TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BRINKLEY ARGUS NOVEMBER 15, 1918 P. 4
"Somewhere in France"
Oct. 16th, 1918
Mrs. Mary A. West.
Holly Grove, Ark.
Dear Aunt Molly:
Just a line to let you know I am still in the land of the living. I know you think it is a long time between letters. It takes so long for one to go and come that it seems a hard job to write under the circumstances. I am having the best of health these days and making it just fine over here so far. We are cramped in a nice cozy place now but don't know how soon we will be leaving for some where else. We have been pretty well on the move ever since we hit over here, however that is what we are here for I suppose. We havn't had any sunshine for some several days. It keeps cloudy and drizzly. I have two pair of shoes tho' and some heavy socks and heavy underwear wool, so I don't think there is chance of getting cold for some time to come. We are having some real live experiences over here and I will have lots of things to tell you folks when I get back home. You know I am some talker anyway, nix. Well what do you people think of all the Peace talk now. I thought it was pretty near some few days ago, but from the way things look now, don't think we will be home hardly as soon as I expected. We heard all kinds of rumors about the Germans retreating Post Haste, but of course we are not in a place to decide exactly what is going on yet for a while. I don't believe it will be long tho' before they will be out of Belgium and France, then we will do some of that stuff they call mopping up with the Germans and Germany too. Have seen some real lively aeroplane battles. Believe me, there are plenty of them flying over us and once in a while a stray plane will get too far over the line and get chased back. From the way we hear the Germans are retreating now I don't think it will be so very long before the Huns will be wanting peace real bad.
Well what are you folks over there in the good U.S.A. I speck cotton is some price this fall and you are rich by now. I sure would like to be over there and help you take care of some of that excess dough, for I know you are accumulating some little pile by now. I wrote Cornelia a letter yesterday but forgot her address and so as I remembered Cousin Lula Robley's address, sent it to her at 1234 Peabody Ave, and told her to send it to Cornelia. I lost Cornelia's last letter so I didn't know her new address. I know Cousin Lula will take care of it tho' and give it to Sis. I havn't heard a word of Guy or his regiment since I have been over here. Don't know where he is located nor does he know where I am located. It will be a gay old surprise if we should happen to run up on each other over here somewhere. I have been working at the Personnel Office on their pay-roll for the last few days. Hubert Starrett is over here now, so of course he needed me to help him out a few days. I will go back to my company tomorrow. I havn't any souvenirs yet. I have about all I can handle in my pack now. We hike from one place to another over here, and I feel like throwing the biggest part of what I have already away. Of course it will all come in good this winter, but oh, gee, it sure does get heavy when a fellow starts on a long hike. I managed to ride over on a truck the other day, which is the first ride I have had so far. I have a few francs left and haven't been paid for September yet. We can't spend what little we have now, so I don't know what we will do with any more. I was promoted to Seargant the 16th of September.
Well dear aunty write me a line often. I have not received but one from you since I landed so you had better get busy. Am going to take the best of care of myself and perhaps I will get to see you all again before many months have passed away.
Give my love and best regards to Aunt Julia and Harry and tell them old Bill is still on the job and will be on his way home "sometime" in the future.
Yours with love,
Sergeant William C. Wall.
American E.F., Via New York.
NOTES: William Cannon Wall was born on March 15, 1889 in Holly Grove, Arkansas and died on October 20, 1947. He is buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on May 21, 1919. He served as a Sergeant in Co. B 114th Engineers 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
"Somewhere in France"
Oct. 16th, 1918
Mrs. Mary A. West.
Holly Grove, Ark.
Dear Aunt Molly:
Just a line to let you know I am still in the land of the living. I know you think it is a long time between letters. It takes so long for one to go and come that it seems a hard job to write under the circumstances. I am having the best of health these days and making it just fine over here so far. We are cramped in a nice cozy place now but don't know how soon we will be leaving for some where else. We have been pretty well on the move ever since we hit over here, however that is what we are here for I suppose. We havn't had any sunshine for some several days. It keeps cloudy and drizzly. I have two pair of shoes tho' and some heavy socks and heavy underwear wool, so I don't think there is chance of getting cold for some time to come. We are having some real live experiences over here and I will have lots of things to tell you folks when I get back home. You know I am some talker anyway, nix. Well what do you people think of all the Peace talk now. I thought it was pretty near some few days ago, but from the way things look now, don't think we will be home hardly as soon as I expected. We heard all kinds of rumors about the Germans retreating Post Haste, but of course we are not in a place to decide exactly what is going on yet for a while. I don't believe it will be long tho' before they will be out of Belgium and France, then we will do some of that stuff they call mopping up with the Germans and Germany too. Have seen some real lively aeroplane battles. Believe me, there are plenty of them flying over us and once in a while a stray plane will get too far over the line and get chased back. From the way we hear the Germans are retreating now I don't think it will be so very long before the Huns will be wanting peace real bad.
Well what are you folks over there in the good U.S.A. I speck cotton is some price this fall and you are rich by now. I sure would like to be over there and help you take care of some of that excess dough, for I know you are accumulating some little pile by now. I wrote Cornelia a letter yesterday but forgot her address and so as I remembered Cousin Lula Robley's address, sent it to her at 1234 Peabody Ave, and told her to send it to Cornelia. I lost Cornelia's last letter so I didn't know her new address. I know Cousin Lula will take care of it tho' and give it to Sis. I havn't heard a word of Guy or his regiment since I have been over here. Don't know where he is located nor does he know where I am located. It will be a gay old surprise if we should happen to run up on each other over here somewhere. I have been working at the Personnel Office on their pay-roll for the last few days. Hubert Starrett is over here now, so of course he needed me to help him out a few days. I will go back to my company tomorrow. I havn't any souvenirs yet. I have about all I can handle in my pack now. We hike from one place to another over here, and I feel like throwing the biggest part of what I have already away. Of course it will all come in good this winter, but oh, gee, it sure does get heavy when a fellow starts on a long hike. I managed to ride over on a truck the other day, which is the first ride I have had so far. I have a few francs left and haven't been paid for September yet. We can't spend what little we have now, so I don't know what we will do with any more. I was promoted to Seargant the 16th of September.
Well dear aunty write me a line often. I have not received but one from you since I landed so you had better get busy. Am going to take the best of care of myself and perhaps I will get to see you all again before many months have passed away.
Give my love and best regards to Aunt Julia and Harry and tell them old Bill is still on the job and will be on his way home "sometime" in the future.
Yours with love,
Sergeant William C. Wall.
American E.F., Via New York.
NOTES: William Cannon Wall was born on March 15, 1889 in Holly Grove, Arkansas and died on October 20, 1947. He is buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on May 21, 1919. He served as a Sergeant in Co. B 114th Engineers 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD