TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA JANUARY 14, 1919 P. 3
France, Nov. 25, 1918,
Dear Father and Mother:
Have just received your letter. I have been so awfully busy, haven’t had time to write much lately. We work until nine o’clock some nights and every Sunday, but we are glad to do it. The papers say the censorship has been raised, but we have no orders to that effect, so can’t write you very much yet.
I hope this Victory Xmas will find you both well and feeling fine. The whole United States should rejoice this Xmas. The whole world knows who turned the tide of the great battle, and also knows who the boys are that don’t know how to retreat. I am going to tell you something now that I would not tell you before the armistice was signed, for fear you would worry about me. It's about some of us boys that got hemmed up in Argonne Forest, by the Germans. You have no idea how brave our boys fought, without you could have heard them, when they were asked if they wanted to give up, holler “Hell, no; fight to the finish.” And believe me, the Germans were finished, too, and yelled Kamrad, Kamrad. I tell you my hair stood up straight as a poker for a few minutes, but a fellow soon gets used to that.
I would not care much if I was in the 3rd army marching into Germany, but as the war is over I would like to come home.
I guess you heard about the two Irishmen at the front, one of them was asleep, the other on guard. Pat said “Mike get up, the Germans are coming.” Mike says, “How many?” Pat says, “About 4,000” and Mike says, “Well, I guess we had better take our guns along perhaps.”
Well, I guess we will have to eat beef stew and potatoes for Xmas dinner, but if we do, we will eat it with a smile for we are so proud of our victory and we will rejoice because we can all come home in the near future, I hope. But if there’s any more fighting to do, we are still here and ready and willing to deliver the goods.
We all feel so sorry for France. She has fought so bravely, and has lost one-sixth of her population, the flower of her nation. We also feel sorry for the brave American mothers and fathers that have lost their sons, but the boys that did pay the price, did it willingly and gladly and their parents should be proud of them.
Well, here’s hoping you a merry Xmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Probably I can be with you before many more weeks. With love to you both, from your son,
John
NOTES: John Russell is writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Russell.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH
France, Nov. 25, 1918,
Dear Father and Mother:
Have just received your letter. I have been so awfully busy, haven’t had time to write much lately. We work until nine o’clock some nights and every Sunday, but we are glad to do it. The papers say the censorship has been raised, but we have no orders to that effect, so can’t write you very much yet.
I hope this Victory Xmas will find you both well and feeling fine. The whole United States should rejoice this Xmas. The whole world knows who turned the tide of the great battle, and also knows who the boys are that don’t know how to retreat. I am going to tell you something now that I would not tell you before the armistice was signed, for fear you would worry about me. It's about some of us boys that got hemmed up in Argonne Forest, by the Germans. You have no idea how brave our boys fought, without you could have heard them, when they were asked if they wanted to give up, holler “Hell, no; fight to the finish.” And believe me, the Germans were finished, too, and yelled Kamrad, Kamrad. I tell you my hair stood up straight as a poker for a few minutes, but a fellow soon gets used to that.
I would not care much if I was in the 3rd army marching into Germany, but as the war is over I would like to come home.
I guess you heard about the two Irishmen at the front, one of them was asleep, the other on guard. Pat said “Mike get up, the Germans are coming.” Mike says, “How many?” Pat says, “About 4,000” and Mike says, “Well, I guess we had better take our guns along perhaps.”
Well, I guess we will have to eat beef stew and potatoes for Xmas dinner, but if we do, we will eat it with a smile for we are so proud of our victory and we will rejoice because we can all come home in the near future, I hope. But if there’s any more fighting to do, we are still here and ready and willing to deliver the goods.
We all feel so sorry for France. She has fought so bravely, and has lost one-sixth of her population, the flower of her nation. We also feel sorry for the brave American mothers and fathers that have lost their sons, but the boys that did pay the price, did it willingly and gladly and their parents should be proud of them.
Well, here’s hoping you a merry Xmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Probably I can be with you before many more weeks. With love to you both, from your son,
John
NOTES: John Russell is writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Russell.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH