NOTE: Some of the letters have an * embedded, these were words or letters that Western Phil was unable to decipher when transcribing from the original letters.
A.E.F.
OFFICERS' INN.
Nov. 8, 1918
Dear Parents, Brothers & Sisters:
It has been better than a week since I have written you, I believe and as I have a little time I'll let you hear from me.
I am sending you a few German Propaganda slips that Fritz drops over our lines on clear days. It is a lot of "Bunk". But he insists in it. We have our share of fun on them, Have taken them & written in long hand right under them some American Propaganda & sent over to his lines. I am also sending you some more coins, Papa. A Swiss & a Belgian Coin. I would ask one thing tho & that is if you acknowledge every time you get some coins & the next time you write just what coins I have sent you. I can replace such, maybe, that were lost in the mails.
I suppose Dora told you that again I am where you really soldier. Today was quite a clear day and our artillery brought down one of Fritz's Planes who was getting a little to chesty the last week or so. He fell in back of my sector, but I was unable to go & see the wreck.
The nights are unusually long and will get longer as this month & the next goes along. At 4:30 it is dark & it does not light up until 6:00 & on dreary days they are longer yet. It is pretty hard on a man's nerve to be always on the alert especially so at night when you must hear if Fritz comes over as you cannot see him.
It night I do my share of translating French orders that were turned over to me, writing letters, discussing plans of the war with my new commissioned officers, reading what little English reading matter drips thru to us. Tho a good deal of my time is spent with the men on post. Being Colored men, they are a little scary but let them see that their officers are willing to go there with what they must they will follow him thru anything and you would be surprised at their confidence in me. Like one said to me whin I stood with him on post one night "Lieutenant, sir! I believe there was somebody in the wire, my hand was itching to throw, a grenade at it , but I knew you were just a little ways off & you would have heard it so let it alone." Just such little incidences are every day occurrence. You cannot depend on them when away, but let a white officer lead them & nothing will stop them. So I have heard when this Regiment went over the top and one of the officers was wounded & fell 12 men rushed up to him to help him in spite of the fact that the earth was just being churned by machine gun Bullets. The old officers in this Regiment are the elite of New York City. Col. Hayward in command was Chas. E. Hughes' National Campaign leader. Our Captain is running for State Senator, millionaires & multimillionaires make up a great part of the officer personnel. The old men are all of N.Y. and a fighting Bunch it was originally the 15th N.Y. N.G.
In the day time I do a lot work around my post such that will make the place safe & comfortable not only for me but also for my successor whom we always take into consideration.
Food is good, considering under what difficulties it has to be brought up and cooked. Now & then we officers are able to get somebody into a village behind the lines & have extras such as butter @ 1.25 per lb. Eggs @ .20 each a can of Peaches the other day cost us $1.60 at that rate we are not eating much extra especially so since I have not been paid since I left the States. But it is coming sooner or later.
I'll close now, with many regards to all.
Your son & Brother
Herbert
369th Inf. U.S.
French Post. Sect. #107
Via N.Y. American E. F.