TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 31, 1919 P. 1
Rheinbrohl, Ger., Dec. 28, 1919
Dear Homefolks.
You are accusing me of being careless about writing home, but really I have not, for either we could not get the paper or we could not get mail sent out, for, as I said in my last letter, we have been on the move ever since about the first of October. I don't doubt but that you were worried tho', for I imagine there were many anxious mothers and fathers when this last drive ended with the signing of the armistice.
Believe me, the fathers and mothers were not the only ones who were glad to get the news that the armistice was signed, for we were under fire right up to the last minute allowed by it.
The "Heinies" began to throw shells into the woods where we were located about sun up, and we began to dig in, but about nine o'clock we got the news that the armistice had been signed and firing would cease at eleven o'clock, so we did not dig our holes only just deep enough to cover us, for we decided it was too much work as the war was so nearly over. The boys sure did make a noise when the time was up. They yelled, fired machine guns, rifles and pistols and did most anything to make a noise.
On the seventeenth of November, we started for the Rhine. We started from a little town in France called Beaumont, near the Meuse river. On the trip we came across a corner of Belgium at Arion and from there into Luxemburg at a town at Eittlebrough. The people in Belgium sure did give us a welcome. In all the towns we passed through the streets were decorated with pine trees covered with flags and gay colored paper, and every house was flying the Belgian flag of blue, yellow and red, and many of them had the American flag also. As we entered and left the towns there was an arch stretching across the street with some word of welcome printed on it. But the one that impressed me most was one that was in the first town as we entered it. It was, "To the Sons of the True Freedom." In several of the towns there was a band out to meet us and head the procession into town. In Luxemburg we received almost as royal a welcome as in Belgium.
On the first day of December at nine o'clock we crossed the river into Germany. The boys were all singing songs of victory and about marching to Berlin.
One thing we noticed was that there were no flags flying from the houses, but the people were all friendly and did not seem like a nation we have been fighting a few days before.
We landed on the Rhine the ninth and crossed to eatsern side a few days later, so you see we have done what you people told us to do, that of driving the Germans clear across the Rhine.
It sure was an interesting trip for we passed through some very pretty country.
Christmas was rather dull over here, as there was not much stirring. The Company gave an entertainment Xmas night which we sure enjoyed, also the "Y" movies. But the best thing of all was the dinner we had, and to cap things off they gave each of us a bar of chocolate and a lot of real chocolate candy.
The Germans sure are great on celebrating Christmas. I think each house must have had a Christmas tree, and I guess they leave them up until after New Year as they all have them up yet.
The first snow fell Christmas eve night and things were real Xmas like, but it is all gone now.
Yes, I met Theron about the first of October, but have not seen him since as he went to an officers' training school soon after.
Oh! I guess Theron exagerated it a little bit about my size, but, really, I do feel fine all the time and some of the boys who came over with me tell me that I am larger than when I enlisted, but I don't know, as I have not weighed.
Truman surely did not stay in camp long, if he has landed already.
How is Albert getting along in the S.A.T.C? He has not written me for a long time, but I don't blame him much as I have not written to him, but he has a better chance than I.
Father, I wish you would send in my insurance premium. I am afraid it is a little late now, but I have been putting it off thinking the "Y" would get established so I could send it myself, as I have the money here, but as it has not I will have to ask you to do it and send in the money later. If I remember right, it is to be paid the 20th of Jan.
As to why I did not send you a Christmas label, will say that I did not get one myself. Just about the time they were going to give them out we had to move towards the front, and some who did get them could not send them home.
Irvin must be having quite a time of it from the way Jewel wrote, and I bet his father and mother are worried about him right, if he had a second attack of "flu" after the measles.
Have been receiving my paper pretty regularly lately. The cappie don't always come in regular order, but they are news just the same.
As ever your loving son,
Frank.
80 Co. 6 Reg. U.S. M.C., A.E.F.
NOTES: Benjamin Franklin Shuller was born on January 6, 1897 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on July 21, 1987. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. His military headstone identifies him as US Marine Corps World War I. he departed Brest, France on July 25, 1919 onboard the George Washington. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 3, 1919. He was serving as a Private in 80th Co 6th Marines.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Rheinbrohl, Ger., Dec. 28, 1919
Dear Homefolks.
You are accusing me of being careless about writing home, but really I have not, for either we could not get the paper or we could not get mail sent out, for, as I said in my last letter, we have been on the move ever since about the first of October. I don't doubt but that you were worried tho', for I imagine there were many anxious mothers and fathers when this last drive ended with the signing of the armistice.
Believe me, the fathers and mothers were not the only ones who were glad to get the news that the armistice was signed, for we were under fire right up to the last minute allowed by it.
The "Heinies" began to throw shells into the woods where we were located about sun up, and we began to dig in, but about nine o'clock we got the news that the armistice had been signed and firing would cease at eleven o'clock, so we did not dig our holes only just deep enough to cover us, for we decided it was too much work as the war was so nearly over. The boys sure did make a noise when the time was up. They yelled, fired machine guns, rifles and pistols and did most anything to make a noise.
On the seventeenth of November, we started for the Rhine. We started from a little town in France called Beaumont, near the Meuse river. On the trip we came across a corner of Belgium at Arion and from there into Luxemburg at a town at Eittlebrough. The people in Belgium sure did give us a welcome. In all the towns we passed through the streets were decorated with pine trees covered with flags and gay colored paper, and every house was flying the Belgian flag of blue, yellow and red, and many of them had the American flag also. As we entered and left the towns there was an arch stretching across the street with some word of welcome printed on it. But the one that impressed me most was one that was in the first town as we entered it. It was, "To the Sons of the True Freedom." In several of the towns there was a band out to meet us and head the procession into town. In Luxemburg we received almost as royal a welcome as in Belgium.
On the first day of December at nine o'clock we crossed the river into Germany. The boys were all singing songs of victory and about marching to Berlin.
One thing we noticed was that there were no flags flying from the houses, but the people were all friendly and did not seem like a nation we have been fighting a few days before.
We landed on the Rhine the ninth and crossed to eatsern side a few days later, so you see we have done what you people told us to do, that of driving the Germans clear across the Rhine.
It sure was an interesting trip for we passed through some very pretty country.
Christmas was rather dull over here, as there was not much stirring. The Company gave an entertainment Xmas night which we sure enjoyed, also the "Y" movies. But the best thing of all was the dinner we had, and to cap things off they gave each of us a bar of chocolate and a lot of real chocolate candy.
The Germans sure are great on celebrating Christmas. I think each house must have had a Christmas tree, and I guess they leave them up until after New Year as they all have them up yet.
The first snow fell Christmas eve night and things were real Xmas like, but it is all gone now.
Yes, I met Theron about the first of October, but have not seen him since as he went to an officers' training school soon after.
Oh! I guess Theron exagerated it a little bit about my size, but, really, I do feel fine all the time and some of the boys who came over with me tell me that I am larger than when I enlisted, but I don't know, as I have not weighed.
Truman surely did not stay in camp long, if he has landed already.
How is Albert getting along in the S.A.T.C? He has not written me for a long time, but I don't blame him much as I have not written to him, but he has a better chance than I.
Father, I wish you would send in my insurance premium. I am afraid it is a little late now, but I have been putting it off thinking the "Y" would get established so I could send it myself, as I have the money here, but as it has not I will have to ask you to do it and send in the money later. If I remember right, it is to be paid the 20th of Jan.
As to why I did not send you a Christmas label, will say that I did not get one myself. Just about the time they were going to give them out we had to move towards the front, and some who did get them could not send them home.
Irvin must be having quite a time of it from the way Jewel wrote, and I bet his father and mother are worried about him right, if he had a second attack of "flu" after the measles.
Have been receiving my paper pretty regularly lately. The cappie don't always come in regular order, but they are news just the same.
As ever your loving son,
Frank.
80 Co. 6 Reg. U.S. M.C., A.E.F.
NOTES: Benjamin Franklin Shuller was born on January 6, 1897 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on July 21, 1987. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. His military headstone identifies him as US Marine Corps World War I. he departed Brest, France on July 25, 1919 onboard the George Washington. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 3, 1919. He was serving as a Private in 80th Co 6th Marines.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD