TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GRAVETTE NEWS HERALD MARCH 28, 1919 P. 1
Dear Home Folks:
I will tell you something of my trip to France. We sailed from New York Oct 27 and landed at St, Nazaire, France, Nov.15. We were a long time in the ocean but had good luck. The 16 Vet-erinary Hospital Unit carried 3344 horses. I came over on the Siamese Prince, it carried 77 men and 720 horses….Our unit lost the fewest horses of any that crossed. We left St, Nazaire Nov. 21 for Camp Valdahon where we spent three weeks without one thing to do; from there we went to Epinal where we took care of 252 horses for five weeks, we came to Neufchateau Jan.1, where we are caring for several hundred horses. This is one of best veterinary hospitals in France; it is in the Joan of Arc district, and as Domremy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc is but seven miles away we have a chance to see the wonderful place and the beautiful church built on the site of her birth place.
On our way from Valdahon we visited Besancon where we saw one of the largest clocks in the world. Everyone goes to see it.
I heard of the death of my brother, John Tracy, since coming to France. He was killed in October while fighting at the front; he is resting beside many others where he fell in France. I believe he was the only boy from Gravette who lost his life on the battlefield.
I will not say anything about our camp till I get home. We have a good place for horses, a good place to sleep and eat---in the mud. Don’t know when we will come home, but I hope soon.
Clarence R. Tracy, 16 Vet. Hospital Unit.
NOTES: Tracy wrote this letter from Neufchateau, France on February 27, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
Dear Home Folks:
I will tell you something of my trip to France. We sailed from New York Oct 27 and landed at St, Nazaire, France, Nov.15. We were a long time in the ocean but had good luck. The 16 Vet-erinary Hospital Unit carried 3344 horses. I came over on the Siamese Prince, it carried 77 men and 720 horses….Our unit lost the fewest horses of any that crossed. We left St, Nazaire Nov. 21 for Camp Valdahon where we spent three weeks without one thing to do; from there we went to Epinal where we took care of 252 horses for five weeks, we came to Neufchateau Jan.1, where we are caring for several hundred horses. This is one of best veterinary hospitals in France; it is in the Joan of Arc district, and as Domremy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc is but seven miles away we have a chance to see the wonderful place and the beautiful church built on the site of her birth place.
On our way from Valdahon we visited Besancon where we saw one of the largest clocks in the world. Everyone goes to see it.
I heard of the death of my brother, John Tracy, since coming to France. He was killed in October while fighting at the front; he is resting beside many others where he fell in France. I believe he was the only boy from Gravette who lost his life on the battlefield.
I will not say anything about our camp till I get home. We have a good place for horses, a good place to sleep and eat---in the mud. Don’t know when we will come home, but I hope soon.
Clarence R. Tracy, 16 Vet. Hospital Unit.
NOTES: Tracy wrote this letter from Neufchateau, France on February 27, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY