TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE FEBRUARY 15, 1919 P. 13
It surely does make a fellow over here feel good to hear from friends at home. Have been a very busy person since you heard from me last, but surely feel good now that the war is over. I feel like I’ve a great deal to be thankful for. I was in the thickest of the fighting when the Germans were making their mad dash toward Paris. Eighteen miles may not seem far, but when a mad German army is coming and you are retreating—take it from me, you’ve got to hustle. We were there with a British unit. Presto ! When the Americans came on the tide turned and the Germans “bit the dust” over the same way back to the Rhine.
In this bit of excitement, I lost my “wonderful diary,” all my German souvenirs, and was lucky to escape with my hide. Out of 1,630 men, there are 220 of us left to tell the tale! It was hell, and I can’t begin to tell you how heroically the Americans fought and died. It was all too terrible to tell, but you see they have not died in vain. And when I come home, I shall tell you a thousand wonderful things that I can’t write which makes one proud he is an American.
Have been staying in a wonderful old chateau. It is gorgeous, and everything is a perfect Eden. But it surely is interesting to see the people in some parts of France, their quaint costumes, wooden shoes, etc. then to see them open their basement and take the chickens and stock of all kinds from under the house. It’s all very interesting and you’ve missed the trip of a lifetime by not going over.
But if kind Providence is good enough to pilot me safely on, I shall be perfectly contented to spend the rest of my life in dear old America, and Arkansas to boot, if you please.
NOTES: Sergeant Major Hugh Cincaide Roberts, son of Mrs. C. J. Roberts, was writing from Newport News, Va. about some of his experiences overseas. He had served overseas in the military 18 months with the 6th Detachment American Engineers. He was born on October 3, 1891 in Searcy, Arkansas and died in 1989. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Bel Nor, Missouri. He was described as being 5 ft 11 in, weighing 168 lbs, with blue eyes and light hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
It surely does make a fellow over here feel good to hear from friends at home. Have been a very busy person since you heard from me last, but surely feel good now that the war is over. I feel like I’ve a great deal to be thankful for. I was in the thickest of the fighting when the Germans were making their mad dash toward Paris. Eighteen miles may not seem far, but when a mad German army is coming and you are retreating—take it from me, you’ve got to hustle. We were there with a British unit. Presto ! When the Americans came on the tide turned and the Germans “bit the dust” over the same way back to the Rhine.
In this bit of excitement, I lost my “wonderful diary,” all my German souvenirs, and was lucky to escape with my hide. Out of 1,630 men, there are 220 of us left to tell the tale! It was hell, and I can’t begin to tell you how heroically the Americans fought and died. It was all too terrible to tell, but you see they have not died in vain. And when I come home, I shall tell you a thousand wonderful things that I can’t write which makes one proud he is an American.
Have been staying in a wonderful old chateau. It is gorgeous, and everything is a perfect Eden. But it surely is interesting to see the people in some parts of France, their quaint costumes, wooden shoes, etc. then to see them open their basement and take the chickens and stock of all kinds from under the house. It’s all very interesting and you’ve missed the trip of a lifetime by not going over.
But if kind Providence is good enough to pilot me safely on, I shall be perfectly contented to spend the rest of my life in dear old America, and Arkansas to boot, if you please.
NOTES: Sergeant Major Hugh Cincaide Roberts, son of Mrs. C. J. Roberts, was writing from Newport News, Va. about some of his experiences overseas. He had served overseas in the military 18 months with the 6th Detachment American Engineers. He was born on October 3, 1891 in Searcy, Arkansas and died in 1989. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Bel Nor, Missouri. He was described as being 5 ft 11 in, weighing 168 lbs, with blue eyes and light hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT