TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS AUGUST 9, 1918 P. 8
Dear Cousin:
Your letters of the 8th and also one that was sent to Camp Meritt have reached me at last, and I was certainly glad to get them, as they were the first mail I had received since I left for the firing line. I have had quite a bit of experience in the last few weeks and I never would have gotten them had I not been in France. At present I am sitting in a dug out which is not mine. But I don't want you to think I haven't one, because I have, and a good one at that, but things are not as convenient here as some places I have been and we have to use the same candle.
I and all the rest of the boys are like rats, in a way. You see when anyone runs into a place where a big bunch of rats are they run for their holes. Well, when we hear a shell coming we all jump and run for our dug outs.
We had one boy hit today, but not seriously. But it is really wonderful how so many shells fall around us and no one is hit. We were up in the front line trenches where we could see the huns. Of course we did not see many of them as they are wise--they know enough to keep hid when they are facing the Yanks. We did have some battle one morning about day break. Talk about machine guns and automatic rifles. Well, they were firing for all that was in them.
We had one man killed and one wounded. But the bullets sure did whiz by my head and I was not in it either as I was a runner and was at company headquarters. I would like to write you a long letter, but I can't write or think of anything. I just can't think of anything but dodging shells and running around. But when I get back to a rest camp I will take time and write a long one.
I want the addresses of the boys that are over here. I may never get to see them, but I can write to them, and we might by some chance meet, but it is very hard to see them as they will be one place fighting and I will be somewhere else. Is Eva Atwood over here? If she is over here I would like to get in touch with her. It would be quite a treat to meet any one I know over here.
Dewey writes me that he is anxious to come over here. It is all right but when he comes over he will feel about the same as I do. Of course I would much rather be at home, but I am not a bit sorry I am here and would not take anything for my trip and experience on the firing line. Of course, I can't tell what time my time is coming. One of those big shells may come to me, but if they get me I will be a long time gone.
Well, I will close. Write me often. I am as ever,
Ray.
NOTES: Ray Stokes of Springdale, Arkansas was writing to his cousin Bertha Stokes from France. He had served with Battery A, but had been transferred to Co. K of the 39th Infantry at the time this letter was written.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Cousin:
Your letters of the 8th and also one that was sent to Camp Meritt have reached me at last, and I was certainly glad to get them, as they were the first mail I had received since I left for the firing line. I have had quite a bit of experience in the last few weeks and I never would have gotten them had I not been in France. At present I am sitting in a dug out which is not mine. But I don't want you to think I haven't one, because I have, and a good one at that, but things are not as convenient here as some places I have been and we have to use the same candle.
I and all the rest of the boys are like rats, in a way. You see when anyone runs into a place where a big bunch of rats are they run for their holes. Well, when we hear a shell coming we all jump and run for our dug outs.
We had one boy hit today, but not seriously. But it is really wonderful how so many shells fall around us and no one is hit. We were up in the front line trenches where we could see the huns. Of course we did not see many of them as they are wise--they know enough to keep hid when they are facing the Yanks. We did have some battle one morning about day break. Talk about machine guns and automatic rifles. Well, they were firing for all that was in them.
We had one man killed and one wounded. But the bullets sure did whiz by my head and I was not in it either as I was a runner and was at company headquarters. I would like to write you a long letter, but I can't write or think of anything. I just can't think of anything but dodging shells and running around. But when I get back to a rest camp I will take time and write a long one.
I want the addresses of the boys that are over here. I may never get to see them, but I can write to them, and we might by some chance meet, but it is very hard to see them as they will be one place fighting and I will be somewhere else. Is Eva Atwood over here? If she is over here I would like to get in touch with her. It would be quite a treat to meet any one I know over here.
Dewey writes me that he is anxious to come over here. It is all right but when he comes over he will feel about the same as I do. Of course I would much rather be at home, but I am not a bit sorry I am here and would not take anything for my trip and experience on the firing line. Of course, I can't tell what time my time is coming. One of those big shells may come to me, but if they get me I will be a long time gone.
Well, I will close. Write me often. I am as ever,
Ray.
NOTES: Ray Stokes of Springdale, Arkansas was writing to his cousin Bertha Stokes from France. He had served with Battery A, but had been transferred to Co. K of the 39th Infantry at the time this letter was written.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD