TRANSCRIBED FROM THE WEEKLY SOLIPHONE AUGUST 15, 1918, P. 7
I have almost quit writing entirely since I get no mail. I dislike writing letters anyway and when you never get any replies it seems more than ever a waste of time. I haven’t received a letter since leaving the states which has not been so long, but it seems awfully long to me. I have talked with boys who have been over here for six months and have not had a letter from home yet. There seems to be something wrong with the mail service.
I was taken out of the infantry at the classification camp soon after arriving, and assigned to the postal service. Having been working in one of the army postal offices on account of my experience in the railway mail service in the states. I have been put in charge of a crew on the road.
The government is organizing a new system of handling the American soldiers’ mail which will (they think) avoid such unnecessary delays in the delivery of mail over here.
There is nothing that seems to dishearten the boys at the front so much as failure to receive any news from home.
I notice in yesterday’s paper that Ranzie Adams of Paragould has been killed in action. I think he came over with us from Camp Beauregard. Most of the boys I came over with have gone to the front, I understand.
There are so many interesting things to be seen over here. I saw a cathedral a few days ago that was almost 800 years old. You see very few new buildings, either in the city or the country. When they build anything here they expect it to last forever. Wooden buildings are never seen.
Most all of the work is done by the women, and it matters not what hardships they have you never hear them complain.
Of course every one is anxious for the war to end but the French people are determined to fight to the finish regardless of the cost. They have already paid an awful price but are still fighting and will fight till the last man.
NOTES: Letter ends abruptly. Letter written by Private H. D. Reeves to his grandfather, G. C. Reeves of Paragould. Private Reeves is with the postal service.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
I have almost quit writing entirely since I get no mail. I dislike writing letters anyway and when you never get any replies it seems more than ever a waste of time. I haven’t received a letter since leaving the states which has not been so long, but it seems awfully long to me. I have talked with boys who have been over here for six months and have not had a letter from home yet. There seems to be something wrong with the mail service.
I was taken out of the infantry at the classification camp soon after arriving, and assigned to the postal service. Having been working in one of the army postal offices on account of my experience in the railway mail service in the states. I have been put in charge of a crew on the road.
The government is organizing a new system of handling the American soldiers’ mail which will (they think) avoid such unnecessary delays in the delivery of mail over here.
There is nothing that seems to dishearten the boys at the front so much as failure to receive any news from home.
I notice in yesterday’s paper that Ranzie Adams of Paragould has been killed in action. I think he came over with us from Camp Beauregard. Most of the boys I came over with have gone to the front, I understand.
There are so many interesting things to be seen over here. I saw a cathedral a few days ago that was almost 800 years old. You see very few new buildings, either in the city or the country. When they build anything here they expect it to last forever. Wooden buildings are never seen.
Most all of the work is done by the women, and it matters not what hardships they have you never hear them complain.
Of course every one is anxious for the war to end but the French people are determined to fight to the finish regardless of the cost. They have already paid an awful price but are still fighting and will fight till the last man.
NOTES: Letter ends abruptly. Letter written by Private H. D. Reeves to his grandfather, G. C. Reeves of Paragould. Private Reeves is with the postal service.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON