TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS AUGUST 23, 1918 P. 3
Somewhere in France, June 28.
Dear Sister:
I will answer your most welcome letter received this evening. Was more than glad to hear from you.
This leaves me feeling fine. Hope it will find you all the same. You asked me how I liked over here. Well, if it wasn’t for the war it might be all right, but it is a pretty hard life, but I guess I can stand it as I haven’t been sick a day since I enlisted. This is an awfully pretty place over here. I think it would be the prettiest place on earth if everybody could speak English and act like Americans. As it is you can’t talk to any of them so so they can understand you. It makes me mad when I meet a pretty girl and can’t talk to her. But anyway, I guess I am better off if I don’t talk to them.
I have heard some shells bursting since I come across and they don’t sound like the boys out hunting either. I seen a car on the railroad today that a shell had hit close to and by the looks of that car I don’t think I want to be close to one of the shells when they burst.
You said you hadn’t heard from me since I left the States. Who told you my address? There hasn’t been anyone else writing to me since I got here. If they have I haven’t gotten their letters. So whoever told you my address had better write to me as I am very anxious to hear from anyone.
Well, as I want to see the picture show at the Y.M.C.A. tonight I will have to close.
As ever your loving brother,
Private Alfred C. Stone.
NOTES: Alfred Columbus Stone was born on May 12, 1881 at Habberton, Arkansas and died on April 19, 1944 in San Joaquin, California. He is buried in the Parkview Cemetery and Funeral Home in Manteca, California. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Lieut. serving in the 23rd Engineers. He departed from Hoboken, NJ on March 30, 1918 onboard the George Washington. He was listed as a Private serving Co. D 23rd Engineers. He was writing this letter to his sister Mrs. P. A. Harp of Habberton.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France, June 28.
Dear Sister:
I will answer your most welcome letter received this evening. Was more than glad to hear from you.
This leaves me feeling fine. Hope it will find you all the same. You asked me how I liked over here. Well, if it wasn’t for the war it might be all right, but it is a pretty hard life, but I guess I can stand it as I haven’t been sick a day since I enlisted. This is an awfully pretty place over here. I think it would be the prettiest place on earth if everybody could speak English and act like Americans. As it is you can’t talk to any of them so so they can understand you. It makes me mad when I meet a pretty girl and can’t talk to her. But anyway, I guess I am better off if I don’t talk to them.
I have heard some shells bursting since I come across and they don’t sound like the boys out hunting either. I seen a car on the railroad today that a shell had hit close to and by the looks of that car I don’t think I want to be close to one of the shells when they burst.
You said you hadn’t heard from me since I left the States. Who told you my address? There hasn’t been anyone else writing to me since I got here. If they have I haven’t gotten their letters. So whoever told you my address had better write to me as I am very anxious to hear from anyone.
Well, as I want to see the picture show at the Y.M.C.A. tonight I will have to close.
As ever your loving brother,
Private Alfred C. Stone.
NOTES: Alfred Columbus Stone was born on May 12, 1881 at Habberton, Arkansas and died on April 19, 1944 in San Joaquin, California. He is buried in the Parkview Cemetery and Funeral Home in Manteca, California. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Lieut. serving in the 23rd Engineers. He departed from Hoboken, NJ on March 30, 1918 onboard the George Washington. He was listed as a Private serving Co. D 23rd Engineers. He was writing this letter to his sister Mrs. P. A. Harp of Habberton.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS