TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT JUNE 5, 1919 P. 1
May 11
Dear Mother and Father:
They say "This is Mother's Day; write her a letter," so I will try. It has been so long since I have written I hardly know where to begin. I could have written sooner but was taken to the hospital about three weeks ago and didn't want to write home while I was sick: only had rheumatism with some fever.
Have been back on the job now about a week. While I was in the hospital my outfit moved a few miles and if I did not have a sweet time getting my belongigs together again. I haven't got them all yet. I still have some clothes in Helferskirchen that was in the wash when I left and my pistol and belt and helmet are still in Co. B. I don't need the pistol as it would be that much more to take care of and I have plenty of clothes so I am getting along fine.
We are having lovely weather here. The sun shines bright and the grass looks fine. Crops look good and farmers are busy planting potatoes and doing their spring work.
Well, since writing the above I have been to the pasture after the mules. We have about ten acres fenced off that pastures about eighty head of mules. Some pasture, isn't it? They ate all the grass the first day but it makes a good place for them to roll and play. The pasture is about a mile and a half from here.
If tomorrow is a pretty day Grammer and I are going to a nearby town and have our pictures made taken with four mules and the wagon.
We had an inspection yesterday. I was supposed to be general inspector but it was done by the mayor. We had eighteen four-mule teams and wagons. Our mules have all been clipped and we made a good showing with our wagons washed and harness all cleaned and brass polished. I was a little uneasy because I didn't have my pistol but nothing was said.
It is rumored that the first division leaves here simetime this month for the states. If that is true we ought to be home sometime in June, but I don't put much faith in it myself. I have heard too many rumors to have much faith in any of them. I understand that we are to keep an army in Germany for fifteen years. If that is true, I may come home some day with a nice white beard.
You don't know how glad I was to hear that Troley Spencer was home. In that last drive thru Arogonne I saw a grave with a dog tag nailed to it and it said "T.D. Spencer." I have the location as near as it was possible for me to get it but I would not write it home before. When I heard that he was home I felt better than I had for sometime. Lots of our boys are resting where they probably will never be found and some of them it would be impossible to recognize if they were found.
Got a letter from Edna the same time I got your last one. I meant to have answered it before now haven't got to it yet. I hope I can answer it in person. I am a better hand to talk than I am to write and am lots easier to start talking than I am to get started towriting.
I haven't heard from Steve and Julia for some time but suppose they are all right. One reason for not writing is the lack of paper. This is the first I have had for a month and am on my last sheet so will have to close "toot sweet." Excuse pencil for ink is harder to get than paper. This is all for this time.
Write soon.
Pvt. Morgan Miller,
NOTES: Miller was writing from Oberhaid, Germany to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Willis Miller.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
May 11
Dear Mother and Father:
They say "This is Mother's Day; write her a letter," so I will try. It has been so long since I have written I hardly know where to begin. I could have written sooner but was taken to the hospital about three weeks ago and didn't want to write home while I was sick: only had rheumatism with some fever.
Have been back on the job now about a week. While I was in the hospital my outfit moved a few miles and if I did not have a sweet time getting my belongigs together again. I haven't got them all yet. I still have some clothes in Helferskirchen that was in the wash when I left and my pistol and belt and helmet are still in Co. B. I don't need the pistol as it would be that much more to take care of and I have plenty of clothes so I am getting along fine.
We are having lovely weather here. The sun shines bright and the grass looks fine. Crops look good and farmers are busy planting potatoes and doing their spring work.
Well, since writing the above I have been to the pasture after the mules. We have about ten acres fenced off that pastures about eighty head of mules. Some pasture, isn't it? They ate all the grass the first day but it makes a good place for them to roll and play. The pasture is about a mile and a half from here.
If tomorrow is a pretty day Grammer and I are going to a nearby town and have our pictures made taken with four mules and the wagon.
We had an inspection yesterday. I was supposed to be general inspector but it was done by the mayor. We had eighteen four-mule teams and wagons. Our mules have all been clipped and we made a good showing with our wagons washed and harness all cleaned and brass polished. I was a little uneasy because I didn't have my pistol but nothing was said.
It is rumored that the first division leaves here simetime this month for the states. If that is true we ought to be home sometime in June, but I don't put much faith in it myself. I have heard too many rumors to have much faith in any of them. I understand that we are to keep an army in Germany for fifteen years. If that is true, I may come home some day with a nice white beard.
You don't know how glad I was to hear that Troley Spencer was home. In that last drive thru Arogonne I saw a grave with a dog tag nailed to it and it said "T.D. Spencer." I have the location as near as it was possible for me to get it but I would not write it home before. When I heard that he was home I felt better than I had for sometime. Lots of our boys are resting where they probably will never be found and some of them it would be impossible to recognize if they were found.
Got a letter from Edna the same time I got your last one. I meant to have answered it before now haven't got to it yet. I hope I can answer it in person. I am a better hand to talk than I am to write and am lots easier to start talking than I am to get started towriting.
I haven't heard from Steve and Julia for some time but suppose they are all right. One reason for not writing is the lack of paper. This is the first I have had for a month and am on my last sheet so will have to close "toot sweet." Excuse pencil for ink is harder to get than paper. This is all for this time.
Write soon.
Pvt. Morgan Miller,
NOTES: Miller was writing from Oberhaid, Germany to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Willis Miller.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD