Somewhere in France November 16 1918 Dear Folks
Am enclosing a letter that I wrote the tenth of the month but was unable to mail it. Since then many changes have taken place, the armistice, the Kaiser going into the movies having moved from the throne, the Crown Prince michoola and other events of importance. This is what happened between the writing of the two letters. Sunday passed with out a mishap but there was talk about the German armistice and arguments for and against. The following day, the eleventh day, the eleventh month and coming at the eleventh hour the order for the movement of troops was posted. Immediately the news was carried from one to another. I was curious and wanted to see the bulletin, as I walked down to where it was posted I overheard a fellow soldier telling another of the order that Marshall Foch gave to the troops, he said "all hospitalities will cease" that made me more inquisitive than before about seeing the order myself. It was there. I copied it on the back of an envelope and brought it back to the boys.
However, the infantry work is not yet finished. The question was who was to follow up the Germans to the border?
The next two days we spent in hiking back, sleeping in towns for a change. It seemed strange not to have gas guards and to be allowed to have lights and make fires. The next day brought bad news, we were ordered to go back to the front and we went back along the same route as we came only in silence and deep in thought. Every inch of ground reminded us and brought recollections of some incident. Our dug outs that protected us from artillery fire were still there, nobody had taken them, the woods where several days ago German machine gunners played, were free and open, silence and tranquillity reigned as we marched back to hold the lines -- Yesterday we arrived in a town called Luzy, billeted in dilapidated houses, barns, stables, to a soldier it's a paradise after you sleep in mud for a year.
Oh! Boy, listen to the news. We were told after coming all the way over here that we will be the first to go back and that the regular army and National Guard will follow the Huns to the border. Today we spent on an adjoining field drilling on the real Camp Upton style. Getting ready for a parade somewhere, perhaps Paris or New York or London. It is all over but the noise and date of sailing. In a few days we will be deloused again, new outfits and equipment are expected daily. The rest of the time we expect to spend in some big town, preferably a sea port.
There is all kinds of talk of us going home for Christmas, so I must mail this letter before it is too late. This morning I received eight letters but am too excited to write. The Statue of Liberty is too near, the famous Scotch man Sandy Hook is the closest friend I can imagine.
See you soon, good bye, good luck George
Somewhere in France November 24, 1918
Dear Folks
This is my first real opportunity to let you know of my whereabouts and condition. It is a week since I wrote you last and even at that time I was the only one in the company to have the good fortune of having a base censor envelope in my possession. Since that letter where I mentioned being in Luzy we have gone back at the rate of ten miles daily, some days doing fifteen for good measure. The trips were very hard on the men having come out of the lines but we were going in the right direction and there was little hesitating and grumbling, the boys put in their last ounce of strength. We spent our nights in towns which made it easier and more comfortable to sleep. Also the roads were not muddy owing to the brisk weather, so summing up, it was a nice, pleasant walk.
Very little happened on the march except that the fellows took advantage recalling the different places that several weeks pervious were our homes. the dug outs remained untouched no one had taken any. Also the comments when an aeroplane was seen in the air, they hollered "take cover". In other woods they repeated the commands which would naturally be given in case of another war with Germany. Friday we landed in Les Islette, a rail centre, where we were bound for no one knew. Eight of us live in one room, the floor is the bed but compared with what we slept in and on, it's a palace. Yesterday we spent cleaning up our equipment and made the room look more home like. Nails for the overcoats also a nail for our towel, I will use it tomorrow, it's my own. The afternoon was ours but had to stand inspection. In the evening I attended services given by a Hebrew Chaplain. A short and eloquent sermon on the hereafter also a prayer for those that remained on the battlefield and there were many such --. After this I went to my hotel where I found some of the boys eating cheese and bread, sort of a midnight party, they said, "dig in" and unconsciously I looked for the shovel, but when I came to, I made up for the time that I was away. About nine after a little vocal music directed by myself (you can imagine the agony) we went to bed. Today is Sunday, no work although we had reveille. Rather good breakfast consisting of rice syrup, bread and coffee and plenty of it. Breakfast over I inquired about outgoing mail but could get no answer. At eleven o'clock there was a formation for a bath, everybody "fall in" with soap and towel (our) of course, we wore other clothing.
The bath was a little better than the one I wrote you about but there is lots of room for improvement, the hot water wasn't and when it was, wasn't enough of it. Again I was selected to issue the clothing etc. Only one man had a suit that fitted him (I will give you three chances to guess who he is). Clean and all dressed with several reserve pairs of socks and leggings I arrived (safely) at my place of abode. There four letters awaited me and also the good news that mail would be accepted. After reading the welcome news from the old country I immediately set out for the Y,M,C,A, where I found beaucoup writing material. When I complained about the pen the fellow said that 200 soldiers used it and I can't see why I am an exception. Now you have my whole life history. As to feeling better and the mood and condition I refer you to my company -- to look at me you wouldn't believe that I settled a war and while it was the best war that I was ever connected with, I wouldn't advise any one to go into that business -- See Kaiser Bill. The writing is more like Chinese, somehow I am full of excitement when it come to write to you. The mere fact that our meeting is so near, the suspense is terrific. But we must have patience the weeks will pass and I will again be one of you.
There is nothing else except that I am not going to answer any letters individually and am gong to ask you to phone Leo, Abe and all who are interested in my safety, my good health and spirits. When I arrive at some real city I will send them souvenir postals.
With love, George
Somewhere in France November 27, 1918
Dear Folks
It is Thanksgiving Eve, we are in a French barrack stopping for the night. (doing one night stands). It is a nice roomy comfortable place with three stoves that the boys got in a hurry. We arrived at one o'clock after a trip of eleven miles which we hiked in four hours. The name of this town is Auxecourt, I doubt if it can be found on the map it is so tiny and dirty but it has a name just the same. Now you know where I am spending the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Tomorrow we expect to resume the march and if orders are not changed we are scheduled to hike for another week. What motive there is in that no one knows but we are slowly striking civilization which makes matters more interesting and opportunities to buy little sweets and other delicacies of which we have been deprived the last months. There are rumors that our division will be among the first to leave and lack of trains is given as a reason for our marching on foot. If this is true the boys will march on their ears.
Yesterday after landing in a town and being assigned to a barn, the boys scouted about town, bought two chickens and had them cooked for supper. Together with two bottles of wine and our own mess kits we marched in, seven strong to attack the innocent chickens. Without any warning we sent a barrage of forks across the table, following it up with a knife charge (I didn't care whose hand I cut. The two were easy prey, they were in our clutches, but I will say they were game. An hour later we were discussing the battle and the only fault was that it was too short, it didn't last long but it will be long before we get another. Another interesting feature was the charge a woman made but we were prepared for the counter attack and there were no hostilities nor casualties. I need not tell you that there are no telegraph stations within reach. Have made many attempts to wire you of my safety but in this section the cable offices have not yet recuperated. Very soon I expect to be in a large rail centre and my first stop is the telegraph office --- Am awaiting the day that I can again be one of you at the pirushkes. There is nothing between us now but an ocean but in spirit I am always with you so I have a notion in my head so goodnight just for a little while.
with love, George
Somewhere in France November 30, 1918 Dear Folks,
Yesterday I cabled you, it certainly relieved me of a great burden and strain. Now my mind is at rest and am feeling better than ever. Where and when we are going to sail for home is a secret. There are all kinds of rumors of being home for Christmas but don't know the year --. I will let the government take care of the sailing, they brought me here and they will return me safely without having broken the seal --. Thanksgiving Day was a very hard one for us. Although you probably read about the turkey dinners and entertainments in France, we were not in on them. All we did was hike, hike and some more hike, only about fifteen miles. In addition it rained making matters more uncomfortable. But where there is a bill there is a holiday dinner - some of the gang dropped out near a town and purchased everything but the real estate. About a half hour after we landed in our beautiful barn they arrived loaded with bundles - a picture you see in the movies where the next door neighbor finds out that the woman next door is starving, only his packages are empty (in the meantime the pianist plays "Hearts and Flowers" striking the wrong notes)
At six the feast started, the menu consisted of:
- Sardines and key in tomato sauce
- Smoked herring never been used
- Cheese, ventilated beautiful holes
- Jam, well preserved
- 2 kinds of crackers - mine and the other fellows
- Bread - you would expect that of dough boys
- Several bottles of Champagne, a little damp but tasty
- Among the other fruits we had straw from the barn
This little meal for five only cost about 100 francs but object is no money with us, when we want the article nothing can stop us --
The rest of the evening was very jolly, we talked of last Thanksgiving in camp and at home also broke out in song and in all corners gayety and hilarity reigned. It also rained out(in all corners and in between). At ten o'clock the clicks drifted apart and before long there was all kinds of sheet music (the boys were snoring in all keys) - I lay awake thinking of home and all connected, that's all I can remember until the following morning when the order was given to roll packs and move ahead. However, the journey was not very far only about ten kilos and we stopped at the camp from where I sent the photos and also the cable. This pencil is not good, it only costs 12 cents for about a dollar and a quarter you can get a real good one. It is made in Japan, sold in France, used on American paper by an --- there is no harmony, what can you expect?
George
Somewhere in France December 5, 1918
Dear David,
Now it is all over, conditions have changed. No more digging in or sleeping outdoors. No more barrages to keep you awake nights. Gradually I am coming down to earth although things seem strange, the change is so tremendous. One very tragic event took place while we were on a drive around Grand Pre. Our position was on a hill close to the road. We came there at midnight and dug in to the tune of Jerry's guns. To make matters more miserable it rained making sleeping impossible and even sitting uncomfortable. At day break a German barrage started which lasted about two hours but they scored nothing in that inning, the pitcher was wild. Soon after the bombardment we prepared for a counter attack. I was already gun in hand, and bully beef in the other. But they never came.
That afternoon our colonel asked for immediate relief. We had been in the lines for about nineteen days twenty five of which it rained, the men were all tired, weary and many were sick but stuck without complaint. At three o'clock our company was elected to "mop up" a town called St. Juvin. To mop up a town means to search all cellars, houses and dug outs to make sure that no Germans remained there. As we went into the town, Thanhouser, (you remember him) was sitting in a dug out, he remarked as we passed by "boys we will be relieved tonight at seven o'clock" he was attached to battalion headquarters and usually received the "dope" before us, he even asked us to bring him some Hun souvenirs. We went about our business in town, there were no Germans to be found. As we approached a dug out we called out "is there any one in there?" and if the answer was "no" we let them have a hand grenade. At four our work was complete we got into formation and marched back to our holes. When we returned we found that in our absence Jerry had deprived us of two of the finest boys we knew, one of them was Seymour Thanhouser, he was killed by a shell that dropped in his dug out. We were relieved at seven but Thanhouser was not with us although the boys never forgot him to this day. He is still with us in spirit. According to Hoyle I was entitled to wear a six month's service chevron on my sleeve about a month ago but my sleeves are still untouched, am waiting for anew uniform that will have a picture of the Statue of Liberty on the left sleeve (no not illuminated). Men who are in the midst of the fight don't worry about chevrons, its only the boys that are fifty miles behind the lines that doll up, wear dress shoes while we wear hikers and even eat our crackers and chocolate issued by the Y.M.C.A.
At present we are in a little town called La Chapelle from indications and conditions we are going to stay here until our ship comes in. If you can find a map of France find Sedan and then look south and locate a place called Chaumont (about ten miles from La Chapelle). This is about what we covered in nine days hiking and mud covered us We started from a little town near Sedan but I don't think it is on the map there are only four houses and two walls the whole village. While on the march we received no mail except a few stray letters but there are 76 bags of mail in Regimental Headquarters which we expect today to be assorted and distributed.
Here's hoping you are home to receive this letter and here's hoping that I will help you read it.
George
Somewhere in France December 6, 1918
Dear Folks,
Have just been informed that we are going to remain here for a few months, at least one. At retreat a memorandum was read to us from Divisional Headquarters which thanked us for the wonderful work that we did in the last few months. The general praised, lauded and congratulated us on our tremendous successes and he hoped that we would do the same and show the same spirit in the training which is going to commence December 9th. It will be a four week schedule, five hours each day five days in the week. It has shattered all my plans and expectations of seeing you this year and I feel a little disappointed. Of course, orders are subject to change, it may be two months training and then again only two weeks. But as matters stand at the present writing it will be long before I write my last stampless letter. Our billet consists of several rooms, after the tidings that we are to stay a little while we decided to make ourselves at home. Tomorrow and Sunday we will spend decorating and rehauling the place with new straw together with a general clean up---
Last night I received a letter from David describing the celebration of the German armistice. It must have been a wonderful sight, I regret missing it but I feel as if I had a hand in giving it to them. What would they do without me? As far as we are concerned the war is still going on, our march from the front lines with our packs after spending two weeks in the lines still shows on us. Our muscles still yearn for rest and in this town we expect to receive our due rest with interest.
We are near a railroad centre and furloughs will likely be given. If I am to stay here for a while I would very much like to visit a real city like Paris or some other of the same nature. I stand a good chance because I am one of the oldest boys in the company, about half of them dropped out, some were killed, others wounded and many are sick in the hospitals. This gives me an opportunity to be among the first on leave. About half an hour ago we joked and sang the good old songs we used to sing in New York. Every one felt that after all it may be for the best. Our quarters are good, comfortable and warm, the drilling won't harm us it is only that one long month but it will pass like the others -- Am in best of condition, feel fine especially after washing, shaving and cleaning up.
Will write the rest of the family tomorrow, good bye for a little while. Regards and love to all.
George