April, May, June 1918 --
George arrives in France, writes:
Dear Folks,We are at the end of our journey, land is in sight and the dropping of the anchor is a matter of hours .
The trip has been very interesting and exciting from all points of view. In the short time of travel the weather had as many varieties as Heinz has pickles. From the beautiful spring days to stormy raging weather one might expect at sea. Ours was not the only ship going abroad which made things more cheerful for the eye .
The accommodations were fair and the meals after matters and difficulties were arranged, were good. We slept in hammocks or on the floor, sometimes both places in one night. I even attempted to sleep on deck but it was too cold and I had to return to a selected spot on the floor.
The boys kept up their sprit and morale and some tried hard to keep the food down, I succeeded in both .
During the stormy days we were indoors reading and playing cards, they never run out of cards there are always decks on board.
Am in the best of health, feeling fine and am ready for the task.
Your loving son and brother, George
Somewhere in France Sometime in May Dear Anna,
Had a wonderful trip across, worth twice as much as much as I paid for it. Sea sickness never bothered me I ate every meal which is initself a heroic deed and slept most of the time sometimes.
The weather conditions were very favorable which gave us plenty of opportunity to be on deck most of the journey. It ws a beautiful sight to see a number of ships all camouflaged making for the same direction. Especially on moonlight nights, also our convoy which was very active darting in and out between boats.
Immediately upon our arrival in port we marched to a railroad station . Although fatigued the crowd was very enthusiastic and we forgot our tired feelings. The train took us to a rest camp where we stayed over night and given the key to the town. In ten minutes everybody heard of our arrival (of course, not the deaf men ) Had we stayed there much longer we would have purchased the place. Nothing too high for us and we spent hours figuring out the foreign coin but it only took a few minutes to spend it. In one place I bought some candy the proprietor told me the price. I dug down in my pocket and took out all my strange coin, he took all I had - I wonder how he missed my wrist watch.
The following day we again started for our training camp and now are again in a rest camp. Have just eaten my supper and at present at the Y.M.C.A. writing this masterpiece. Write me, I am hungry for a letter.
Regards and love to Larry and the baby. George
Sometime in May Somewhere in France Dear Folks,
Am in a little quaint old fashioned village among very hospitable people. It is to be our training camp. The country is beautiful and we are surrounded by hills, long stretches of grass and bluffs, not what you mean.
Home made eggs and milk is plentiful. The first day that we arrived a company of
three including me went into a farm house where after making a noise like a
chicken laying an egg the lady fried some eggs and also gave me a piece of bread
from the safe. We are not yet settled but when we are there will be no need of
buing food, there will be plenty. Wine and beer flows like water mostly water.
Every other house is a cafe and always patronized by our boys.The place is only nine miles from the station and all we had to do was to carry a sixty
pound pack. Every mile it grew heavier, the last mile it weighed at least a ton and
a hlaf. But it was a great relief when we arrived to our quarters and did we
sleep that night? They did not wake us until nine in the morning.Owing to the location there is a slight change in the address. Although the other will reach me in a round about way. It is Private George Cohen CO. M. 306 Infantry, American E. F. B. E. F.
After several days of rest we will begin our extensive training. Have received a
letter from the bank in Paris telling me of my bank account. Even that is
welcome when no other mail is in sight.Your loving son and brother.
George
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Somewhere in France May 13, 1918 Dear Folks
It has been raining all day, they claim that the bombarding nas an effect on the
weather, whatever the reason, rain is a very usual occurance. It interfered with
our program and just like in New York when you stay out too long you get wet.Saturday and Sunday I spent most of the time in an adjoining town, there is nothing
to see but I enjoyed comparing stores, streets restaurants, etc. For instance, I
struck one store two by three by nothing that sells paper, oil, burshes, paint, candy, cake butter and other drugs. Since our boys struck the town all stores sell sweets and other delicacies that soldiers like.Bread is the most precious thing in town and we have been so well bred in the United
States that we miss it. Fruit is another thing that is very short and expensive.
Eggs and potatoes can be gotten in any establishment including
restaurants. Never was I so crazy about candy as I am at present. In business
for four years and hardly tasted candy but now that it is so hard
to obtain it, I yearn for it. Am impatient for a letter from home, was so accustomed
to get voluminous mail in Upton that I can't wait for the happy hour.Am well, in fact, I am sun burnt, and it doesn't cost a cent! The country air, food
and excercise has given me new vitality. All my money that I brought with me
I spend judiciously. I invest in food whenever the army cooking does not agree
with me. Now being paid, I have written to my bank in Paris to send me some money just to have some loose change. Maybe I can do business with the Kaiser, at least I can talk business to him.As ever your loving son and brother George
Somewhere in France May 18, 1918 Dear Ezra
Have just completed a fifteen mile hike. It was extremely hot and our packs were
quite heavy. Many of the boys dropped out but I was among the twenty odd of the
whole company of 250 who finished. Arrived at our destination I made tea and
hard tack (crackers). I only made the tea, the biscuits were already made by
tasting them you would imagine they were cement instead of baking powder and
cement is so expensive.We are going to have some real battle practice with an imaginary foe. It will be more
interesting than the ordinary work.We have been stripped of all our clothing except what we wear, our personal
belongings were also taken and stored away. All that I have left is a cake of soap and one towel after spending about ten dollars for toilet articles.This place reminds me of one of those good summer resorts, where every boarder gets a pitcher of water daily. The same here. Every morning I get a cup of water, wash myself and the linens, no use describing them you can imagine them yourself.
Although in the fighting country there is very little information about the war. You
4000 miles away know more than I about the conflict. I would give a dollar
for an Evening Journal, it may be six months old. Especially the Beatrice
Fairfax column.Best regards to the assistants tell them to write. Don't forget to remember me
to all the Gordons.George
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Decoration Day Somewhere in France Dear David
You could not have selected a more opportune time to have your letter delivered to me.
We were out on the drill grounds celebrating Decoration Day with field sports< when the announcer called my name. For a moment I thought that first prize was awarded me for not having participated in the 102 yard dash, but lo, your epistle was presented which was a far better prize. It made this the happiest day in Europe. Incidentally today was a day of letters for me, before
dinner I received five - Cleveland, New York and Brooklyn were represented, Anna,
Larry, Celia, Leah, Rebecca and a friend of mine from Brooklyn and yours was dessert.Have read about the Liberty Loan in the English or rather London papers and am glad it
was a success and regret that I can't share in it. Just imagine Al Jolson at
the Garden selling bonds, he could have the total oversubscribed in one night. From
the news that the boys receive New York is beginning to feel the pressure of war.
But let us hope that it will soon be over and that I can be back in time to
see Ezra established and settled.The army is like a vaudeville show (that is why they say Theatre of War) you never know what is coming. In the theatre if an act is poor always aniticipate the next one to be better and so forth, you sit through the whole performance and (choose
the nearest exit, don't run, rush). Life here is similar to the show one
day is bad and then next one worse and then it brightens up, you are on the sunny side
and everything is harmonious again.This is an idea of a day in camp. Up at six, reville, at six thirty I am washed unless
it is Sunday I allow five more minutes for the neck and parts of the hands
not exposed. At six forty five the bugler blows the mess call, the second
best call in the army, the other is pay call. The six appointed or selected men
rush to the kitchen which is about three blocks away and bring the chow or
whatever else you might call it without ladies being present. By that time a
line has formed and those in charge of the kitchen distribute the food equally the seargeant getting the biggest share.Mess devoured, the mess kits are washed, some dried with grass others with shirts, towels, underwear and other hardware. (send me a picture of a clean
towel). From that time until seven forty five we roll our packs which means
striking our tents or taking the tents apart and all general cleaning ready for duty.At eight we are on the drill grounds. The work varies from physical drill, bayonet,
bombs throwing , musketing and close order drilling this is another name for
marching. At twelve we are marched back to our hotel and the kitchen police
are let loose for the grub. We have until half past one to eat and rest up,
there is generally lots of time to rest up.Half past one we either go to the rifle range of which there are several or we dig
trenches for a past time. A funny thing is that everything we undertake in life we
must start at the bottom and work up but not so with trenches. If the dirt
that we dig out from a trench is too much to fill the gap all we have to do is dig deeper, this is real deep stuff. At four o'clock we are again marched back to our abode. After a little rest supper is ready and very welcome. We then pitch
our tents and pray that it doesn't rain. After seven I either walk to a
near by town or write. Sometimes I devote a little time to the letters that I
should receive and don't. This is the end of a perfect day for which darling
brother I receive a dollar or five francs and seventy centimes.Apart from this I am in the best of health and spirits and am very anxious to be
with you.George
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Somewhere in France June 14, 1918 Dear Folks
Have not written for some time. For the last two weeks we have been going from
somewhere in France to somewhere else in France by foot and train thereby getting
no opportunity to write. Hiking and moving has been our main occupation.
A six, seven mile march with a fifty or sixty pound pack is just a short performance before breakfast. Oh! It is a lovely life.Napoleon said an army traveled on its stomach as far as I can see he was all wrong an army travels on its feet. Covering fourteen, fifteen miles is some feat and
you should see them.The ride in the box car was a new experience all cars are stamped 16 horses or forty
men all we had in our car was twenty and there was very little space to
sleep. To make up for the inconveniences we were cheered by the people as we
passed, occasionally we got a glimpse of the cities and smiles from people in
passing trains were plenty. The weather has been very favorable although warm
during the day the nights are cool, sleeping is comfortable.My French is becoming better daily, every day I learn another word I started
yesterday and know how to say good morning, have you any eggs and several phrases
pertaining to drinks, water mostly.I feel fine, if the scales are correct I gained about five pounds how and where I don't know. Write me often am hungry for a bit of news.
Your loving son and brother George
June 20, 1918 Dear FolksAm stopping at a place where there are many Americans, in fact the first real boys that I have come in contact since I am in France. They have been here longer than we and the stories they relate are most interesting and instructive. They also put confidence into us by explaining in detail many things of which we were
kept in the dark. It is a wonderful stimulant to meet such fellows. No one
understands an American like an American and no one need go hungry while they
are around no matter what hour of the night.There is a Y.M.C.A. in town also canteen where cake, chocolate and canned fruit is sold
at cost. A baseball field is directly behind the tent also all other games
imaginable. It is home again for me. It is so much like Upton only 4000 miles away and no passes.It is nine o'clock still light enough to write, am on the grass outside of the Y.M.C.A. some are writing, some reading, others playing ball. In a corner there is bunch arguing about the Christmas dinner at Rector's. The last interested me most and I was forced to chip in twelve centimes.
Have thought of a new plan during our hikes, there is little time to write and less time for the officers to censor it. Am enclosing a postal expressly made for that purpose which can be mailed at any time, telling that I am well. Every few days I will mail one to you just to keep you posted.
Our mail is very irregular in coming in have not heard from any of the family for two weeks except Celia. I hope you will find a little more time to write me and not wait for my letters.
As same as ever George
June 22, 1918 Dear Folks
Sitting in Y.M.C.A. gave me an inspiration to dash a few lines to you. The place is not very spacious but has a piano and the man in charge is trying his best to run it on the American plan and make the boys feel at home. The boys are playing some of the ancient music that they found on the piano and it certainly brings back fond recollections also the time I spent in the New York theatres I am coming back to reserve a season ticket. As I write a fellow is singing "I hear you
calling me" a la John MacCormack, and I truly hear you calling me and I will be
back as soon as possible.Our men are so different than the others, in one town I visited a British Y.M.C.A. there
was a piano there also plenty of Tommies lounging about some drinking tea others
talking of the war occasionally one would play a song but there was no
harmony. A dozen Americans came in, one played the others joined and gradually
the British soldiers gathered at the circle and the place changed completely just like magic. Not only at the Y.M.C.A. are the Yanks going to change matters. You can tell by the newspapers that the Germans are also dancing to their music in a short time the Germans will be singing "OVER THERE"About my health and morale there has been no change. About a month ago I had my hair cut very short by machine but it has grown back very quickly. Last week while in town a Frenchman trimmed my hair with a wooden leg (the man) also gave me a dry shampoo that is he put nothing on my hair, rubbed it with a dirty towel and said something in French. I retaliated with a few words in my own vernacular and was glad he did not understand. He tried to sell me the place but refused to wrap it up.
Tonight we take another hike don't know how far but we are going to change hotels. When I awake tomorrow I will be in some other town whose name I won't be able to pronounce and don't care to, before I learn how to pronounce the silent letters we move. If I am asked the name I tell them its 4000 miles from New York, that's one place they all know.
George
July 2, 1918 Dear Celia,For two weeks there was no sign of any mail owing to our moving about, but yesterday they arrived in wholesale. Five letters and several in between still missing which will be here as soon as we are established.
I can picture Friday night in Harlem. The big spacious rooms immaculately clean the wonderful tasty spread but so many vacant chairs. Ida in Cleveland, Esther in Brooklyn and the rest all over creation. Remember the festivals with twenty at the table, father in best of spirits and joy and harmony prevailed. The days when you did not want to go to school, how you loved the cloudy mornings which excused you from your studies. The nights we played casino and I'd build a ten and take it with a nine or six while you were not looking. You
don't remember that you didn't see it. Those were the happy times what would you give to have them over again. No offer too small, write or wire or telephone.With several others I am located on the outskirts of a town which is occupied by my
company. Our work consists of carrying messages to and fro (from battalion to regiment). The work is not difficult and gives us plenty of time to ourselves. In all the towns that we strike in this sector there are Y.M.C.A. all comforts and delicacies that can be purchased at reasonable prices. Am lying (my specialty) on the grass outside of my tent the same sun that you have in your country is shining, the birds are signing the wind is blowing and the road is running from one town to another. What prettier description of scene can be written? Yonder I can see the town where my supper waits for me, if I don't get there the stew will be cold and there are no lunch counters in the vicinity, so good bye and remember me to all.George
In writing hereafter the B.E.F. is not necessary, we are no longer connected with the British we are old enough to take care of ourselves.
George Comden Home Next Section -->