Regt. Hdqt Office
Echternach, Luxemburg
February 10th 1919
Dear Father, Mother, Sister, Brother:
Just
received a grand surprise when the orderly brot in 6 fine letters from HOME, 2
from Jo and 1 from the Rassmussens.
Those from the first two sources were dated the 20th and 24th
Jan so you see they made real fast time.
But Rasmussens was sent Dec 31st. Must have been held up a long time
somewhere. I also recd three Sat Evening
Posts. 1st I’ve
received. I’m just wild to get time to
read them, but guess it will be quite a while before I get said time as we had
all Day Sunday off yesterday for the first time since I can remember except of
course when we were on leave. We spent
the day sleeping till noon. Then we ate
dinner and played and read till about 10 PM
Johnnie brot over three Chicago Dailies and two Keystones. I skimmed thru them (the Keystones) and they
brot up so many memories of Home I was almost
homesick so thot I’d find relief in writing a letter too. But after scribbling a page it sounded so
very tragic I tore it up and went to bed instead.
By the way,
I’m still groping around in my mind trying to figure out what to do when I get
back. I reckon I can make a living but
at 22 ½ years I’m getting to be an old man! And have got to settle down to
something with future prospects and immediate financial returns. By the time they get us back that will be a
tough riddle to solve I fear. But I
guess it is hardly fair to even suggest a fresh problem to you folks so forget
it; that’s what I’ve done with about all I ever knew, or at least that is the
way I feel. Another grievance against
Bill Hohenzollern[1]!
Now Sister
as you write most of the letters you lay yourself liable for most of the
“Bawlings Out.” I’ve stood your self
depreciating and Soldier Brother Idolizing about as long as I can so here goes,
for with all my faults, I try not to be a hypocrite. And dear, I know
that even in the old days you were a better example, a truer Christian than
I. As for the present, you have
continued to grow, while I have in many ways deteriorated. True, I know the war has given to me as well
as you a broader conception of life or service, a keener sympathy but it has
also had its weakening phases and has taught us all so much we can never
forget.
But your
letters today have got me started again so I may as well rave on and you can
take the consequences. I was just prepared to throw a wet blanket on your hopes
of seeing me the 4th of July for one thing when my own hopes got a
fresh boost so will just let it ride, live in hope, and we will see what we
will see. There is no accurate dope but
bucco rumor. At least we can’t get home
much before that. I can’t compree why
you haven’t been receiving at least a letter a week as my memory and letter
record show an average of better than one per week dispatched since we struck Luxembourg
It’s almost
time I got to my residence or I’ll be locked out. Say, they have the biggest liars up here.
Someone told me they started to sow oats the last of Feb and the winter was so
mild before we went on leave I believed them.
But since we got back I’m undeceived.
The ground is froze up, we have a little snow, and the nights hit very
close to zero. If they cover those oats,
they will have to get the pick and shovel artists of the Engineers busy.
If you
don’t lay off talking about pork, beef and fish in your letters, not to mention
honey, biscuit, etc., etc., I’ll be trying to swim the ocean. Oh, well, you haven’t got a corner on all the
good eats because the oldest daughter of our landlord brought in some crullers
covered with sugar this Sunday Eve. And that after we got to scuffling and
mashed a bed, which by the way the boss had fixed yesterday and never said a
word.
Did you
read “Suggestions for a Mother’s Letters” on the 3rd Column, Front
Page of Jan 16th Keystone?
Whoever wrote that had sensed present situation very vividly. And it reminded me so very much of the
letters my own dear Mother and Sister send me, it rings so genuine and true I
almost think it was written by a Mother who had at least one boy “Over
Here.” I’m afraid at times in the old
life while I knew of my many failings which no one else seemed to notice, I was
guilt of a certain sense of satisfaction and self pride that I had overcome
certain temptations which associates yielded to. I have learned that I never knew what
temptation really was or at least the grippe it could have on one. Especially since the Armistice was signed,
there are times when the homesickness, loneliness, the desire of companionship,
entertainment and life are almost unbearable. I’m not excusing myself, or any
of the rest for that matter, tho many have not had the wonderful home example
and training I enjoyed. But I can’t
stand it to sail under such false colors, so try to forgive my faults and love
your Son and Brother as he is, not as you wish or thot he was. And keeping this in mind, I hope you will not
worry, but will still be glad to prepare and look forward to the time when
“Johnnie comes marching H O M E,” and I in turn will still keep up the battle
and return to you your own loving son who understands and will return at
least as physically clean as when he left.
I don’t know as you’ll understand, perhaps I’ll only succeed in making
you feel bad, but I hope you won’t do that. And now, let’s try to get away from
this which I seem to make sound so tragic.
Now all the
boys have gone home but me so I’ll close up shop and go along too, for there’s
no chance to get “Over the Garden Wall” without an extension ladder.
With lots
of love to Dear Old Dad, My Sweet Little Mother, My Lovingest Little Sister and
the Big Beloved Brother she gave me. May
God Bless you all and keep you safe till my return and long after. Mizpah*.
108th
US
American
Exp Forces
* The Lord watch between you and me while we are apart from one another.
1919-0206 Susan
Weber to George S. Sherwood
February 6, 1919
10:15 a.m.
Dearest Brother Boy,
Today is a
bright, sunny, cool, but not cold day, just crisp and pleasant. Herman has started for the woods and Papa is
doing chores.
I keep
forgetting to tell you about my birthday as I was so interested in telling you
about our “great expectations”, but guess I can stop long enough now to say
that I received a box of stationary, and two handkerchiefs and the big
amaryllis plant from the folks. You know
I always did like the amaryllis and it makes our living room look so much more
home like. Mrs. Rasmussen gave me a
small fancy plate and Mama gave me a of six glass sauce dishes and fruit bowl
which grandma Atwater told her last spring to give to me, but she could keep
them herself for a while before doing so if she wished, grandma Atwater said.
Aunt Nellie gave me the “charming quilt she has been making, and Dora made me a
sofa cushion and worked it all herself.
It really is very well done. “The
folks” invited me to meals for the day and had a big birthday cake and other
good things so altogether I guess it was the “most celebrated birthday” I had
in years, only you were not there. Oh so
much love to our boy Mizpah Susan
Feb. 9 – 1919
Dearest
Laddie,
Did not get a letter off to you yesterday so will add
a very important piece of news, we received a card like this
Mr. and Mrs. A.E.
Fredericks
Announce the birth
Of Gordon Keith
January 31st
Nineteen hundered and
nineteen
Weight 10 lb.
A few days ago. Their
address is
Lieutenant A. E. Fredricks
Pulaski Heights, Little Rock College
Little Rock, Arkansas
Write and congratulate them if you get time. They sent ten$$ to the C.H., credited to
Kendall. Time and space say close this
letter.
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