TRANSCRIBED FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE DAILY DEMOCRAT FEBRUARY 5, 1919 P. 3
This is a great country. We have had a trip which is worth more to us and to the future generation that words can tell. We have met people from every nation on the Eastern Continent and have learned to some extent their own ways and habits. We have also learned to feel more of brotherly love for soldiers from other nations than was ever felt before. One does not realize the difference between this country and America until he comes aboard and sees for himself. They have no resemblance whatever. Their ways of living are far different from ours. They have altogether a different way of doing everything from what America has. It is useless to ask which way we like best. It may be natural for one to love the country of his birth but we also have other reasons for liking America best.
After all, France is a great country, but it takes a Frenchman to appreciate it and we are not France.
This war has been a great lesson to us American people and it has also taught the rest of the world what we can do. Wherever we go we are treated with the greatest of respect. We try to make our stay over here as pleasant as possible.
We are getting very good eats and plenty of them of course one likes a change once in a while so we generally get a pass about once a week and dine at some of the cities nearby. I forgot to tell you that we had a fine dinner Christmas, turkey, etc., and the only thing that we missed was the cranberry sauce. I don’t think they have cranberries over here as I have not seen any.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Sgt. John Coleman Martin to his cousins, Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Moore of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was serving in Headquarters Company, 142nd. F.A., A.E.F. He was born on October 10, 1893 in Washington County, Arkansas and died on April 12, 1954. He is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Sgt. 142 Field Arty, 39 Division serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
This is a great country. We have had a trip which is worth more to us and to the future generation that words can tell. We have met people from every nation on the Eastern Continent and have learned to some extent their own ways and habits. We have also learned to feel more of brotherly love for soldiers from other nations than was ever felt before. One does not realize the difference between this country and America until he comes aboard and sees for himself. They have no resemblance whatever. Their ways of living are far different from ours. They have altogether a different way of doing everything from what America has. It is useless to ask which way we like best. It may be natural for one to love the country of his birth but we also have other reasons for liking America best.
After all, France is a great country, but it takes a Frenchman to appreciate it and we are not France.
This war has been a great lesson to us American people and it has also taught the rest of the world what we can do. Wherever we go we are treated with the greatest of respect. We try to make our stay over here as pleasant as possible.
We are getting very good eats and plenty of them of course one likes a change once in a while so we generally get a pass about once a week and dine at some of the cities nearby. I forgot to tell you that we had a fine dinner Christmas, turkey, etc., and the only thing that we missed was the cranberry sauce. I don’t think they have cranberries over here as I have not seen any.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Sgt. John Coleman Martin to his cousins, Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Moore of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was serving in Headquarters Company, 142nd. F.A., A.E.F. He was born on October 10, 1893 in Washington County, Arkansas and died on April 12, 1954. He is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Sgt. 142 Field Arty, 39 Division serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT