TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LONOKE DEMOCRAT JANUARY 30, 1919 P. 4
Froidos, France Jan. 3
To the Lonoke Democrat and my Many friends:
As I haven’t much to do since the war ended, I will try and tell you all about my travels in France for the past four months, that is what time we have been here. It rains here about nine-tenths of the time and there is plenty of mud. Sure would like to be in the U. S. A. where the sun shines as much as two days in a week, it does well to shine two days in a month over here. But in other ways the weather is fairly good, not very cold, haven’t had any snow yet.
Well, I said I would tell you of my trip through France and back. I have enjoyed it fairly well and haven’t had any misfortune so far. We have a nice bunch of officers as any company, I like them just fine, for they treat me as well as they do any the rest of the privates. We set sail for France on Aug. 21, landed at Brest, France on Sept. 3, left the ship on Sept. 6, camped two nights and one day in a rest camp in our shelter tents, then moving by rail we went to Charost, France, landing there Sept. 10, staying there until Oct. 3, from there by rail we went to Cleanemout which was near the front staying there three days and two nights, camping in our shelter tents, moving from there to hill 285 in the Argonne Forest, building roads for about a month; leaving there on Nov. 7th, for a four days hike to the front, camping out at night for three nights and celebrating the false peace alarm the night of the 7th; traveling on the next day, camping in Billits with the 77th Artillery the night of the 8th, moving on next day to St. Pierremont where we repaired roads until November 15th when we started back. We stopped at Sterpell for three nights and days. On the morning of the 19th we started on a 60 kelemeto hike carrying our pack of two blankets, shelter tent and toilet articles which was a nice load with our rifles, we landed in Camp Vannaller where we are today expecting to move at any time.
Well, when I return to the states I will write a better description of this country, so I will state that I am enjoying extra good health, weigh 190 pounds only now. Hope all the readers of the Democrat are well and enjoying good health. We have several boys from Arkansas on my company, and several in the regiment from Lonoke county, our top sergeant is from near England, his name Garland Currie. Well close with lots of love and best wishes to the editor and readers, I remain as ever your friend,
Pvt. Geo. Webber Shipp
Co. D., 114 Eng. A. E. F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Froidos, France Jan. 3
To the Lonoke Democrat and my Many friends:
As I haven’t much to do since the war ended, I will try and tell you all about my travels in France for the past four months, that is what time we have been here. It rains here about nine-tenths of the time and there is plenty of mud. Sure would like to be in the U. S. A. where the sun shines as much as two days in a week, it does well to shine two days in a month over here. But in other ways the weather is fairly good, not very cold, haven’t had any snow yet.
Well, I said I would tell you of my trip through France and back. I have enjoyed it fairly well and haven’t had any misfortune so far. We have a nice bunch of officers as any company, I like them just fine, for they treat me as well as they do any the rest of the privates. We set sail for France on Aug. 21, landed at Brest, France on Sept. 3, left the ship on Sept. 6, camped two nights and one day in a rest camp in our shelter tents, then moving by rail we went to Charost, France, landing there Sept. 10, staying there until Oct. 3, from there by rail we went to Cleanemout which was near the front staying there three days and two nights, camping in our shelter tents, moving from there to hill 285 in the Argonne Forest, building roads for about a month; leaving there on Nov. 7th, for a four days hike to the front, camping out at night for three nights and celebrating the false peace alarm the night of the 7th; traveling on the next day, camping in Billits with the 77th Artillery the night of the 8th, moving on next day to St. Pierremont where we repaired roads until November 15th when we started back. We stopped at Sterpell for three nights and days. On the morning of the 19th we started on a 60 kelemeto hike carrying our pack of two blankets, shelter tent and toilet articles which was a nice load with our rifles, we landed in Camp Vannaller where we are today expecting to move at any time.
Well, when I return to the states I will write a better description of this country, so I will state that I am enjoying extra good health, weigh 190 pounds only now. Hope all the readers of the Democrat are well and enjoying good health. We have several boys from Arkansas on my company, and several in the regiment from Lonoke county, our top sergeant is from near England, his name Garland Currie. Well close with lots of love and best wishes to the editor and readers, I remain as ever your friend,
Pvt. Geo. Webber Shipp
Co. D., 114 Eng. A. E. F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON