TRANSCRIBED FROM THE WHITE RIVER JOURNAL FEBRUARY 13, 1919 P. 1
A.P.O. No, 727, Dec. 28, 1918.
Sambin, France, "A.E.F."
Mrs. Fannie E. Patterson,
My dear Sweet Mother:
Well, this is Saturday and "Inspection" is over. the boys are scattered about the little village of Sambin some doing one thing and some doing another and "I" am writing to my dear mother, see! I am sure you do not get all the letters that I write you so I write quite often. I know I don't get all the letters you post to me for I have only received about three or four from you.
Mamma, I do not know where I will go from here. Some of us are going up as "replacements" in just a few day: that is, I heard we were going. Some will go some where else. I think this whole "outfit" gets out of this camp.
I received a letter from Flora (my sister) yesterday, posted Dec. 3rd. She said she was getting along fine. She said more than that. She said it would be a wise idea for me to stay over here and attend school at some of these French Universities a year or two on the U.S. Government's expenses. My! She must think I like this country. She is like some others from the old U.S.A. They call this "Sunny France," but I call it "Rainy France," I've seen it rain nearly every day I've been in France. I don't like the climate at all. Christmas Day I saw it snow a little. It also sleeted a few minutes one day. The weather has not been extremely cold yet.
Well, I voice the sentiment of the most of the boys when I say they can't get me back to the States too soon. The quickest way is too slow for me. I have an idea it is very cold up in the New England States, I suppose that is where we will land when we go back. It may be summer time though, when we return.
Mamma, being a soldier in a foreign country is not like it is in your own country. If any soldiers ever deserved credit for their service in war it certainly is the boys of the "A.E.F." Many of them have seen very hard times. So many things have taken place in this great war that many people know absolutely nothing about. I saw a good easy time at old Camp Pike compared with what I have seen over here. But--I will be home again some day and will sit down and tell you some few things that will interest you I'm sure.
I'm so sorry to hear of Bedford Bethell's death, Flora sent me a clipping she cut from the Journal, giving an account of it. I always liked Bedford and it was a shock to me. Many sad hearts on the account of this war.
No, Mamma, I have never heard from Rufus since before he left Camp Beauregard, La. I am not uneasy about him though--he is big enough to take care of himself. Ha! ha! We will be home again some time. I go home nearly every night--in my dreams.
Well, I believe I shall close, as it is very hard for me to collect my thoughts when a bunch of boys are sitting around me talking to me about going back home. "When I go home" I've heard so many times. Good bye for time,
your loving son,
Sgt. Floyd Patterson,
Co. M. 161st Inft., A.E.F.
NOTE:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
A.P.O. No, 727, Dec. 28, 1918.
Sambin, France, "A.E.F."
Mrs. Fannie E. Patterson,
My dear Sweet Mother:
Well, this is Saturday and "Inspection" is over. the boys are scattered about the little village of Sambin some doing one thing and some doing another and "I" am writing to my dear mother, see! I am sure you do not get all the letters that I write you so I write quite often. I know I don't get all the letters you post to me for I have only received about three or four from you.
Mamma, I do not know where I will go from here. Some of us are going up as "replacements" in just a few day: that is, I heard we were going. Some will go some where else. I think this whole "outfit" gets out of this camp.
I received a letter from Flora (my sister) yesterday, posted Dec. 3rd. She said she was getting along fine. She said more than that. She said it would be a wise idea for me to stay over here and attend school at some of these French Universities a year or two on the U.S. Government's expenses. My! She must think I like this country. She is like some others from the old U.S.A. They call this "Sunny France," but I call it "Rainy France," I've seen it rain nearly every day I've been in France. I don't like the climate at all. Christmas Day I saw it snow a little. It also sleeted a few minutes one day. The weather has not been extremely cold yet.
Well, I voice the sentiment of the most of the boys when I say they can't get me back to the States too soon. The quickest way is too slow for me. I have an idea it is very cold up in the New England States, I suppose that is where we will land when we go back. It may be summer time though, when we return.
Mamma, being a soldier in a foreign country is not like it is in your own country. If any soldiers ever deserved credit for their service in war it certainly is the boys of the "A.E.F." Many of them have seen very hard times. So many things have taken place in this great war that many people know absolutely nothing about. I saw a good easy time at old Camp Pike compared with what I have seen over here. But--I will be home again some day and will sit down and tell you some few things that will interest you I'm sure.
I'm so sorry to hear of Bedford Bethell's death, Flora sent me a clipping she cut from the Journal, giving an account of it. I always liked Bedford and it was a shock to me. Many sad hearts on the account of this war.
No, Mamma, I have never heard from Rufus since before he left Camp Beauregard, La. I am not uneasy about him though--he is big enough to take care of himself. Ha! ha! We will be home again some time. I go home nearly every night--in my dreams.
Well, I believe I shall close, as it is very hard for me to collect my thoughts when a bunch of boys are sitting around me talking to me about going back home. "When I go home" I've heard so many times. Good bye for time,
your loving son,
Sgt. Floyd Patterson,
Co. M. 161st Inft., A.E.F.
NOTE:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD