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.
Dec. 25/18
Chateuvis, France
Dearest Parents, Brothers & Sisters:
This is one day of all where our thoughts ramble across the sea more than usual. Last night I had 3 other officers in my room and our entire conversation was of home. One of us made the remark early in the evening: "Gentlemen! This is the night, when folks at home miss you more than you them." I think he was right at that. My main regret is that I am unable to attend services, the first time, as much as I know, since I was born, that a Xmas passes without attending some services. But I am confined to my room or near there with a bad stomach that has bothered me for a week but which became acute yesterday and the doctor put me to bed last night. But this morning I feel pretty *chip* again except seem littler weak as I have eaten nothing since Yesterday morning. If it were that I could get out I would attend Catholic services which are the only one in the village.
You can see that we are again in France. We left Putrershein on the morning of the 18th. Stayed over night at Seutheim. Next day marched to Frais between Faulaine & Bessaucourt. On the 20 we marched thru Belfert to Essert about 3 miles west of Belfert. On the 23rd we came here on a march of about 8 miles directly south of Belfort. Chateuvis is a real nice little French village of 325 families. I was billeting officer for the entire trip and billeted the entire Battalion every day. But I got here and assigned myself a room and when I wanted to take it after I had every body fixed up. I was out of luck as the family's sow had come home and occupied the room. But I found one above a cafe in fact 3 rooms 2 of which had stoves 3 other officers had similar experiences so I put them *ise and now we are finely situated.
We have had some hard marches the last week as every day it rained & we never dried up but now we are well fixed & dry thru & thru.
We have had a touch of Xmas as going thru Belfert I met a Red Cross man & I gave hm a tale of woe, how this Regiment had seen some hard fighting & *rkes were coming them miserable. So he gave some cigarettes and my billeting party & promised to fix the Battalion up were I willing to furnish transportation? I did. Every man & officer of this Battalion was giving 3 packs of Taxedo, Some gum, candy & a Xmas package which consisted of a lot of small articles needed by every soldier. I found in my kit a sewing outfit consisting of buttons, needles pins, thread, scissors, etc. 25 Envelopes 1 pad of paper 5 sticks of Gum, Tooth paste, shaving soap, Bouillon cubes, folding cup, Xmas candy, a box of cookies, 5 cigars and some few other small articles that I cannot now recall. May be that wasn't a treat for our men who certainly needed it.
The folks here baked us a nice cake last night & 2 pies today of which I could not partake as much as I liked to.
I must close now as I wish to drop Freda a line yet.
Regards & the seasons greetings to all
Herbert
369th Inf.
American E. F.
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.
Brest, France
Jan. 19 1919
Dear Parents, brothers & Sisters:
I have before me 3 letters received from you since I have last written, but I had hoped to be on board ship before this so I have delayed answering them.
From the heading you can see that I am still headed westward (in fact as far west ss I possibly can without getting out of France or on water. Just when we sail I cannot say it may be tomorrow & it may be a week or a month but only 3 hours notice is given us so we are in hopes. We left from near Belfort on Dec 31/18 & Le Mans after a 2 day & 2 night trip on a cold troop train. At Le Mans we were deloused of which both officers and men had a lot. From there we left again on the 9th and arrived at Brest after a night and a day on a cold American troop train. Here we lived for 4 days in tents were deloused again * moved into Barracks where we are now waiting for the good ship that is to take us over. That it cannot leave to soon you can imagine. We are having now the rainy season and we are living in our rain coats & trying to find the bottom of the mud which is in places actually knee deep. But we do but little work & eat well in spite of which I am getting home-sicker every day.
Ich habe Erich's Brief mit Interse gelesen. The Photographs I have sent to Florence & she will return them in her first letter to you. Thank you for them.
Your Xmas box arrived safely at Le Mans. I certainly appreciated it very much every bit of it was of use & I shared willing with my comrades they all marveled at your thoughtfulness. I also received one from Freda which was highly welcomed. Especially the sox. I had only 2 pair left as it is the French & for that German wash women delight to steal sox as wool yarn cannot be bought at any price. One of the pair that I have left is only ½ as long as they were when given to me. The other half is now possibly adorning some Frenchmen's feet.
It certainly is too bad that Florence could not come for the Holidays, but I assure you, if at all possible, I am going to bring her home once I get out of the Army, this is the height of my ambition.
Bis jetzt sind kein Munzen verloren gegangen. As much as I feared for which I am certainly thankful. I sent some few pieces from Germany & saving more to bring with me. I am getting to be quite a *crank on that & look over every piece I lay my hands on. Ich habe auch French Propaganda slips which I picked up in no mans land after the armistice which I will give you when I get back. These are written in German and are very interesting. The German slips I could not quite make out as my French is not of the best tho I figured out that they suggested rebellion. You certainly made a showing with your war activities of which you can be justly pleased for years to come when arguments come up regarding the German settlements in the States. I never fail to point with pride on the settlement in Friedensau.
I am glad to hear that Capt. Hall was elected in the last election. Remember me to him also Mr. Fitzpatrick. We are now in the 93rd Div. Entirely a colored unit tho thru the entire war we were with the French 161st Div. The only American Reg. in that. The 369th is a National Guard outfit & never was in a U.S. Division coming over separately & when it gets back will again sever its connection with the 93rd. Just what will become of us N. Army officers we know not yet.
Florence wrote of the many presents received from you. I thank you sincerely for them all. My big regret is that I cannot reciprocate now. I also received a letter from Cordula. Thank you very much.
Wenn es mein Unglick sein sollte noch langer hier zu bleiben ware ich hochst wahrscheinlich einmal noch Koln gekommen es ware mir sehr lib gewesen verwante hier aufzusuchen. Ware ich wohl willkommen gewesen?
Only under exceptional circumstances do officers & men get discharged over here, thus preventing an overflow of labor in this country of which the Governments are afraid. I received a very nice letter from my old firm the Ft. Wayne Printing Co. urging me to have an interview with them before I accept any position in civil life. Now the future has no * for me.
I must close now with many regards to all.
Your Son & Brother
Herbert