TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 6
Grevenmacher, Luxemburg, December 7.
After talking to French girls, Belgium girls and Luxemburg girls and now its Dutch girls.
When I get back and see an American girl she may not be able to understand me for I am liable to get mixed up in my languages and address her something like this; “Trink vasser fliegerkeller nach cohlenz ertawomandatur achtungfeldbahn verbotten schr,” and that “parlez-vous” stuff all mixed up. I would like to write to all the folks but there are too many pretty French girls to talk to.
I crossed France on the train from Havre to Marseilles, and drove a truck from Marseilles up the Rhine river 471 miles and then drove a motorcycle and am still driving it. I haven’t stayed in one place more than three or four days. You see we keep the Huns going so fast it keeps us going to keep up with them. Fritz has gone into his hole and we are going after him to see that he doesn’t come back again.
We are now on the line of Luxemburg and Germany. Yesterday I was in Germany about 20 kilometers. I guess we will be moving into Germany in a day or two. We don’t stay in any place long, so I hope we won’t stay in Germany long.
You know I always did want to cross the ocean. I still have that desire. The move I want to make the most of all is the trip back to the U.S.A.
Just keep your eye on the Third Army of occupation and you will know where I am.
NOTES: Davis Richard Smith Jr. was writing to his sister, Mrs. G. H. Davis of Little Rock, Arkansas He was serving as a Wagoner with the Third Army of occupation. Prior to entering the military he was working with the Rock Island Railroad. He was born on June 17, 1890 in Little Rock and died on April 4, 1943 in a head on train wreck in Protho Junction, Arkansas. He was described as being tall, weighing 165 pounds with blue eyes and dark hair.
TREANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Grevenmacher, Luxemburg, December 7.
After talking to French girls, Belgium girls and Luxemburg girls and now its Dutch girls.
When I get back and see an American girl she may not be able to understand me for I am liable to get mixed up in my languages and address her something like this; “Trink vasser fliegerkeller nach cohlenz ertawomandatur achtungfeldbahn verbotten schr,” and that “parlez-vous” stuff all mixed up. I would like to write to all the folks but there are too many pretty French girls to talk to.
I crossed France on the train from Havre to Marseilles, and drove a truck from Marseilles up the Rhine river 471 miles and then drove a motorcycle and am still driving it. I haven’t stayed in one place more than three or four days. You see we keep the Huns going so fast it keeps us going to keep up with them. Fritz has gone into his hole and we are going after him to see that he doesn’t come back again.
We are now on the line of Luxemburg and Germany. Yesterday I was in Germany about 20 kilometers. I guess we will be moving into Germany in a day or two. We don’t stay in any place long, so I hope we won’t stay in Germany long.
You know I always did want to cross the ocean. I still have that desire. The move I want to make the most of all is the trip back to the U.S.A.
Just keep your eye on the Third Army of occupation and you will know where I am.
NOTES: Davis Richard Smith Jr. was writing to his sister, Mrs. G. H. Davis of Little Rock, Arkansas He was serving as a Wagoner with the Third Army of occupation. Prior to entering the military he was working with the Rock Island Railroad. He was born on June 17, 1890 in Little Rock and died on April 4, 1943 in a head on train wreck in Protho Junction, Arkansas. He was described as being tall, weighing 165 pounds with blue eyes and dark hair.
TREANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT