TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE JANUARY 10, 1919 P. 2
Camp Coctquidan, France.
Dec. 1, 1918.
Dear Sister:
Received your letter Saturday and was glad to hear from you. I am fine and dandy and hope you are the same. I have been hiking, around the country today. I went to a town called Poimpont, France, it is about 7 or 8 miles over there. It is a very interesting place. We went in a cathedral there that was built in the eleventh century 800 years ago. It sure was fine on the inside. There is a lamp in there that has been burning over 800 years and several other interesting things. I haven't got time to tell everything, so I will just jump around and tell part of everything. I will tell you something of my trip across. On the 18th of August we landed in N. Y. Stayed there until the 28th of August. We boarded the old Dutch ship "Vaterland," the largest ship that sails the waters. It is now known as the U.S.S. Leviathian, and believe me, she is a dandy. We went aboard the morning of the 28th and stayed in the harbor until Saturday, Sept. 1. It may have been the 31st of August. I won't be certain. Anyway we sailed on Saturday and landed at Brest, France, Sept. 7. We were on the way just 7 days. We got off the boat the next day about 4 o'clock. We hiked to a place called Camp Rest and stayed there till the following Sunday. It rained every day we were there and we were in tents, so you can imagine what a nice time we had. It was hard going but we all liked it because it was something new. The next Sunday we were loaded in some box cars and took an all night's ride and landed in Messae, France. The next morning about 8 or 9 o'clock we hike from Messae to Bain with a full pack and empty stomach. We got to Bain about 2 o'clock and believe me, we were proud to get there, too. I stayed there two weeks and during that time we stayed in a church house. We then came to Coctquidan and have been here ever since. I don't know when we will go from here. Back to the U.S A. I hope. I went to Rennes, France, last Sunday and, believe me, that is some town. I went through one of the largest museums in the world. I saw everything you could think of. I can't tell you about everything. Just wait till I get back. Well, I will have to close for this time. Can tell you lots more when I get back. Answer soon with a long letter.
From your brother,
Pvt. Irvin Shelby,
Supply Co. 142 F. A., 2nd Bat. Am. E.F. France.
NOTES: Irvin Shelby was born in Richmond, Little River County Arkansas on December 10, 1898 and died on April 3, 1946. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Wagoner serving in 142nd FA 39th Division. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 13, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was serving as a Private in Supply Co. 142nd FA 39th Division. He departed St. Nazaire, France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was serving as a Private in Supply Co. 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Coctquidan, France.
Dec. 1, 1918.
Dear Sister:
Received your letter Saturday and was glad to hear from you. I am fine and dandy and hope you are the same. I have been hiking, around the country today. I went to a town called Poimpont, France, it is about 7 or 8 miles over there. It is a very interesting place. We went in a cathedral there that was built in the eleventh century 800 years ago. It sure was fine on the inside. There is a lamp in there that has been burning over 800 years and several other interesting things. I haven't got time to tell everything, so I will just jump around and tell part of everything. I will tell you something of my trip across. On the 18th of August we landed in N. Y. Stayed there until the 28th of August. We boarded the old Dutch ship "Vaterland," the largest ship that sails the waters. It is now known as the U.S.S. Leviathian, and believe me, she is a dandy. We went aboard the morning of the 28th and stayed in the harbor until Saturday, Sept. 1. It may have been the 31st of August. I won't be certain. Anyway we sailed on Saturday and landed at Brest, France, Sept. 7. We were on the way just 7 days. We got off the boat the next day about 4 o'clock. We hiked to a place called Camp Rest and stayed there till the following Sunday. It rained every day we were there and we were in tents, so you can imagine what a nice time we had. It was hard going but we all liked it because it was something new. The next Sunday we were loaded in some box cars and took an all night's ride and landed in Messae, France. The next morning about 8 or 9 o'clock we hike from Messae to Bain with a full pack and empty stomach. We got to Bain about 2 o'clock and believe me, we were proud to get there, too. I stayed there two weeks and during that time we stayed in a church house. We then came to Coctquidan and have been here ever since. I don't know when we will go from here. Back to the U.S A. I hope. I went to Rennes, France, last Sunday and, believe me, that is some town. I went through one of the largest museums in the world. I saw everything you could think of. I can't tell you about everything. Just wait till I get back. Well, I will have to close for this time. Can tell you lots more when I get back. Answer soon with a long letter.
From your brother,
Pvt. Irvin Shelby,
Supply Co. 142 F. A., 2nd Bat. Am. E.F. France.
NOTES: Irvin Shelby was born in Richmond, Little River County Arkansas on December 10, 1898 and died on April 3, 1946. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Wagoner serving in 142nd FA 39th Division. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 13, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was serving as a Private in Supply Co. 142nd FA 39th Division. He departed St. Nazaire, France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was serving as a Private in Supply Co. 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD