TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT NOVEMBER 14, 1918 P. 1
My Dear Wife:
I will try and answer the letter that I received from you some time ago; haven't had time to answer them. Have just come back from the front line trenches. Guess you have seen in the papers what the 35th Division has done by this time.
Beer costs us one franc and a half bottle and a franc is a piece of coin the size of a quarter and its value is 17 1/2 cents in our money. The paper money is just like wall paper at home.
I don't know the name of the town where I am now, but it isn't much of a town. I am getting along fine. I sure have seen a greater part of France, and have been in several towns that have been all shot to pieces. The Germans have sure ruined the French towns. Don't know how long we will be out for a rest.
I never have seen anyone from home. Wish you would send me Andrew Nail's company, regiment and division number and some of the Monte Ne boys' numbers so I can look them up.
Have had to dodge lots of big shells; sure keeps a man guessing. The French people are all happy as larks the last few days; they think peace will come soon. They think the Americans are the hot stuff but when we were in a German town they were not very good to us. We sure made the Boche take for tall timber on all the fronts. The 35th Division advanced fifteen kilometers in five days.
I have two dutch horses that one of my wagoners captured.
Will close, hoping to hear from you soon.
Bruce
NOTES: Bruce McGarrah was writing to his wife Cora. He was born in Rogers, Arkansas on March 6, 1891 and died on November 17, 1952. He is buried in the Rogers City Cemetery in Rogers, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Sgt. serving in Hdq. Co. 130 MG Bn. He enlisted on June 4, 1917 and was discharged on April 10, 1919. He departed Brest, France on March 12, 1919 onboard the North Carolina. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 24, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
My Dear Wife:
I will try and answer the letter that I received from you some time ago; haven't had time to answer them. Have just come back from the front line trenches. Guess you have seen in the papers what the 35th Division has done by this time.
Beer costs us one franc and a half bottle and a franc is a piece of coin the size of a quarter and its value is 17 1/2 cents in our money. The paper money is just like wall paper at home.
I don't know the name of the town where I am now, but it isn't much of a town. I am getting along fine. I sure have seen a greater part of France, and have been in several towns that have been all shot to pieces. The Germans have sure ruined the French towns. Don't know how long we will be out for a rest.
I never have seen anyone from home. Wish you would send me Andrew Nail's company, regiment and division number and some of the Monte Ne boys' numbers so I can look them up.
Have had to dodge lots of big shells; sure keeps a man guessing. The French people are all happy as larks the last few days; they think peace will come soon. They think the Americans are the hot stuff but when we were in a German town they were not very good to us. We sure made the Boche take for tall timber on all the fronts. The 35th Division advanced fifteen kilometers in five days.
I have two dutch horses that one of my wagoners captured.
Will close, hoping to hear from you soon.
Bruce
NOTES: Bruce McGarrah was writing to his wife Cora. He was born in Rogers, Arkansas on March 6, 1891 and died on November 17, 1952. He is buried in the Rogers City Cemetery in Rogers, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Sgt. serving in Hdq. Co. 130 MG Bn. He enlisted on June 4, 1917 and was discharged on April 10, 1919. He departed Brest, France on March 12, 1919 onboard the North Carolina. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 24, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD