TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER APRIL,30, 1919 P. 3
Wallendorf Germany
3-23, 1919.
Mrs. Laura Shepherd,
McNeil, Ark.
Dear Mother:
Not having written you a letter of any length for quite a while, will try and tell you some of the things one sees around here.
This is a small town of some four or five thousand people. Most of them seem moderately well-to-do. They are a simple class and though very industrious and frugal, to a degree, they don’t seem to ever think of economizing in labor and personal energy.
Everyone works though I believe the men work the least of all.
I am beginning to understand quite a bit of the jargon they speak here and can talk with them in a small way. They speak what is known as Blott Dutch, which is a mixture of Dutch, French and Flemish, and it is quite hard for a grown up person to speak with the same accents that they use, however most of them understand High Dutch and one that understands that has very little trouble in getting by. I don’t know very much German but I found that what I did has helped me out wonderfully.
I am getting more and more impatient to get back every day, and the few things that I hear from back home make me all the more.
You don’t tell me very much that has taken place. I suppose that you forget that I haven’t heard anything from McNeil or even from that part of the country since last June until of late. A wee-bit of news stays in here and there. Haven’t seen a paper from Ark. since I left the states.
Things are drifting along in the same old way. We have settled down soldiering. I mean we are trying to do so, and at least it is very monotonous. For my part I think I like the front better. We had hard times of course and things were not made comfortable for us but the excitement and speculation as to whether we would make it through another day always took the drudgery out of work and time never hung heavily on ones hands.
After I hit the outfit I was never off the front far enough to be out of hearing of the guns.
I could not begin to describe the days I spent on the front but of all the days the day of the Armistice was the most interesting one of all.
The 2nd Division was reviewed by General Pershing a few days ago. It was a thrilling sight to see all the old outfit line up at one open field. It consists of the Fifth and Sixth Marines, Ninth and Twenty third Infantry, and Twelfth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Artillery Regiments.
Spring time has begun to peep in though it is still cold and we have snow almost every night. The sun comes out warm in the morning and it soon disappears.
This must be a very pretty country in the summer and must have been great for tourists before the war.
There are many beautiful places world-wide fame all around here. I am told that Caesar put a bridge across the river just above where we are.
I haven’t written you about my four weeks stay in England but it was great, I will keep that to tell you when I see you.
We are getting from ten to fourteen day passes to most any place in France. Think I will get mine soon. Am also expecting a thrilling trip when I start for home, though ones pay in the army doesn’t permit very much extravagance.
Guess the boys around home are getting back. Would like for you to tell me the unlucky ones.
Am not feeling the best, as I took a shot of typhus vaccination yesterday and the german lights are bad tonight. So I will have to write more soon.
Lovingly,
Pvt. Wm. T. Shepherd,
Bat. F. 15th F. A.
American E. F. Germany
A.P. O. 710.
NOTES: William Tillman Shepherd was born at McNeil, Columbia County, Arkansas on December 30, 1887 and died at McNeil on May 3, 1927. He is buried in the New Hope Cemetery at McNeil. He registered for the draft Nevada County, but his address is listed as McNeil. He was described as being of medium height and weight with light blue eyes and light hair. His brother Wade was also in the service and has a letter on this web-site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
Wallendorf Germany
3-23, 1919.
Mrs. Laura Shepherd,
McNeil, Ark.
Dear Mother:
Not having written you a letter of any length for quite a while, will try and tell you some of the things one sees around here.
This is a small town of some four or five thousand people. Most of them seem moderately well-to-do. They are a simple class and though very industrious and frugal, to a degree, they don’t seem to ever think of economizing in labor and personal energy.
Everyone works though I believe the men work the least of all.
I am beginning to understand quite a bit of the jargon they speak here and can talk with them in a small way. They speak what is known as Blott Dutch, which is a mixture of Dutch, French and Flemish, and it is quite hard for a grown up person to speak with the same accents that they use, however most of them understand High Dutch and one that understands that has very little trouble in getting by. I don’t know very much German but I found that what I did has helped me out wonderfully.
I am getting more and more impatient to get back every day, and the few things that I hear from back home make me all the more.
You don’t tell me very much that has taken place. I suppose that you forget that I haven’t heard anything from McNeil or even from that part of the country since last June until of late. A wee-bit of news stays in here and there. Haven’t seen a paper from Ark. since I left the states.
Things are drifting along in the same old way. We have settled down soldiering. I mean we are trying to do so, and at least it is very monotonous. For my part I think I like the front better. We had hard times of course and things were not made comfortable for us but the excitement and speculation as to whether we would make it through another day always took the drudgery out of work and time never hung heavily on ones hands.
After I hit the outfit I was never off the front far enough to be out of hearing of the guns.
I could not begin to describe the days I spent on the front but of all the days the day of the Armistice was the most interesting one of all.
The 2nd Division was reviewed by General Pershing a few days ago. It was a thrilling sight to see all the old outfit line up at one open field. It consists of the Fifth and Sixth Marines, Ninth and Twenty third Infantry, and Twelfth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Artillery Regiments.
Spring time has begun to peep in though it is still cold and we have snow almost every night. The sun comes out warm in the morning and it soon disappears.
This must be a very pretty country in the summer and must have been great for tourists before the war.
There are many beautiful places world-wide fame all around here. I am told that Caesar put a bridge across the river just above where we are.
I haven’t written you about my four weeks stay in England but it was great, I will keep that to tell you when I see you.
We are getting from ten to fourteen day passes to most any place in France. Think I will get mine soon. Am also expecting a thrilling trip when I start for home, though ones pay in the army doesn’t permit very much extravagance.
Guess the boys around home are getting back. Would like for you to tell me the unlucky ones.
Am not feeling the best, as I took a shot of typhus vaccination yesterday and the german lights are bad tonight. So I will have to write more soon.
Lovingly,
Pvt. Wm. T. Shepherd,
Bat. F. 15th F. A.
American E. F. Germany
A.P. O. 710.
NOTES: William Tillman Shepherd was born at McNeil, Columbia County, Arkansas on December 30, 1887 and died at McNeil on May 3, 1927. He is buried in the New Hope Cemetery at McNeil. He registered for the draft Nevada County, but his address is listed as McNeil. He was described as being of medium height and weight with light blue eyes and light hair. His brother Wade was also in the service and has a letter on this web-site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.