TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD DECEMBER 13, 1917 P. 2
Dear Father:
Received your ever-welcome letter a few days ago, was mighty glad to hear from you. I am not waiting as long this time to answer as before, but will not cut my letter short just because I am answering a little sooner.
I hope mamma and all of the rest are well. Be sure to let me know in every letter just how mamma is. Tell her to take good care of herself, and be careful not to get sick.
We are all still getting along as fine as silk, and we are all well, but we could hardly be otherwise with what we have to do. The weather is getting too cold to do much playing outside, so with the exception of doing some practicing, about all we have to do is eat and sleep.
I received the underwear alright I was issued four good suits, though, the day it came. I can use it, however, and want to thank you for sending it. Willie got the pecans alright, too. I have been making a raid on them and they are fine.
The weather has turned mighty cold here, and we are having a lot of snow. It snowed all day yesterday, and is still snowing today; everything is covered. But we are just as comfortable as can be: plenty of warm clothing, plenty of bedding, and plenty of fire. They surely look out for the men in the regular army, and I am mighty glad I came into it. They have been having all kinds of disease here, too measles scarlet fever smallpox: in fact, a little of everything but these doctors know how to do things and stop it at once. Some recruit will come in with one of the different diseases, but it never yet scattered throughout the men. I have not heard of a death from any of them since I have been here. They simply do things right in this army.
The band went uptown on Thanksgiving Day to play at a military mass it sure was a grand and impressive event. We made a long parade with the Fourth Degree K of C and played inside the church during the offertory. Besides the band there were about 500 trained soldiers, and during the Elevation they all stop at attention and instead of ringing the bell a bugle was blown, while outside a gun sound from before and after the Elevation. It was great. You do not forget such things soon. I guess you saw the account of it in the paper.
Will and I were invited out to dinner by a K. of C. and we had a fine thanksgiving dinner. They were fine people, too. We had a long auto ride all over the city before dinner, and after dinner they took us to a football game, and then brought us back for supper. We had a very enjoyable day of it. The dinner was fine, all right, but tell mamma and Katie that I believe they can do better and I surely hope I will be there next Thanksgiving.
The band put on a little show here a few nights ago. You can see from the enclosed program that the _____ were well represented. I guess if there had been any more here they would have been in it too.
I had a pretty close call the other day, but I think that I am booked to stay here a long time. There was a guard in the next shack to mine with a couple of prisoners cleaning up. He was monkeying around with his gun; the damn thing went off; the bullet went through both houses, hit the stove in my room, bounced off the through one wall, and lodged in another. I was standing on the opposite of the stove. Well, of course as it didn’t go through the stove through me, and I was all together yet I don't know whether they have stoves in the trenches to get behind or not at any rate I can votch for them being alright as a protection. I dug the bullet out of the wall and am keeping it as a little souvenir.
We will have to let you know a little later whether any of us are coming home for Christmas or not. If we do not come Christmas, we will make a trip pretty soon afterwards. There are so many that want to go and of course everybody can not go at one time.
There are a bunch of men coming in now, from 1,200 to 1.500 a day. They are mostly men that would be the second draft. I did not know exactly what they do with this place after the 15th.Of course there will be some recruits, but not many. They will more than likely turn this place into a training camp either for officers or soldiers. They will need a at most in any case and there is very little danger of us being bothered.
They are sending a lot of men to the Phillipines. There is hardly a doubt, but that there is an army being mobolized there. I guess with the idea in mind that if Russia makes a separate peace that this army will combine with Japan and get into Russia either to clean it up or take up Russia’s part of the fight.
Well, I guess this will be enough for this time. I think I have given you about all of the dope. Answer soon, and let me know how everybody is and is getting along.
With love to you and mamma, best, regards to the rest, I am,
Your son,
JOSEPH.
Tell Dollie "hello." Also tell Dollie I am waiting for that letter.
JOE.
NOTES: Joseph John Truemper was the son of Joseph Truemper who a total of three sons serving in the armed forces. He was born on November 23, 1888 and died in August 1966.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Father:
Received your ever-welcome letter a few days ago, was mighty glad to hear from you. I am not waiting as long this time to answer as before, but will not cut my letter short just because I am answering a little sooner.
I hope mamma and all of the rest are well. Be sure to let me know in every letter just how mamma is. Tell her to take good care of herself, and be careful not to get sick.
We are all still getting along as fine as silk, and we are all well, but we could hardly be otherwise with what we have to do. The weather is getting too cold to do much playing outside, so with the exception of doing some practicing, about all we have to do is eat and sleep.
I received the underwear alright I was issued four good suits, though, the day it came. I can use it, however, and want to thank you for sending it. Willie got the pecans alright, too. I have been making a raid on them and they are fine.
The weather has turned mighty cold here, and we are having a lot of snow. It snowed all day yesterday, and is still snowing today; everything is covered. But we are just as comfortable as can be: plenty of warm clothing, plenty of bedding, and plenty of fire. They surely look out for the men in the regular army, and I am mighty glad I came into it. They have been having all kinds of disease here, too measles scarlet fever smallpox: in fact, a little of everything but these doctors know how to do things and stop it at once. Some recruit will come in with one of the different diseases, but it never yet scattered throughout the men. I have not heard of a death from any of them since I have been here. They simply do things right in this army.
The band went uptown on Thanksgiving Day to play at a military mass it sure was a grand and impressive event. We made a long parade with the Fourth Degree K of C and played inside the church during the offertory. Besides the band there were about 500 trained soldiers, and during the Elevation they all stop at attention and instead of ringing the bell a bugle was blown, while outside a gun sound from before and after the Elevation. It was great. You do not forget such things soon. I guess you saw the account of it in the paper.
Will and I were invited out to dinner by a K. of C. and we had a fine thanksgiving dinner. They were fine people, too. We had a long auto ride all over the city before dinner, and after dinner they took us to a football game, and then brought us back for supper. We had a very enjoyable day of it. The dinner was fine, all right, but tell mamma and Katie that I believe they can do better and I surely hope I will be there next Thanksgiving.
The band put on a little show here a few nights ago. You can see from the enclosed program that the _____ were well represented. I guess if there had been any more here they would have been in it too.
I had a pretty close call the other day, but I think that I am booked to stay here a long time. There was a guard in the next shack to mine with a couple of prisoners cleaning up. He was monkeying around with his gun; the damn thing went off; the bullet went through both houses, hit the stove in my room, bounced off the through one wall, and lodged in another. I was standing on the opposite of the stove. Well, of course as it didn’t go through the stove through me, and I was all together yet I don't know whether they have stoves in the trenches to get behind or not at any rate I can votch for them being alright as a protection. I dug the bullet out of the wall and am keeping it as a little souvenir.
We will have to let you know a little later whether any of us are coming home for Christmas or not. If we do not come Christmas, we will make a trip pretty soon afterwards. There are so many that want to go and of course everybody can not go at one time.
There are a bunch of men coming in now, from 1,200 to 1.500 a day. They are mostly men that would be the second draft. I did not know exactly what they do with this place after the 15th.Of course there will be some recruits, but not many. They will more than likely turn this place into a training camp either for officers or soldiers. They will need a at most in any case and there is very little danger of us being bothered.
They are sending a lot of men to the Phillipines. There is hardly a doubt, but that there is an army being mobolized there. I guess with the idea in mind that if Russia makes a separate peace that this army will combine with Japan and get into Russia either to clean it up or take up Russia’s part of the fight.
Well, I guess this will be enough for this time. I think I have given you about all of the dope. Answer soon, and let me know how everybody is and is getting along.
With love to you and mamma, best, regards to the rest, I am,
Your son,
JOSEPH.
Tell Dollie "hello." Also tell Dollie I am waiting for that letter.
JOE.
NOTES: Joseph John Truemper was the son of Joseph Truemper who a total of three sons serving in the armed forces. He was born on November 23, 1888 and died in August 1966.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD