TRANSCRIBED FROM JONESBORO EVENING SUN APRIL 25, 1919 p 4
Souelly, France,
March 29 th, 1919,
Dear Mama and All:
Your long letters and clippings of March 6th and 12th received this evening at supper, also two from Mary and one from Aunt Sallie, been reading them all since supper, infact have read them two or three times. It sure makes these awful long dark rainy days seem much shorter when I receive letters like these, almost makes us forget about them, at least for a time.
Am glad you are O. K., but do wish I could see you all tonight. We are still having some real winter for the past few days; snowed all day yesterday and still snowing this morning and real cold. We are still living in tents, but think we will move into the barracks tomorrow which does not suit me much. We have been in tents the most part of the winter and wish we could stay as they are more quiet. There are only eight in a tent and plenty of room to read and write, while in the barracks, there are 75 and some one is always raising a row. When in a tent if one starts a row we can throw him out and that is the last of it, which would be hard to do where there is so many.
Well, Mama, Mr. Caraway did us a great favor, only wish he will be as successful in the other work for us. Would be so glad to get word to report for discharge, would be one tickled boy. It looks as though we will be here two months at least if not longer.
Received two letters from Willie Wilkins and one from Letcher Langford.
When you were trying to trace me so glad to get them all, you should get 3 or 4 letters each week besides the cards. Also received the bunches of papers, candy and other things, was sure glad to get them, especially the Metholatum, it fixed my cold right away, am feeling first rate now. Have had hardship and lots of narrow escapes, had the flu with a 106 fever. When I came to myself the Dr. said I was a lucky boy. So Mama, feel that it has been our prayers that has protected me. I am now in a little company of 84 men and two officers, made up of men of almost all of the states. We are guarding 150 German prisoners. The Y. M. C. A. is a great help to the soldiers over here and they do not get enough credit for what they have done, all because some of the men that were in it were not honest or else did not care and only wanted to make a name and gain for himself. However it can be truthfully said that the most of them did a grand work, no matter what they say will always hold up for the Y. M. C. A., the Red Cross and the Salvation army, all have done a wonderful work for good. The two “Y” men here are so nice and try to get all they can for us. Was issued a box of candy a few days ago and here is a poster that was on it: “This candy manufactured from sugar allotted to us by the citizens of the State of Arkansas from saving made by their patriotic efforts in favor of the A. E. F. in France.” This shows that old Arkansas did her part to help fill the sweet tooth of the dough boys over here. The candy was real good and was made in New York State.
I certainly hope it won’t be long before we will sail for the good old U. S. A. It sure will be a sight for the Frenchmen, but America for Americans. It seems slow and a long wait, but then remember we are millions of miles over here and they are doing their best to get us home. Our president has done wonderful things and should be classed with Washington. Here is a souvenir I hope to bring back to you soon.
The souvenir I’m taking home
Is not a German gal;
It’s It’s not a German trench knife;
Nor yet a German hat.
It’s not a brazen buckle
Emblazened “Got Mit Uns”
It’s not a bunch of ringlets
Off dirigible balloons.
It’s not a German button,
Gas mask or piece of dress;
With souvenirs of that sort
I just bleed the S. O. S.
Such souvenirs are only trash,
And of them I have none,
The souvenir I am taking home
Is my Mother’s only son.
It is getting late so will close with lots of love and kisses,
Your son, brother and uncle,
MARVIN BIDDLE
NOTES: Marvin Biddle of Jonesboro was writing to his family. He was medium height with slender build. He had brown hair and gray eyes. He was born in Kansas on September 12, 1888. His family got very worried when they did not hear from him for 3 months. U. S. Representative, T. H. Caraway, was able to reach General Pershing’s staff and found out Biddle was safe and well and his mail was just delayed. He died January 24, 1964.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Souelly, France,
March 29 th, 1919,
Dear Mama and All:
Your long letters and clippings of March 6th and 12th received this evening at supper, also two from Mary and one from Aunt Sallie, been reading them all since supper, infact have read them two or three times. It sure makes these awful long dark rainy days seem much shorter when I receive letters like these, almost makes us forget about them, at least for a time.
Am glad you are O. K., but do wish I could see you all tonight. We are still having some real winter for the past few days; snowed all day yesterday and still snowing this morning and real cold. We are still living in tents, but think we will move into the barracks tomorrow which does not suit me much. We have been in tents the most part of the winter and wish we could stay as they are more quiet. There are only eight in a tent and plenty of room to read and write, while in the barracks, there are 75 and some one is always raising a row. When in a tent if one starts a row we can throw him out and that is the last of it, which would be hard to do where there is so many.
Well, Mama, Mr. Caraway did us a great favor, only wish he will be as successful in the other work for us. Would be so glad to get word to report for discharge, would be one tickled boy. It looks as though we will be here two months at least if not longer.
Received two letters from Willie Wilkins and one from Letcher Langford.
When you were trying to trace me so glad to get them all, you should get 3 or 4 letters each week besides the cards. Also received the bunches of papers, candy and other things, was sure glad to get them, especially the Metholatum, it fixed my cold right away, am feeling first rate now. Have had hardship and lots of narrow escapes, had the flu with a 106 fever. When I came to myself the Dr. said I was a lucky boy. So Mama, feel that it has been our prayers that has protected me. I am now in a little company of 84 men and two officers, made up of men of almost all of the states. We are guarding 150 German prisoners. The Y. M. C. A. is a great help to the soldiers over here and they do not get enough credit for what they have done, all because some of the men that were in it were not honest or else did not care and only wanted to make a name and gain for himself. However it can be truthfully said that the most of them did a grand work, no matter what they say will always hold up for the Y. M. C. A., the Red Cross and the Salvation army, all have done a wonderful work for good. The two “Y” men here are so nice and try to get all they can for us. Was issued a box of candy a few days ago and here is a poster that was on it: “This candy manufactured from sugar allotted to us by the citizens of the State of Arkansas from saving made by their patriotic efforts in favor of the A. E. F. in France.” This shows that old Arkansas did her part to help fill the sweet tooth of the dough boys over here. The candy was real good and was made in New York State.
I certainly hope it won’t be long before we will sail for the good old U. S. A. It sure will be a sight for the Frenchmen, but America for Americans. It seems slow and a long wait, but then remember we are millions of miles over here and they are doing their best to get us home. Our president has done wonderful things and should be classed with Washington. Here is a souvenir I hope to bring back to you soon.
The souvenir I’m taking home
Is not a German gal;
It’s It’s not a German trench knife;
Nor yet a German hat.
It’s not a brazen buckle
Emblazened “Got Mit Uns”
It’s not a bunch of ringlets
Off dirigible balloons.
It’s not a German button,
Gas mask or piece of dress;
With souvenirs of that sort
I just bleed the S. O. S.
Such souvenirs are only trash,
And of them I have none,
The souvenir I am taking home
Is my Mother’s only son.
It is getting late so will close with lots of love and kisses,
Your son, brother and uncle,
MARVIN BIDDLE
NOTES: Marvin Biddle of Jonesboro was writing to his family. He was medium height with slender build. He had brown hair and gray eyes. He was born in Kansas on September 12, 1888. His family got very worried when they did not hear from him for 3 months. U. S. Representative, T. H. Caraway, was able to reach General Pershing’s staff and found out Biddle was safe and well and his mail was just delayed. He died January 24, 1964.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT