TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS JANUARY 17, 1919 P. 3
Nov. 24, 1918.
Dear Father:
As today is set aport for us boys to write a special letter to our fathers I will write to you. I am well and getting along fine. I am a long way from the front lines. You know as much about “going over the top” as I do, but if the war had not stopped when it did I would have been right at the front. I have been at Harve-Monts, St. Aigan. I am in a little village close to Monte-Richards. They busted our outfit and we were made into Replacement troops to fill up the ranks at the front. We came over on the British liner Aquitania, it is a sister ship to the Lusitania and is some swell ship. We were in England two days. You should have seen the trains I have rode on here. I have ridden on a freight car and in cattle cars too. I have seen some queer sights since I have been in France. The people wear wooden shoes. They raise grapes and make lots of wine. There were lots of grapes when we came here. The most of the French treat us fine, but some few try to graft for the American dollar. I didn’t take much to them. I couldn’t make them understand when I wanted to buy anything. I have heard lots about the French girls but they can’t “keep up” with the U.S.A. girls. We are drilling the same as we did in the states. Tell Mr. Bradley I hope to get back to tend the strawberries. Don’t worry about me for I will get home some time. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Your son,
Alvin G. Vanscoy,
Co. K, 163rd Inf. A. P. O. 727 A. E. F.
NOTES: Alvin Glenn Vanscoy was born on August 5, 1895 in Randolph County, West Virginia and died on February 5, 1978. He is buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery in Cave Springs, Arkansas. He enlisted on July 16, 1918 and was discharged on March 6, 1919. He departed for France from New York onboard the Aquitania. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. B of the 149th Infantry. He returned to the US departing Brest, France on February 4, 1919. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on February 16, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. K of the 163rd Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Nov. 24, 1918.
Dear Father:
As today is set aport for us boys to write a special letter to our fathers I will write to you. I am well and getting along fine. I am a long way from the front lines. You know as much about “going over the top” as I do, but if the war had not stopped when it did I would have been right at the front. I have been at Harve-Monts, St. Aigan. I am in a little village close to Monte-Richards. They busted our outfit and we were made into Replacement troops to fill up the ranks at the front. We came over on the British liner Aquitania, it is a sister ship to the Lusitania and is some swell ship. We were in England two days. You should have seen the trains I have rode on here. I have ridden on a freight car and in cattle cars too. I have seen some queer sights since I have been in France. The people wear wooden shoes. They raise grapes and make lots of wine. There were lots of grapes when we came here. The most of the French treat us fine, but some few try to graft for the American dollar. I didn’t take much to them. I couldn’t make them understand when I wanted to buy anything. I have heard lots about the French girls but they can’t “keep up” with the U.S.A. girls. We are drilling the same as we did in the states. Tell Mr. Bradley I hope to get back to tend the strawberries. Don’t worry about me for I will get home some time. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Your son,
Alvin G. Vanscoy,
Co. K, 163rd Inf. A. P. O. 727 A. E. F.
NOTES: Alvin Glenn Vanscoy was born on August 5, 1895 in Randolph County, West Virginia and died on February 5, 1978. He is buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery in Cave Springs, Arkansas. He enlisted on July 16, 1918 and was discharged on March 6, 1919. He departed for France from New York onboard the Aquitania. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. B of the 149th Infantry. He returned to the US departing Brest, France on February 4, 1919. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on February 16, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. K of the 163rd Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS