TRANSCRIBED FROM THE WASHINGTON TELEGRAPH OCTOBER 25, 1918 P. 3
Somewhere in France, Sept. 24.
Dear Uncle and Aunt:
Pardon my waiting so long to write, for I have been very busy the last few weeks. Am in fine health and never felt better in my life. I believe this life over here is agreeing with me.
I have been on the front the last few weeks, but not under shell fire except for the past few days. Fire from the big guns is what the American soldier hates most, because he can hear the shells a good while before they strike and can not tell where they are going to land- Sounds like every one of them is going to land right on top of you, and perhaps they will go a hundred yards past. You should have seen us the first morning these big shells began to land around us _____ everyone expect to come out of it alive and each was trying to keep the other fellow from finding out that they were scared. Funny to all of us after it was over, but not while it was going on.
There is a heavy rain fall here at present. Hope it doesn’t last long.
Do you know what outfit Presley Moore is in? I would like to see him.
Must close for this time. You all must not worry if you do not hear from me as often as you think you ought to.
Longingly your nephew,
Theo.
P.S. Address all letters to Corp. Theodore Lester, Co. B., 111 Engineers, care American Ex. Forces in France, Army P. O. 159.
NOTES: Theodore Lester was the nephew of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Dugger of Washington, Arkansas. He was raised by the Duggers. He had enlisted with the Louisiana National Guard several years before the war and received his training in Texas. He was born on August 9, 1897 and died on August 13, 1976. He is buried in the Old Washington Cemetery in Washington, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Sgt. in the US Army in WWI and WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY PAYTON DHOOGE
Somewhere in France, Sept. 24.
Dear Uncle and Aunt:
Pardon my waiting so long to write, for I have been very busy the last few weeks. Am in fine health and never felt better in my life. I believe this life over here is agreeing with me.
I have been on the front the last few weeks, but not under shell fire except for the past few days. Fire from the big guns is what the American soldier hates most, because he can hear the shells a good while before they strike and can not tell where they are going to land- Sounds like every one of them is going to land right on top of you, and perhaps they will go a hundred yards past. You should have seen us the first morning these big shells began to land around us _____ everyone expect to come out of it alive and each was trying to keep the other fellow from finding out that they were scared. Funny to all of us after it was over, but not while it was going on.
There is a heavy rain fall here at present. Hope it doesn’t last long.
Do you know what outfit Presley Moore is in? I would like to see him.
Must close for this time. You all must not worry if you do not hear from me as often as you think you ought to.
Longingly your nephew,
Theo.
P.S. Address all letters to Corp. Theodore Lester, Co. B., 111 Engineers, care American Ex. Forces in France, Army P. O. 159.
NOTES: Theodore Lester was the nephew of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Dugger of Washington, Arkansas. He was raised by the Duggers. He had enlisted with the Louisiana National Guard several years before the war and received his training in Texas. He was born on August 9, 1897 and died on August 13, 1976. He is buried in the Old Washington Cemetery in Washington, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Sgt. in the US Army in WWI and WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY PAYTON DHOOGE