TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER DEMOCRAT NOVEMBER 14, 1918 P. 4
Somewhere in France.
October 1, 1918.
Dear Uncle:
We are a happy bunch tonight as we received our first mail from home today and I don't think there was a man in the company that did not receive one or more letters. And for myself, I have received six, and among them was your letter, and I sure did enjoy it. But I think you have estimated me a great deal too high and am afraid you will be disappointed in me, but you can rest assured that when it comes tie to go over I will do like the rest and die if need be, because I do not intend to be taken prisoner.
There is a good chance for us to go to the front in a few days; in fact, some of the boys out of the company have already gone. Out of the six companies of us that came over together, about two thirds is all that are not on the front or near the front. We are located at a U.S. base on the coast, and what men we have left are assembling trucks and driving them to the front.
You asked for some "happenings." Well, to tell you the truth, we have not been in the place long enough to see much happen. We have been on the move most of the time, and that is the reason I have not written you sooner. I intended to write you as soon as we landed, but did not. So here goes for some "happenings."
To begin with, we did not sail from an American port. We were on the watery waste for two long weeks, and had some beautiful and some rough weather, and some of the boys had six meals a day--three down and three up. But i did not get sick on the way across; but we will come to that later. I had a hammock in the center of the boat, so I suppose that accounts for my not being sick.
About three days out from this side we had some excitement, and the outcome was in our favor. I have all the dope, but can not put it out now. We landed first in England and spent two days in a rest camp there, and then we crossed the Channel to France. And crossing the Channel is where I lost everything I had eaten for three days. But I was not the only one. Nearly every man on board but members of the crew was sick, and if you could have been there, and not been sick you would have enjoyed the best show you ever saw. Some of the boys swore they would not cross the Channel again till it froze over so they could skate across. I said I did not want to cross but once more, and that was when I was on my way to the good old U.S.A. But we were feeling fine when we hit land in France, and after spending three days in a rest camp we all felt like three-year-olds.
We took the train after leaving the rest camp and have been seeing some of the real field service, as they call it, such as riding in box cars three or four days at a time, and living in dog tents, rain, mud and other things that might be mentioned, such as eating cold rations for a week at a time. One of the American barracks in the States would look like a mansion to the boys over here. But regardless of all this, we are all happy and want to do our share.
We are located in an American camp now and have barracks to live in, and have a Y.M.C.A. here, the first we have seen for several days--and believe me, you can appreciate one on this side. The camp is about two miles from town and I have just been to town one time. It is a nice town, population about 100,000. No street cars, and narrow streets where some of our army trucks can hardly pass. Things sell about twice as high here as they do out through the country. The reason for this is there are a lot of American soldiers here, and wherever you find them you will find high prices.
You asked about the feminine. You will notice I did not put that first, but will say there is lots of wine and women in this country. But they are human. No doubt you have heard lots of tales of this country, just like I did before I came over here. But after seeing what I have (and I have seen quite a bit of France considering the time I have been here) I have summed it all up, and will say they are about one thousand years behind the times and are a very simple people and figure that a man would get dam tired of living over here four or five years. But they are beginning to wake up since the Americans are coming over. Believe me, they adore the Americans, and the French people admit the Germans would have been in Paris today had it not been for the Americans. You can not imagine what the Americans have done for these people until you have seen it. They have brought locomotives, cars, built railroads; in fact, they have advanced this country a hundred years. You should see the trains they have in France and England. The box cars have high wheels, and will not hold as much as some of the big trucks Uncle Sam has over here. And the locomotives--the engines on the D. and R. (old No. 8, for instance) would look like a mogul beside them.
Well, uncle, after reading the above you doubtless think I do not think much of this country. But they are due all the credit and all the help we can give them. After carrying on the war as they have for four years the country is due to be run down And naturally you see it in a different light when you come over to fight from what one would coming on a pleasure trip in peace times. We have seen some beautiful country, and some of the best people. You could not ask to be treated better than you are treated here. In most of the country I have been through you would not realize a war is going on except from the very few men you see. All you do see are in uniform, and most of them wounded. All the able-bodied men are on the fronts. The occupation of most of the people where we have been is raising grapes and other fruits, but mostly grapes, and wine flows in this country. It sells all the way from 1 to 3 francs per quart. A franc is about 20c in our money. You can also buy champagne and port wine at 8 to 10c per quart.
In regard to the women, I have seen some beautiful women. And I have picked up a little French, but not yet enough to amount to anything. But women is the least of my worries, and you would be surprised to see how all the boys feel about the women. Of course they like to talk to them, and all of that, but we did not come over here on a pleasure trip to see the women and the country, but to whip the Kaiser, and the boys are all anxious to get at the job and have it over with And believe me, they are giving them hell right at the present.
We have seen a great many German prisoners, and they all seem to be satisfied to be prisoners. They respect the Americans, you can tell by the expression on their faces when you go about them. I have seen quite a few prisoners who belonged in the Prussian Guards.
Will say in conclusion that we all know that we are fighting for the best country in the world and are backed by the best government in existence, and are willing if necessary to fight to the last man for our country. This is not only my own opinion, but the opinion of every man on this side.
As you say, it will be a grand and glorious feeling when we return home victorious, and I hope to be one of the ones to say that I came over and did my bit, whatever God may see fit for me to do. I could write all night, but will close and write you again in a few days. With a heart full of love, I am
Your nephew,
WM. J. RAGSDALE.
Co. F., 312th Supply Train.
American Expeditionary Forces.
NOTES: William Joe Ragsdale was born in Pottsville, Arkansas on May 8, 1895 and died on September 3, 1974. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Russellville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a QM Sgt. serving in the US Army during WWI. This letter was written to his Uncle Lewis Ragsdale who was the postmaster.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Somewhere in France.
