TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BOONEVILLE DEMOCRAT AUGUST 1, 1918 P 1.
Beauregard June Replacement, Detachment No 2, Adjt.
General Office, A.E.F.
Hello Mother:
Will try and drop you a few lines. Landed all O.K. and in real good health. How is your health?
Guess Old Booneville is quiet for there are no boys there.
Sure did have a nice trip coming over but got a little sea sick. The ship was only fourteen days coming over.
There is lots to be seen in this country. The houses are made of stone; there are no frame houses to be seen. The ___ all wear wooden shoes. It is quite funny to see the differences in the U.S.A. and this country. The French people welcome us and think lots of the American soldiers. I see German prisoners every day; was working close to some yesterday.
Well mother, what is Jim doing? Guess you all are having hot weather. The weather here is cool. I sleep under three blankets at night.
The time over here is different. Go to bed eleven o’clock and rise at five.
Do you know where Martin is? If so, give me his address also Ferguson.
Tell them all to write to me for a letter from home will look good, haven’t seen one in so long.
Mother, just to see the little children eating what we threw away is enough to make any true American fight like H---. I did not believe what I heard over in the states, but now we can see with our eyes.
There are no young men to be seen, they are o’d and there are no cars only a few old models.
The country is beautiful.
The women do all the farm work with carts they push. I haven’t seen any four wheel wagons or buggies, they are all two wheels.
The little girls hang around where we eat our meals and eat the scraps.
The prettiest things that I have seen is the grave yards. They all have crosses over them.
There are no houses here that have been built in the last ten years. The people raise pretty horses and cattle. They raise more grapes than anything else.
Well dear, have you seen my old girl? Guess she is happy.
I am going to write you often and you can write every week. It takes them three weeks to get here. Tell Jim to write to me also uncle Dan. Sure have lots to tell you when I return. We are getting the best of treatment and plenty to eat. Uncle Sam’s not leaving anything undone.
Guess you will get this letter about July 1st. Will try and write you again real soon. It is almost bed time.
Please don’t bother about me for I am telling you the truth we have more to eat and wear than any four of the civilian people here.
It is nothing to see one arms and one eye out.
The people over here sure do think American is a great country. I was talking to an English soldier. He was in the Belgium fight. He said it was nothing to see little children with their hands off. I have already seen enough to make me blood thirsty and I will do my part like a true blue American soldier.
Will close, look on the envelope for my address.
Your son, Bud.
NOTES: Oral W Lewis was born on January 5, 1900 at Booneville, Arkansas and died on February 13, 1948 at Booneville. He is buried in the Lyles Chapel Cemetery, Booneville. His military headstone identifies him as a PFC serving in the 38 Inf. 3 DV in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Beauregard June Replacement, Detachment No 2, Adjt.
General Office, A.E.F.
Hello Mother:
Will try and drop you a few lines. Landed all O.K. and in real good health. How is your health?
Guess Old Booneville is quiet for there are no boys there.
Sure did have a nice trip coming over but got a little sea sick. The ship was only fourteen days coming over.
There is lots to be seen in this country. The houses are made of stone; there are no frame houses to be seen. The ___ all wear wooden shoes. It is quite funny to see the differences in the U.S.A. and this country. The French people welcome us and think lots of the American soldiers. I see German prisoners every day; was working close to some yesterday.
Well mother, what is Jim doing? Guess you all are having hot weather. The weather here is cool. I sleep under three blankets at night.
The time over here is different. Go to bed eleven o’clock and rise at five.
Do you know where Martin is? If so, give me his address also Ferguson.
Tell them all to write to me for a letter from home will look good, haven’t seen one in so long.
Mother, just to see the little children eating what we threw away is enough to make any true American fight like H---. I did not believe what I heard over in the states, but now we can see with our eyes.
There are no young men to be seen, they are o’d and there are no cars only a few old models.
The country is beautiful.
The women do all the farm work with carts they push. I haven’t seen any four wheel wagons or buggies, they are all two wheels.
The little girls hang around where we eat our meals and eat the scraps.
The prettiest things that I have seen is the grave yards. They all have crosses over them.
There are no houses here that have been built in the last ten years. The people raise pretty horses and cattle. They raise more grapes than anything else.
Well dear, have you seen my old girl? Guess she is happy.
I am going to write you often and you can write every week. It takes them three weeks to get here. Tell Jim to write to me also uncle Dan. Sure have lots to tell you when I return. We are getting the best of treatment and plenty to eat. Uncle Sam’s not leaving anything undone.
Guess you will get this letter about July 1st. Will try and write you again real soon. It is almost bed time.
Please don’t bother about me for I am telling you the truth we have more to eat and wear than any four of the civilian people here.
It is nothing to see one arms and one eye out.
The people over here sure do think American is a great country. I was talking to an English soldier. He was in the Belgium fight. He said it was nothing to see little children with their hands off. I have already seen enough to make me blood thirsty and I will do my part like a true blue American soldier.
Will close, look on the envelope for my address.
Your son, Bud.
NOTES: Oral W Lewis was born on January 5, 1900 at Booneville, Arkansas and died on February 13, 1948 at Booneville. He is buried in the Lyles Chapel Cemetery, Booneville. His military headstone identifies him as a PFC serving in the 38 Inf. 3 DV in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT