TRANSCRIBED FROM THE STAR OFHOPE DECEMBER 21, 1918 P. 1
We are now with the 51st. Engineers, and are located at Camp DeGrasse, just out of Tours, the third largest and the most beautiful city of France. Needless to say we like our new location, and, too, we are in one of the real U. S. army camps over here, with real barracks, bath house (which are indeed a luxury in this country) electric lights, etc. Our regiment, and in fact our entire division, was torn up about three weeks ago, and the bands are the only units left intact. We were moved from St. Romain on Tuesday of this week. Tours is the first real city I have seen since landing in France, and since the armistice was signed the lights are all burning again and the old French spirit of gayety and life is in full swing. There are many beautiful things to be seen in and about Tours. I was down town yesterday afternoon after a big turkey dinner at the camp, and attended the American Thanksgiving service at the Y. M. C. A. theatre. There is a big “Y” here in camp, with a picture show every night and other special attractions, and down town there is as good an American “Y” as you will find in most any city in the States. Admission to one of the largest theatres in Tours is also free to the boys of the A. E. F. We certainly have lots to be thankful for this year, and the only thing lacking now is the opportunity to go back to the only country in the world. We can’t tell when that will be, but expect it to be soon. Of course I am very sorry that I cannot be at home Christmas, but we have had so many blessings in regard to the ending of the war that I think we should not grumble.
NOTES: This is a partial letter written on November 29th by Albert Briant McCorkle who is serving in the First Arkansas Band which later became the 153rd Infantry Band. He was writing to a brother. He was born on October 15, 1894 in San Antonio, Texas and died in Dallas, Texas on June 10, 1968. He departed for France from Newport News, Virginia on board the Huron on August 6, 1918. He was a musician with the headquarters company. He returned to the US from Brest on August 9, 1919 on board the Koningin Der Nederlanden. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 19. He was with the HQ. DET. 6TH ENGINEERS. His rank was 2nd Musician. He is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving as 1st Musician, 6th Engineers.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
We are now with the 51st. Engineers, and are located at Camp DeGrasse, just out of Tours, the third largest and the most beautiful city of France. Needless to say we like our new location, and, too, we are in one of the real U. S. army camps over here, with real barracks, bath house (which are indeed a luxury in this country) electric lights, etc. Our regiment, and in fact our entire division, was torn up about three weeks ago, and the bands are the only units left intact. We were moved from St. Romain on Tuesday of this week. Tours is the first real city I have seen since landing in France, and since the armistice was signed the lights are all burning again and the old French spirit of gayety and life is in full swing. There are many beautiful things to be seen in and about Tours. I was down town yesterday afternoon after a big turkey dinner at the camp, and attended the American Thanksgiving service at the Y. M. C. A. theatre. There is a big “Y” here in camp, with a picture show every night and other special attractions, and down town there is as good an American “Y” as you will find in most any city in the States. Admission to one of the largest theatres in Tours is also free to the boys of the A. E. F. We certainly have lots to be thankful for this year, and the only thing lacking now is the opportunity to go back to the only country in the world. We can’t tell when that will be, but expect it to be soon. Of course I am very sorry that I cannot be at home Christmas, but we have had so many blessings in regard to the ending of the war that I think we should not grumble.
NOTES: This is a partial letter written on November 29th by Albert Briant McCorkle who is serving in the First Arkansas Band which later became the 153rd Infantry Band. He was writing to a brother. He was born on October 15, 1894 in San Antonio, Texas and died in Dallas, Texas on June 10, 1968. He departed for France from Newport News, Virginia on board the Huron on August 6, 1918. He was a musician with the headquarters company. He returned to the US from Brest on August 9, 1919 on board the Koningin Der Nederlanden. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 19. He was with the HQ. DET. 6TH ENGINEERS. His rank was 2nd Musician. He is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving as 1st Musician, 6th Engineers.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS