TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MOUNTAIN WAVE OCTOBER 4, 1918 P. 2
Dear Papa:
I hardly know what to write you, for I have been too busy with other things to advise myself as to what is not permitted to be told since we came into our present position. Suffice it to say I have been in the trenches for sometime and the sensation and experience I have added to those of heretofore have been many and varied. I do not find all the horrors that are pictured in the papers. Some of them exist of course, but on the whole the stories are exaggerated. When the novelty wears off I may think differently of the situation, but so far I have found a certain amount of fun in hiding, dodging and sleeping in a dugout, eating breakfast to the tune of whistling shells and all that. I am not worrying about bullets and shells for Fritz is too poor a shot to hit me. My greatest concern is the fact that I cant change clothes often enough and take an occasional bath. Yes, and I am sure you will be proud to know that I have been out in No Man’s Land and still more proud to know that I came back without a scratdh. I am feeling fine and hope you all are.
NOTES: Lieutenant John P. Woods was writing from France to his father, John H. Woods of Melbourne, Arkansas. John P. was the nephew of Attorney S. W. Woods of Marshall, Arkansas. J. P. was from Fort Smith, Arkansas. A longer version of this letter was published in the Melbourne Times on September 26, 1918. It is the last letter posted.
TRANSCRIBED BY DEBRA POLSTON
Dear Papa:
I hardly know what to write you, for I have been too busy with other things to advise myself as to what is not permitted to be told since we came into our present position. Suffice it to say I have been in the trenches for sometime and the sensation and experience I have added to those of heretofore have been many and varied. I do not find all the horrors that are pictured in the papers. Some of them exist of course, but on the whole the stories are exaggerated. When the novelty wears off I may think differently of the situation, but so far I have found a certain amount of fun in hiding, dodging and sleeping in a dugout, eating breakfast to the tune of whistling shells and all that. I am not worrying about bullets and shells for Fritz is too poor a shot to hit me. My greatest concern is the fact that I cant change clothes often enough and take an occasional bath. Yes, and I am sure you will be proud to know that I have been out in No Man’s Land and still more proud to know that I came back without a scratdh. I am feeling fine and hope you all are.
NOTES: Lieutenant John P. Woods was writing from France to his father, John H. Woods of Melbourne, Arkansas. John P. was the nephew of Attorney S. W. Woods of Marshall, Arkansas. J. P. was from Fort Smith, Arkansas. A longer version of this letter was published in the Melbourne Times on September 26, 1918. It is the last letter posted.
TRANSCRIBED BY DEBRA POLSTON