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