TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTYADVANCE REPORTER OCTOBER 31, 1918 P. 1
Pons, France, Sept. 15, 1918.
My Dear Aunt:
No doubt but that you know I am in France now. How have you been getting along? I sure hope you are standing the hot weather this summer. I am feeling as fine as I ever did.
Would like to tell you of the trip across but of course I can not but may be some day I can. We had ideal weather most of the time. I didn't get sick, only a little dizzy once. I really enjoyed coming over although the sleeping quarters and eats could have been better, but we are in war and can not get the best of things.
We first landed in an English rest camp for a couple of days of rest then came to France. After landing in France, we hiked five miles to another rest camp for 18 hours of rest, then we were shipped to Pons, (our present location) in box cars, like cattle. The cars are not any larger than a street car and we had forty men in a car so you can imagine how we were packed.
Pons is a very old city about the size of Mena. The streets are very narrow--and there are no walks. All the buildings are jammed together and everything seems to be walled in, they were built in 1300.
The country is very beautiful, the hills look like the hills in Virginia, although I had rather be where I could see the Virginia hills instead of these, as I can not understand these French people. Though they are very friendly.
I wish you would call up Mrs. Vise and Marie and find out Joe's and Lester's address--as I am sure Lester is near here somewhere, and if he is I would like to see him.
There are no autos here. You can see old men and women riding bicycles.
Be sure and write me once a week and also send the Reporter. With love to all.
Guy May.
87th Div. Hdqrs.
Div. Surgeon Office,
Amer. Exped. Forces,
Via New York.
NOTES: This letter was written by Guy Godfrey May to his Aunt Mrs. John T. Forrester of Waldron, Arkansas. He was born in Winthrop, Arkansas on October 23, 1895 and died on March 28, 1966. He is buried in the Duncan Cemetery in Scott County Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Private in Co. I 154 Depot Brigade in World War I. He departed Ney York, NY onboard the Caronia on August 24, 1918. He was serving as a Private in 87 Division Hq. Detachment. He departed St. Nazaire, France on January 10, 1919 onboard the Manchuria. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on January 22, 1919. He was serving as a Private in 87 Division Hq. Detachment.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Pons, France, Sept. 15, 1918.
My Dear Aunt:
No doubt but that you know I am in France now. How have you been getting along? I sure hope you are standing the hot weather this summer. I am feeling as fine as I ever did.
Would like to tell you of the trip across but of course I can not but may be some day I can. We had ideal weather most of the time. I didn't get sick, only a little dizzy once. I really enjoyed coming over although the sleeping quarters and eats could have been better, but we are in war and can not get the best of things.
We first landed in an English rest camp for a couple of days of rest then came to France. After landing in France, we hiked five miles to another rest camp for 18 hours of rest, then we were shipped to Pons, (our present location) in box cars, like cattle. The cars are not any larger than a street car and we had forty men in a car so you can imagine how we were packed.
Pons is a very old city about the size of Mena. The streets are very narrow--and there are no walks. All the buildings are jammed together and everything seems to be walled in, they were built in 1300.
The country is very beautiful, the hills look like the hills in Virginia, although I had rather be where I could see the Virginia hills instead of these, as I can not understand these French people. Though they are very friendly.
I wish you would call up Mrs. Vise and Marie and find out Joe's and Lester's address--as I am sure Lester is near here somewhere, and if he is I would like to see him.
There are no autos here. You can see old men and women riding bicycles.
Be sure and write me once a week and also send the Reporter. With love to all.
Guy May.
87th Div. Hdqrs.
Div. Surgeon Office,
Amer. Exped. Forces,
Via New York.
NOTES: This letter was written by Guy Godfrey May to his Aunt Mrs. John T. Forrester of Waldron, Arkansas. He was born in Winthrop, Arkansas on October 23, 1895 and died on March 28, 1966. He is buried in the Duncan Cemetery in Scott County Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Private in Co. I 154 Depot Brigade in World War I. He departed Ney York, NY onboard the Caronia on August 24, 1918. He was serving as a Private in 87 Division Hq. Detachment. He departed St. Nazaire, France on January 10, 1919 onboard the Manchuria. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on January 22, 1919. He was serving as a Private in 87 Division Hq. Detachment.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD