July 24, 1918 -- Letter 15 G from Somewhere in France

15G

Somewhere in France

7-24-18

Dear Brother and Sister Weber:

            Having received No 43 from “you all” as they say in Houston, I have by intricate Mathematical processes arrived at the ultimate conclusion that I owe you 28 letters to date, not counting the numerous ones I hope you have on the way to me by now.  If you don’t believe it, compare the Data at the head of this letter with that at hand and see if I can not prove my proposition.  G. E. D.

            Next, before I forget it, let me call to your attention the fact that we had the rare and extreme pleasure of hearing Miss Elsie Janice[1] (of Stage and Vaudeville fame) give us an entertainment a la American, the other evening. If you have ever been skeptical regarding the sincerity or bravery of some of the actors, etc. who come over to entertain the boys, forget it. 

            Miss Elsie at least had proved herself a little soldier, at least most of us feel that way. For it is certainly not money or notoriety she is seeking here under Jerry’s nose, within reach of his shells and bombs, for she had plenty of both the former back in the states and she is taking much the same chance with the latter that we are in her work over here.  From the time she stepped on the crude stage provided, until she finished her stories, songs and dance, she typified for most of us a real American girl, and she started a train of reminiscences which will stay with us for days.

            Also, give the Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross a boost when you can, for they are much in evidence over here and in my estimation are doing all they can for the boys of all the allied armies.  Now I’ll bring this to a hasty close with love to all my home folks.

                                                            Your loving brother,

                                                                        George

 

ALSO ATTACHED IS 'STANDARD' FILL IN THE BLANK POST CARD

 

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Janis

July 15, 1918 -- At Long Last George Writes to Family Again

Somewhere in France

7/15/18

Mr. Wm Sherwood, Kendall Wisconsin 

Dear Home Folks All,

            I expect you wonder what has become of me.  Well, keep right on wondering. I’m right where I was when I wrote last.  So now you know all about it?  We have heard a lot of “thunder” since we struck France, but the other day we really had a good old fashioned thundershower. The rain came down in sheets for awhile then it hailed several minutes. The weather, tho unsettled, had not been really wet before, so some of our drainage systems had been allowed to cave in, fill up etc.  The results were as disagreeable as could be expected.  Practically every dugout floor was flooded a little and in a couple of instances ten or twelve inches of water got in.

            We were fairly lucky and only got the floor good and wet, but necessity is the mother of invention so before long had a platform built to sleep on, so were comfortable as ever.  But since the rain it has been very unsettled, with showers every few hours, so it is rather unpleasant outside.  * Had to put the light on at this point, but here goes again now – 16 hrs later.

Woke up to hear the patter of another shower on our canvas, and soon it started to thunder and lightening again.  This time we were better prepared, so didn’t get out till reveille blew, then fixed it up in one or two places where the drainage was somewhat impaired.  The mud is sure slippery and sticky here.  Well, I’ll let this go for now and try to find time to write oftener.  Love to all my folks at home and write often.

                                                Your loving son and brother,
                                                            George 

Always remember me for the Glendale folks, Auntie [Nellie Thompson] especially.