TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MOUNTAIN WAVE AUGUST 23, 1918 P. 2
Somewhere in France, July 12, 1918—W. W. Massey, Landis, Ark
My Dear Brother:
I will answer your letter that I just received. I was proud to hear from you. No doubt you have heard of my safe arrival overseas. Well, I arrived safe and enjoyed myself fine, when I wasn’t seasick. I was sick only one day.
Well, this letter leaves me feeling fine and hope this will find you all the same. Well, Bud, I like this country fine. The climate is fine and the water is good. I have seen several sights since my arrival in this country. When we first arrived the little French children were standing on the streets, wearing their wooden shoes, singing. “Hail! Hail! The gang’s all here—What the (H–) do we care!”
I am satisfied over here. Of course, I would like to see you all, but I can’t right at present. But I don’t believe it will be very long before I can see you all back at home. I am getting plenty to eat over here and I am treated good. We have good officers and they are good to us. My drill over here is interesting and I like it fine. If I could see you I could tell you something that would be interesting to you.
This country is all in cultivation. There isn’t any land “laying out.” Most of the French people wear wooden shoes. I saw several whales on my voyage over here, and also some flying fish. You ought to see me trying to talk to the French people. I am worse than John Maxey to motion. Some of the boys went to a house to buy some eggs and they didn’t know how to ask for them. This is the way they asked for them: One of them cackled like a chicken, and the other acted like he was breaking eggs. So they got their eggs. I can get all the milk that I want.
Write and tell me all the good news that you may know. Was Purdy in that last draft that was called the 20th of June? Bud, tell Wayne Martin to write to me. In fact, tell all of the folks to write to me. I will appreciate the county paper. Put in a subscription for me and have it sent to me every week. I haven’t heard from home since I have been over here, but I guess I haven’t had time yet. I will close for this time. Answer soon. Your brother,
Pvt. S. E. Massey
Co. B, 110th M. G. Bn.
Am. E. F.
NOTES: Samuel Edward Massey was born in Leslie, Arkansas on September 25, 1894 and died on November 9, 1957 in San Diego, California.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France, July 12, 1918—W. W. Massey, Landis, Ark
My Dear Brother:
I will answer your letter that I just received. I was proud to hear from you. No doubt you have heard of my safe arrival overseas. Well, I arrived safe and enjoyed myself fine, when I wasn’t seasick. I was sick only one day.
Well, this letter leaves me feeling fine and hope this will find you all the same. Well, Bud, I like this country fine. The climate is fine and the water is good. I have seen several sights since my arrival in this country. When we first arrived the little French children were standing on the streets, wearing their wooden shoes, singing. “Hail! Hail! The gang’s all here—What the (H–) do we care!”
I am satisfied over here. Of course, I would like to see you all, but I can’t right at present. But I don’t believe it will be very long before I can see you all back at home. I am getting plenty to eat over here and I am treated good. We have good officers and they are good to us. My drill over here is interesting and I like it fine. If I could see you I could tell you something that would be interesting to you.
This country is all in cultivation. There isn’t any land “laying out.” Most of the French people wear wooden shoes. I saw several whales on my voyage over here, and also some flying fish. You ought to see me trying to talk to the French people. I am worse than John Maxey to motion. Some of the boys went to a house to buy some eggs and they didn’t know how to ask for them. This is the way they asked for them: One of them cackled like a chicken, and the other acted like he was breaking eggs. So they got their eggs. I can get all the milk that I want.
Write and tell me all the good news that you may know. Was Purdy in that last draft that was called the 20th of June? Bud, tell Wayne Martin to write to me. In fact, tell all of the folks to write to me. I will appreciate the county paper. Put in a subscription for me and have it sent to me every week. I haven’t heard from home since I have been over here, but I guess I haven’t had time yet. I will close for this time. Answer soon. Your brother,
Pvt. S. E. Massey
Co. B, 110th M. G. Bn.
Am. E. F.
NOTES: Samuel Edward Massey was born in Leslie, Arkansas on September 25, 1894 and died on November 9, 1957 in San Diego, California.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS