TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD JANUARY 17, 1919 P. 3
Nov. 24, 1918
Dear Father:
Today is a day set apart by the A.E.F. as father’s day, and most everyone will write home. I hope you are all well. I am all O.K. and feel good-weigh more than I ever did in my life-150 lbs. I would sure like to be home Xmas, but I don't guess I will. If I am over here I will celebrate just the same.
I have a much better time over here than I did in Camp Pike. I am proud I got over here when I did, I wouldn’t miss seeing what I did for anything. But I haven't seen as much as I will see. We got our ambulances and trucks a few days ago. We are going to the front to evacuate hospitals.
I will tell you my route from New York as this is my first opportunity. I left Camp Merritt on the night of the 14 of August and got on a ship and and sailed down the Hudson river to new York and got off about 10 o’clock in New York harbor and got the ship that we crossed on. We sailed out of New York harbor on about sun down and anchored about 11 mile out till the next morning when 16 other ships besides two battle ships several submarine chasers and aeroplanes. It sure was a beautiful sight when we sailed from the Statue of Liberty. The fleet went back after about 20 hours of sailing, all but two battle ships, we were sure a proud bunch when we saw land. We landed in Liverpool, England, the night of August 28th. There were about 3,000 of us, we got off and walked about 4 ½ miles to a rest camp, and stayed there one day and night. We then got on a train, the coaches are cut up in parts just eight to a room the only way you can go through is to go from door to door on the out side so you see a new bunch us out of luck over here. We road all day to South Hampton and got on a ship and crossed the English Channel and landed in France the 1st of September at Le Harve and stayed there one day and night. We could hear the big guns, for this place had been bombed a few days before we got there by German aeroplanes. We were two days coming down here, there were 28 of us in a little box car about the size of a wagon bed it was some larger but not much we sure did have a time. We got here (LeMans) the night of the 3rd of Sept. I was transferred in this company and all we have done done was to wait for orders to go to the front so I guess we are going in a few days. I am anxious to go now, for I want a German souvenir before I come back.
I will close now as it is getting late, wishing you a merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Your son,
Pvt. Ivy W. Russell
Amb. Co 329 Sanitary Train 308.
A.P.O. 763. Am. E.F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY: ISAAC WOLTER
Nov. 24, 1918
Dear Father:
Today is a day set apart by the A.E.F. as father’s day, and most everyone will write home. I hope you are all well. I am all O.K. and feel good-weigh more than I ever did in my life-150 lbs. I would sure like to be home Xmas, but I don't guess I will. If I am over here I will celebrate just the same.
I have a much better time over here than I did in Camp Pike. I am proud I got over here when I did, I wouldn’t miss seeing what I did for anything. But I haven't seen as much as I will see. We got our ambulances and trucks a few days ago. We are going to the front to evacuate hospitals.
I will tell you my route from New York as this is my first opportunity. I left Camp Merritt on the night of the 14 of August and got on a ship and and sailed down the Hudson river to new York and got off about 10 o’clock in New York harbor and got the ship that we crossed on. We sailed out of New York harbor on about sun down and anchored about 11 mile out till the next morning when 16 other ships besides two battle ships several submarine chasers and aeroplanes. It sure was a beautiful sight when we sailed from the Statue of Liberty. The fleet went back after about 20 hours of sailing, all but two battle ships, we were sure a proud bunch when we saw land. We landed in Liverpool, England, the night of August 28th. There were about 3,000 of us, we got off and walked about 4 ½ miles to a rest camp, and stayed there one day and night. We then got on a train, the coaches are cut up in parts just eight to a room the only way you can go through is to go from door to door on the out side so you see a new bunch us out of luck over here. We road all day to South Hampton and got on a ship and crossed the English Channel and landed in France the 1st of September at Le Harve and stayed there one day and night. We could hear the big guns, for this place had been bombed a few days before we got there by German aeroplanes. We were two days coming down here, there were 28 of us in a little box car about the size of a wagon bed it was some larger but not much we sure did have a time. We got here (LeMans) the night of the 3rd of Sept. I was transferred in this company and all we have done done was to wait for orders to go to the front so I guess we are going in a few days. I am anxious to go now, for I want a German souvenir before I come back.
I will close now as it is getting late, wishing you a merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Your son,
Pvt. Ivy W. Russell
Amb. Co 329 Sanitary Train 308.
A.P.O. 763. Am. E.F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY: ISAAC WOLTER