mamma and All:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am O. K. I haven’t had a chance to write at all, for the last two or three weeks. I know you all are worrying about me, as you haven’t heard from me in a week or two, but it was not my fault. I was in a position where I couldn’t get paper to write on. If I could have gotten it I wouldn’t have had time to write. I am know driving a Dodge sedan; have been for three weeks. I have been through town after town that was blown all to pieces, wasn’t anything left at all. Over all kinds of roads, shell holes big as the whole car in the roads. It sure is a sight to see, and it is all along the road for miles. I have been over the different fighting fronts and believe me, I sure feel for those poor men who were in those battles.
I have been pretty nearly all over France. That is, I have been in about two hundred towns and I haven’t seen any yet as good as Hot Springs, or any other town in the U. S. But there are several towns I have been in that are pretty nice. I am now in Luxemburg. We have been here three or four days. Guess we won’t be here much longer. We are forcing the Germans right into Germany. They move out of one town today, and tomorrow we move in. So that’s the way I have been traveling for two or three weeks.
Now I think we will be coming back to the United States soon. Some of the drivers have heard the high officers say that we would be in the United Stattes by January, and some of the officers say we, the 3 armies, would be in New York by Xmas, so I really do think we are on our way back to the United States. Some ask their officers what thei raddresses are and the officers say there is no use of writing for you will beat the letter home. Sure hope it is true. Houpt isn’t with me any more. We got separated at Floria, but as luck would have it. Tom McCafferty, a boy from Hot Springs, is now in my company. You know McCafferty, undertaker. Tom is some relation to him; and also Jay Hallman is not in my company. But he is in a machine corps. His company follows us and fixes our cars up. Hallman is also from Hot Springs. He is Dr. Hallman’s son. Both he and McCafferty are in good health, getting along fine.
Well, don’t you all worry about me, for I am getting along fine. I have a closed Dodge car to drive and am not in the weather much, and we have plenty of clothes, so don’t worry about me not having enough clothes. Tell Charlie I will write him next time for I haven’t much time. I might get a chance to write him this evening.
Well, as I haven’t much more time guess I will close for this time. Here is hoping I will beat this letter home. Well don’t worry about me for I am getting along fine. Army life is not quite as hard on me in this company as it was when I was in the infantry. Well here is hoping I will be with you all soon. Sure hope Charlie wont have to come over; don’t guess he will now. Love to all,
William Lawson
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH
Luxemburg, France, Nov. 25,
Dear Papa, Mamma and All:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am O. K. I haven’t had a chance to write at all, for the last two or three weeks. I know you all are worrying about me, as you haven’t heard from me in a week or two, but it was not my fault. I was in a position where I couldn’t get paper to write on. If I could have gotten it I wouldn’t have had time to write. I am know driving a Dodge sedan; have been for three weeks. I have been through town after town that was blown all to pieces, wasn’t anything left at all. Over all kinds of roads, shell holes big as the whole car in the roads. It sure is a sight to see, and it is all along the road for miles. I have been over the different fighting fronts and believe me, I sure feel for those poor men who were in those battles.
I have been pretty nearly all over France. That is, I have been in about two hundred towns and I haven’t seen any yet as good as Hot Springs, or any other town in the U. S. But there are several towns I have been in that are pretty nice. I am now in Luxemburg. We have been here three or four days. Guess we won’t be here much longer. We are forcing the Germans right into Germany. They move out of one town today, and tomorrow we move in. So that’s the way I have been traveling for two or three weeks.
Now I think we will be coming back to the United States soon. Some of the drivers have heard the high officers say that we would be in the United Stattes by January, and some of the officers say we, the 3 armies, would be in New York by Xmas, so I really do think we are on our way back to the United States. Some ask their officers what thei raddresses are and the officers say there is no use of writing for you will beat the letter home. Sure hope it is true. Houpt isn’t with me any more. We got separated at Floria, but as luck would have it. Tom McCafferty, a boy from Hot Springs, is now in my company. You know McCafferty, undertaker. Tom is some relation to him; and also Jay Hallman is not in my company. But he is in a machine corps. His company follows us and fixes our cars up. Hallman is also from Hot Springs. He is Dr. Hallman’s son. Both he and McCafferty are in good health, getting along fine.
Well, don’t you all worry about me, for I am getting along fine. I have a closed Dodge car to drive and am not in the weather much, and we have plenty of clothes, so don’t worry about me not having enough clothes. Tell Charlie I will write him next time for I haven’t much time. I might get a chance to write him this evening.
Well, as I haven’t much more time guess I will close for this time. Here is hoping I will beat this letter home. Well don’t worry about me for I am getting along fine. Army life is not quite as hard on me in this company as it was when I was in the infantry. Well here is hoping I will be with you all soon. Sure hope Charlie wont have to come over; don’t guess he will now. Love to all,
William Lawson
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH