TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA NOVEMBER 14, 1918 P. 8
How are you all tonight? As for myself I am feeling fine. Well, I have never received a letter yet; thought sure I would get one today, but didn’t. I write you one every day. Guess it is still very warm in Arkansas. It is pretty cold over here, but not near as cold as it will be. We have plenty of good wine to drink so we won’t notice the cold much.
We have plenty to eat and wear. If we could just get writing paper we would get along fine. Mother are you still getting my allotment?
I have been upstairs to get my tobacco. They give each man two sacks a week so you can see we have plenty of smokes. We got some more new clothes today, also a warm winter cap and a pair of trousers. Ike Rasberry and myself went and got all the grapes we could eat today. They raise more grapes than anything else over here.
Well how is Johnny getting along now? I sent you all a card each yesterday, the kind the French people send. Guess you will get them before this letter.
I visited Mohon yesterday (Sunday). It is some place. Saw the prison that Joan of Arc was kept. And last night I visited Lury France. You see we have some places to go over here, but there is no place like the good old U.S.A.
Where is Fred now? Has he ever left for France? If so give him my address so he can write me. Maybe I can see him some time. Hope he is getting along all O.K.
I sent you a Christmas coupon yesterday.
Thad Rogers and myself went after blackberries yesterday. The French people don’t eat them at all. Thad says tell everybody hello for him.
How are all the kids anyway? Give my love to Cousin Emma and Cousin Winfred Lee.
Will close wishing you all a merry Xmas for this will reach you about then. Listen Sis give my address to some of the girls as I would like very much to hear from them. Would rather get a letter than a ten dollar bill.
Will close. With love.
John E. Watson.
NOTES: John E. Watson served in Ambulance Company 153rd Sanitary Train 114, 39th Division. He was writing to his mother. He was born on January 22, 1895 in Benton, Arkansas and died on August 6, 1977 in Arizona. He was described as being of medium height and slender with brown eyes and blonde hair. He is buried in the Wickenbury Cemetery in Wickenbury, Arizona. His military headstone identifies him as a Pvt US Army serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
How are you all tonight? As for myself I am feeling fine. Well, I have never received a letter yet; thought sure I would get one today, but didn’t. I write you one every day. Guess it is still very warm in Arkansas. It is pretty cold over here, but not near as cold as it will be. We have plenty of good wine to drink so we won’t notice the cold much.
We have plenty to eat and wear. If we could just get writing paper we would get along fine. Mother are you still getting my allotment?
I have been upstairs to get my tobacco. They give each man two sacks a week so you can see we have plenty of smokes. We got some more new clothes today, also a warm winter cap and a pair of trousers. Ike Rasberry and myself went and got all the grapes we could eat today. They raise more grapes than anything else over here.
Well how is Johnny getting along now? I sent you all a card each yesterday, the kind the French people send. Guess you will get them before this letter.
I visited Mohon yesterday (Sunday). It is some place. Saw the prison that Joan of Arc was kept. And last night I visited Lury France. You see we have some places to go over here, but there is no place like the good old U.S.A.
Where is Fred now? Has he ever left for France? If so give him my address so he can write me. Maybe I can see him some time. Hope he is getting along all O.K.
I sent you a Christmas coupon yesterday.
Thad Rogers and myself went after blackberries yesterday. The French people don’t eat them at all. Thad says tell everybody hello for him.
How are all the kids anyway? Give my love to Cousin Emma and Cousin Winfred Lee.
Will close wishing you all a merry Xmas for this will reach you about then. Listen Sis give my address to some of the girls as I would like very much to hear from them. Would rather get a letter than a ten dollar bill.
Will close. With love.
John E. Watson.
NOTES: John E. Watson served in Ambulance Company 153rd Sanitary Train 114, 39th Division. He was writing to his mother. He was born on January 22, 1895 in Benton, Arkansas and died on August 6, 1977 in Arizona. He was described as being of medium height and slender with brown eyes and blonde hair. He is buried in the Wickenbury Cemetery in Wickenbury, Arizona. His military headstone identifies him as a Pvt US Army serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT