TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE AUGUST 23, 1918, P. 1
France, July 22, 1918,
Mr. Will Steele,
Texarkana, Ark.
My Dear Friend Will:
I am not sure whether or not I have written you since I came over, but I shall write you any way. As I have tried to remember all my best friends with at least a few lines.
Am well and getting along fine. We are very .busy over here now and it seems the days are not long enough to get what we would like to do in a day done, until same is gone.
We are operating a small band mill, cutting pine lumber for the work at the front and we are keeping the saw in the log 20 hours out of 21: run two ten hour shifts. We cut about 40 thousand per day. The Allies need for lumber this fall and winter will be tremendous, but we feel that we can deliver the goods.
Am in the branch of service that I desired and fully satisfied. My experience has “been considerable since I left U. S. Am sorry that I am not permitted to write you about same. Will have to wait and tell you next year when I am home and the Hun has been defeated.
It certainly makes us fellows feel good to know you boys back home are for us, heart soul and body. I am proud of Arkansas, of Sevier county, and of Clear Creek township for I have watched them go “over the top” when called on during this time. We are glad that the time has come when the people at home are really wide awake and on the job, for we must stay on the job both night and day in order to end Germany as quickly as possible. Her finish is coming and same is going to be made largely by U. S. A.
I am so glad to know you were so active in the Red Cross drive. It is doing great things and we all appreciate same. We get a chance to hear some good talks on the war situation now and then. Just yesterday, Dr. Palmer, who has spent the past few months on the western front, talked to us at the Y. M. C. A. His message was great and good. Such is a wonderful help to us all, but nothing makes us feel stronger than to know the people back home are united together behind us. We boys over here know there is no doubt as to the outcome--- just a matter of time until the Boche goes down to defeat. This is a big war, and the U. S. has to do many big things to win, and we know the people at home realize that it takes time for us to put up the necessary organizations to assure victory. All we ask is just a bit of time and they will see things coming our way.
My health has been fine since I left the U. S.: feel good all the time.
The weather here is ideal, not so warm as we have, the nights are cool and great for sleeping.
Our camp is very good: we are fixed up all right for living, even better than I expected.
The forests of France are great and they have the best roads I ever saw. The people here are as good to us as can be : they like the American slodiers very much.
With kindest regards to your family as well as yourself and friends,
Yours very truly,
Lee O. Shull.
NOTES: Lee Overton Shull had been on the transport ship the Tuscania when it was sunk by a German submarine. He was born on January 1, 1890 and died on July 14, 1957. He is buried in the Redmen Cemetery at De Queen, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY KOBY HEAGERTY
France, July 22, 1918,
Mr. Will Steele,
Texarkana, Ark.
My Dear Friend Will:
I am not sure whether or not I have written you since I came over, but I shall write you any way. As I have tried to remember all my best friends with at least a few lines.
Am well and getting along fine. We are very .busy over here now and it seems the days are not long enough to get what we would like to do in a day done, until same is gone.
We are operating a small band mill, cutting pine lumber for the work at the front and we are keeping the saw in the log 20 hours out of 21: run two ten hour shifts. We cut about 40 thousand per day. The Allies need for lumber this fall and winter will be tremendous, but we feel that we can deliver the goods.
Am in the branch of service that I desired and fully satisfied. My experience has “been considerable since I left U. S. Am sorry that I am not permitted to write you about same. Will have to wait and tell you next year when I am home and the Hun has been defeated.
It certainly makes us fellows feel good to know you boys back home are for us, heart soul and body. I am proud of Arkansas, of Sevier county, and of Clear Creek township for I have watched them go “over the top” when called on during this time. We are glad that the time has come when the people at home are really wide awake and on the job, for we must stay on the job both night and day in order to end Germany as quickly as possible. Her finish is coming and same is going to be made largely by U. S. A.
I am so glad to know you were so active in the Red Cross drive. It is doing great things and we all appreciate same. We get a chance to hear some good talks on the war situation now and then. Just yesterday, Dr. Palmer, who has spent the past few months on the western front, talked to us at the Y. M. C. A. His message was great and good. Such is a wonderful help to us all, but nothing makes us feel stronger than to know the people back home are united together behind us. We boys over here know there is no doubt as to the outcome--- just a matter of time until the Boche goes down to defeat. This is a big war, and the U. S. has to do many big things to win, and we know the people at home realize that it takes time for us to put up the necessary organizations to assure victory. All we ask is just a bit of time and they will see things coming our way.
My health has been fine since I left the U. S.: feel good all the time.
The weather here is ideal, not so warm as we have, the nights are cool and great for sleeping.
Our camp is very good: we are fixed up all right for living, even better than I expected.
The forests of France are great and they have the best roads I ever saw. The people here are as good to us as can be : they like the American slodiers very much.
With kindest regards to your family as well as yourself and friends,
Yours very truly,
Lee O. Shull.
NOTES: Lee Overton Shull had been on the transport ship the Tuscania when it was sunk by a German submarine. He was born on January 1, 1890 and died on July 14, 1957. He is buried in the Redmen Cemetery at De Queen, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY KOBY HEAGERTY