TRANSCRIBED FROM: THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT OCTOBER 22, 1918 P. 2
Dear Mr. Purdy:
At last I’m over here in the land of spirits and good times. We are billeted in a small village near the cities of Bourges and Tours. The boys are drilling hard and trying to get ready for the front, which all are anxious to see. Several of the officers and men have gone, among them Lieut. Albert Bevans and several others from the old Newport company, who will soon be in the battle, leaving only a few of us behind. Maybe I will get there in time to cross the German line and capture the great railroad center and base for supplies and subsidence, Metz. I know the news will be old by the time this reaches you, but the war news from the front is so encouraging that victory may be (let us hope) a little sooner than we all expected. We all know we are up against a hard task but our soldiers have already proven their metal and none are to be found any better. I was so glad to hear of Eugene Baker and Elmer Patton receiving commissions as second lieutenants and if you see them before they leave for “over there” remember me to them. How are all the crew at the store of Wolff-Goldman? Remember me to all of them and if you see Adam Locard and other friends tell them a good word for me. Of course you know the news from here is limited and I can’t tell you much, but a lot is in store after the war is over. If you have time I would be glad to hear from you and all other friends. My brother, Artemus, is stationed a short distance from here.
SGT. Theodore R. Shell
My address is Sgt. Theodore R. Shell, Hds. Co. 11th Regiment, Infantry
American Expo. Forces, A. P. O. 901
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY ISAAC WOLTER
Dear Mr. Purdy:
At last I’m over here in the land of spirits and good times. We are billeted in a small village near the cities of Bourges and Tours. The boys are drilling hard and trying to get ready for the front, which all are anxious to see. Several of the officers and men have gone, among them Lieut. Albert Bevans and several others from the old Newport company, who will soon be in the battle, leaving only a few of us behind. Maybe I will get there in time to cross the German line and capture the great railroad center and base for supplies and subsidence, Metz. I know the news will be old by the time this reaches you, but the war news from the front is so encouraging that victory may be (let us hope) a little sooner than we all expected. We all know we are up against a hard task but our soldiers have already proven their metal and none are to be found any better. I was so glad to hear of Eugene Baker and Elmer Patton receiving commissions as second lieutenants and if you see them before they leave for “over there” remember me to them. How are all the crew at the store of Wolff-Goldman? Remember me to all of them and if you see Adam Locard and other friends tell them a good word for me. Of course you know the news from here is limited and I can’t tell you much, but a lot is in store after the war is over. If you have time I would be glad to hear from you and all other friends. My brother, Artemus, is stationed a short distance from here.
SGT. Theodore R. Shell
My address is Sgt. Theodore R. Shell, Hds. Co. 11th Regiment, Infantry
American Expo. Forces, A. P. O. 901
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY ISAAC WOLTER