October 1, 1918.
Dear Uncle:
We are a happy bunch tonight as we received our first mail from home today and I don't think there was a man in the company that did not receive one or more letters. And for myself, I have received six, and among them was your letter, and I sure did enjoy it. But I think you have estimated me a great deal too high and am afraid you will be disappointed in me, but you can rest assured that when it comes tie to go over I will do like the rest and die if need be, because I do not intend to be taken prisoner.
There is a good chance for us to go to the front in a few days; in fact, some of the boys out of the company have already gone. Out of the six companies of us that came over together, about two thirds is all that are not on the front or near the front. We are located at a U.S. base on the coast, and what men we have left are assembling trucks and driving them to the front.
You asked for some "happenings." Well, to tell you the truth, we have not been in the place long enough to see much happen. We have been on the move most of the time, and that is the reason I have not written you sooner. I intended to write you as soon as we landed, but did not. So here goes for some "happenings."
To begin with, we did not sail from an American port. We were on the watery waste for two long weeks, and had some beautiful and some rough weather, and some of the boys had six meals a day--three down and three up. But i did not get sick on the way across; but we will come to that later. I had a hammock in the center of the boat, so I suppose that accounts for my not being sick.
About three days out from this side we had some excitement, and the outcome was in our favor. I have all the dope, but can not put it out now. We landed first in England and spent two days in a rest camp there, and then we crossed the Channel to France. And crossing the Channel is where I lost everything I had eaten for three days. But I was not the only one. Nearly every man on board but members of the crew was sick, and if you could have been there, and not been sick you would have enjoyed the best show you ever saw. Some of the boys swore they would not cross the Channel again till it froze over so they could skate across. I said I did not want to cross but once more, and that was when I was on my way to the good old U.S.A. But we were feeling fine when we hit land in France, and after spending three days in a rest camp we all felt like three-year-olds.
We took the train after leaving the rest camp and have been seeing some of the real field service, as they call it, such as riding in box cars three or four days at a time, and living in dog tents, rain, mud and other things that might be mentioned, such as eating cold rations for a week at a time. One of the American barracks in the States would look like a mansion to the boys over here. But regardless of all this, we are all happy and want to do our share.
We are located in an American camp now and have barracks to live in, and have a Y.M.C.A. here, the first we have seen for several days--and believe me, you can appreciate one on this side. The camp is about two miles from town and I have just been to town one time. It is a nice town, population about 100,000. No street cars, and narrow streets where some of our army trucks can hardly pass. Things sell about twice as high here as they do out through the country. The reason for this is there are a lot of American soldiers here, and wherever you find them you will find high prices.
You asked about the feminine. You will notice I did not put that first, but will say there is lots of wine and women in this country. But they are human. No doubt you have heard lots of tales of this country, just like I did before I came over here. But after seeing what I have (and I have seen quite a bit of France considering the time I have been here) I have summed it all up, and will say they are about one thousand years behind the times and are a very simple people and figure that a man would get dam tired of living over here four or five years. But they are beginning to wake up since the Americans are coming over. Believe me, they adore the Americans, and the French people admit the Germans would have been in Paris today had it not been for the Americans. You can not imagine what the Americans have done for these people until you have seen it. They have brought locomotives, cars, built railroads; in fact, they have advanced this country a hundred years. You should see the trains they have in France and England. The box cars have high wheels, and will not hold as much as some of the big trucks Uncle Sam has over here. And the locomotives--the engines on the D. and R. (old No. 8, for instance) would look like a mogul beside them.
Well, uncle, after reading the above you doubtless think I do not think much of this country. But they are due all the credit and all the help we can give them. After carrying on the war as they have for four years the country is due to be run down And naturally you see it in a different light when you come over to fight from what one would coming on a pleasure trip in peace times. We have seen some beautiful country, and some of the best people. You could not ask to be treated better than you are treated here. In most of the country I have been through you would not realize a war is going on except from the very few men you see. All you do see are in uniform, and most of them wounded. All the able-bodied men are on the fronts. The occupation of most of the people where we have been is raising grapes and other fruits, but mostly grapes, and wine flows in this country. It sells all the way from 1 to 3 francs per quart. A franc is about 20c in our money. You can also buy champagne and port wine at 8 to 10c per quart.
In regard to the women, I have seen some beautiful women. And I have picked up a little French, but not yet enough to amount to anything. But women is the least of my worries, and you would be surprised to see how all the boys feel about the women. Of course they like to talk to them, and all of that, but we did not come over here on a pleasure trip to see the women and the country, but to whip the Kaiser, and the boys are all anxious to get at the job and have it over with And believe me, they are giving them hell right at the present.
We have seen a great many German prisoners, and they all seem to be satisfied to be prisoners. They respect the Americans, you can tell by the expression on their faces when you go about them. I have seen quite a few prisoners who belonged in the Prussian Guards.
Will say in conclusion that we all know that we are fighting for the best country in the world and are backed by the best government in existence, and are willing if necessary to fight to the last man for our country. This is not only my own opinion, but the opinion of every man on this side.
As you say, it will be a grand and glorious feeling when we return home victorious, and I hope to be one of the ones to say that I came over and did my bit, whatever God may see fit for me to do. I could write all night, but will close and write you again in a few days. With a heart full of love, I am
Your nephew,
WM. J. RAGSDALE.
Co. F., 312th Supply Train.
American Expeditionary Forces.
NOTES: William Joe Ragsdale was born in Pottsville, Arkansas on May 8, 1895 and died on September 3, 1974. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Russellville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a QM Sgt. serving in the US Army during WWI. This letter was written to his Uncle Lewis Ragsdale who was the postmaster.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD