TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PINE BLUFF DAILY GRAPHIC DECEMBER 15, 1917 P. 2
Dear Boyce:
I received your most welcome letter today, and was very glad to hear from you. We were eating dinner when the mail arrived. When the man in charge of quarters said, “Mail from the States,” the mess hall became as quiet as if “Tension” had been called. We all like to get mail from the States. I received a letter from home also this noon, dated the same date yours was.
Well old pal! I think this country is fine. Only it is hard to get along with the populace. I mean that we don’t understand their language. Some of the French can talk English a little. They are as anxious to speak English as we are to speak French. What little French I have learned has been easy for me to catch. It is considerable easier than Latin.
I read about the football game between P. B. and Warren. Tell Mr. Bassett I send my congratulations for winning the first game of the season. I hope will continue to do so.
I see where Willey Albright had been made an aviator and is in the ninth squad. I guess he is in France now. He was expecting to embark then.
You ought to see us “Sammies” trying to buy something at a store. We make all kinds of motions, use all kinds of expressions and talk all kinds of language at one time. It is the most mixed up affair you ever saw or heard of. Some of the ladies talk a little English now. It is easier to get along with them now.
Their money is another thing that we had trouble with when we first arrived. A franc is worth 18.5 c. When I got paid I drew $23. You can figure up how many francs I had. That was one time in my life I had more money than I knew what to do with. I had money in all pockets of my uniform, and the pockets of my overcoat. I had a 20-franc note changed and it was handed back to me in one-franc pieces. All in paper.
The Y.M.C.A. is doing a great deal for us boys over here. For one month we were in quarantine for mumps. They brought papers, books, etc. They even went so far as to make special arrangements to have concerts for us alone. I was lucky. I never had the mumps. Here is a good topic for debate; “Is mumps contagious?” Some doctors say that they are and some say they are not. So argue it out.
Say (CENSORED) heard that I was in the army. (CENSORED) said she cried because I was in France. Its terrible to have girls cry over you. She must be afraid I won’t return. This gets my goat (----) I declare it does.
You are missing half of your life. Everyday something occurs. The other day I witnessed one of the most remarkable scenes I ever witnessed. I saw several French soldiers receive their medals for bravery, given by the French government.
Well, Boyce, I guess I had better close, so the censor can censor more letters. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Your old school chum.
JOSEPH E ZEHNER.
Battalion K. Eighth regiment, C.A.C. brigade A.E.F.
NOTES: Joseph Earl Zehner was writing to Boyce Harris. He was born on October 2, 1899 in Portageville, New Madrid, Missouri and died on March 17, 1988 at Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. He is buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery East in Memphis. He enlisted in the military on May 3, 1917 and was discharged on January 17, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Dear Boyce:
I received your most welcome letter today, and was very glad to hear from you. We were eating dinner when the mail arrived. When the man in charge of quarters said, “Mail from the States,” the mess hall became as quiet as if “Tension” had been called. We all like to get mail from the States. I received a letter from home also this noon, dated the same date yours was.
Well old pal! I think this country is fine. Only it is hard to get along with the populace. I mean that we don’t understand their language. Some of the French can talk English a little. They are as anxious to speak English as we are to speak French. What little French I have learned has been easy for me to catch. It is considerable easier than Latin.
I read about the football game between P. B. and Warren. Tell Mr. Bassett I send my congratulations for winning the first game of the season. I hope will continue to do so.
I see where Willey Albright had been made an aviator and is in the ninth squad. I guess he is in France now. He was expecting to embark then.
You ought to see us “Sammies” trying to buy something at a store. We make all kinds of motions, use all kinds of expressions and talk all kinds of language at one time. It is the most mixed up affair you ever saw or heard of. Some of the ladies talk a little English now. It is easier to get along with them now.
Their money is another thing that we had trouble with when we first arrived. A franc is worth 18.5 c. When I got paid I drew $23. You can figure up how many francs I had. That was one time in my life I had more money than I knew what to do with. I had money in all pockets of my uniform, and the pockets of my overcoat. I had a 20-franc note changed and it was handed back to me in one-franc pieces. All in paper.
The Y.M.C.A. is doing a great deal for us boys over here. For one month we were in quarantine for mumps. They brought papers, books, etc. They even went so far as to make special arrangements to have concerts for us alone. I was lucky. I never had the mumps. Here is a good topic for debate; “Is mumps contagious?” Some doctors say that they are and some say they are not. So argue it out.
Say (CENSORED) heard that I was in the army. (CENSORED) said she cried because I was in France. Its terrible to have girls cry over you. She must be afraid I won’t return. This gets my goat (----) I declare it does.
You are missing half of your life. Everyday something occurs. The other day I witnessed one of the most remarkable scenes I ever witnessed. I saw several French soldiers receive their medals for bravery, given by the French government.
Well, Boyce, I guess I had better close, so the censor can censor more letters. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Your old school chum.
JOSEPH E ZEHNER.
Battalion K. Eighth regiment, C.A.C. brigade A.E.F.
NOTES: Joseph Earl Zehner was writing to Boyce Harris. He was born on October 2, 1899 in Portageville, New Madrid, Missouri and died on March 17, 1988 at Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. He is buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery East in Memphis. He enlisted in the military on May 3, 1917 and was discharged on January 17, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT