March 16, 1919 -- Consigned to the Flames & Prairie Division

Echternach, Luxembourg

March 16, 1919

To All the Dear Ones at Home:

            Sometimes I wonder if you don’t get rather tired of these letters sent to you all collectively, but there isn’t news or time to write each one separately, and after all I presume it is as much joy or sorrow to read my poor attempt at correspondence all together as it would to write short missives to each.

            This is Sunday and as I’m sitting on the bed in my room with a book as a writing pad, instead of being in the office.  Just went thru a bunch of the old letters for home, dating back as far as Nov and reluctantly consigned all but two to the flames as it is impossible to keep much of that sort of thing around when it comes to a move.  While no moves seem to be contemplated for awhile, I would much rather go thru them (the letters) at leisure and treasure up their messages in my heart and pick out a few to keep a little longer, than to have to throw them to the fire in an impersonal bundle when orders do come.  I hope they come soon as I think I need a change of scene. I feel like a bird in a cage.

            The ankle is getting along as well as can be expected under the circumstances.  Now use only our cane and while it is very sore and pains while walking or using it, it seems to be slowly improving.

            There is a little rumor now that we may go home via Germany & Holland.  Wouldn’t that be a proper and fitting sequence of events and windup for the career of the Fighting Yellow Cross Div in Europe.  Am sending a little write up one of the divisions men got up.  [A transcribed version I had done almost ten years ago can be more easily read there]

            We have had some wonderful weather the past week but today is cloudy and cool and not so pleasant.  Expect to go to the cinema this evening as there is a continuance of the show we saw there last week which is pretty good.  Don’t you want to go along?
            Worked over at the office all of the morning and ought to be there this P.M. but don’t propose to do it as my system is crying for relaxation.  Someway, they can’t seem to be able to let us office force get away from it holidays or Sundays any more than they did in campaign times.  I wonder what they think mere men are made of.  It isn’t making me any thinner but never had my nerves as raw or felt so keyed up as I have the last two months.  But the old German saying applies very well. “So geht es im krieg.”  Will I know how to act on a Sunday back in civilian times I wonder?

By now I hear you all worrying and saying “poor overworked boy.” So I’ll hasten to add that there is probably no need for worry, and I guess what ails me most is “I want to go home.” Now we are stared in the face with the proposition that our files do not meet the Gov’t requirements, so the general upheaval for the next month won’t probably leave me much time for lengthy or interesting letters. Expect Johnnie and Willets back from leave this week which will make us less short handed, tho.
The enclosed service stripe is my very first one, and was worn on my overcoat till we got some new ones at Aix-les-Baines. The ticket took me to the top of Mt. Revard and back while we were at Aix on the cogwheel railroad. The yellow slip is a check from a ticket to the local cinema. May have sent one of those before. Now I’ve got to ring off and shave.
Love again and again to all.
George Sherwood
108th Engineers, Amer. E. F.
Censored: P.S. Thompson
Captain U.S.A.

 

End of letter -

Enclosed is mass produced report on The Prairie Division by William Lewis Judy

 

.

February 10, 1919 -- George Worries About Future Life and "Bawls Out" Sister Susan

 

Regt. Hdqt Office

         Echternach, Luxemburg

February 10^th  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 20^th and 24^th Jan so you see they made real fast time.  But Rasmussens was sent Dec 31^st.  Must have been held up a long time somewhere.  I also recd three Sat Evening Posts.  1^st 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 4^th 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 the middle of December.  But here is hoping you have started to get them again now.  So I take it Evans is home?  How did he make it so soon?  Our papers show the 22^nd Div still in Deutschland.  But your dope about making a big splash every time a fellow gets back is straight, at least as far as I’m concerned.  Of course, most of the boys probably saw real encounters and hair raising stunts with the Dutch so there is some excuse.  But I’ll have to take a back seat in the hero stuff, as all I did in this war was take care of plugs, build roads, carry messages and dodge Fritzy shells, or cuss ‘em for waking me up.

            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 3^rd Column, Front Page of Jan 16^th 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*.

                                                             Corp. Geo Sherwood

                                                            108^th US Engineers

                                                            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 31^st

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.

---

[1] 1888-1918 William II von Hohenzollern, King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany  (b. 1859  d. 1941)

http://www.remmick.org/Hohenzollern.Royal/

 

February 4, 1919 -- Billy Phil Is Standing in the Wings Waiting for Dramatic Entrance

 

The Old Home Farm

February 4, 1919

P.M.

Dearest Brother o’ Mine,

            The weather still remains chilly (to say the least).  I went to the woods with Herman this noon (I am trying to make a practice of doing so for the sake of the exercise as well as his company) and though I had my sweater and winter coat on and my last winter’s (old the winter before it) old winter cap on, my head and face noticed the wind particularly and I assure you that I wasn’t any too warm otherwise, though warm enough.  Oh I hope your new union suits are protecting you from any weather such as this or worse which you may have over there and don’t forget about the thin summer wool union suits which I told you of, should you find you are scheduled to be over there during any large part of the summer.

            How I hope you may be home though before then, and for fear you may miss a letter or two I am going to tell you again our very special reason, besides  our wish of seeing you as soon as possible, why we hope you will be able to be here by June sometime between the middle of June and the middle of July probably, and more definitely about the first to the fourth of July we think, we are looking forward to the birth of “an heir to the house of Weber.”  As I told you in my birthday letter to you, I have been wanting to tell you ever since we suspected the possibility (and especially since Mama saw the doctor and he said he thought we were probably correct in thinking as we did).  But Herman wanted to keep our secret awhile and since he wished it I could not refuse as it seemed as much his secret as mine and no good reason for telling except that I always have and always want to tell you things.  It seemed kind of lonesome somehow not to have you know of this wonderful thing which was to happen to your little sister.  I always have told you things, and I wanted you to share the wonder and mystery and beauty of this new experience, so don’t feel “left out” dear heart because I have not told you sooner for in my heart and thought you surely were not “left out” in any way, brother o’mine.  But as you yourself pointed out to me it is best to do the will of my “Big Boy” unless there is some principal involved or reason for not doing so, and I try to do as  he wishes in spite of my own wishes to the contrary in many things, and knowing how contrary, opinionated, and “want to have my own way,” I am , perhaps you can appreciate just how hard it is sometimes.

            When people become engaged or are married their relationship to one another and to others changes thereby so that I believe it is best to make a definite announcement of such a change for the benefit of society in general as well as those particularly interested , but this something which can do no harm kept as our own family secret, just as long as we can possibly keep it (Though I don’t know just how long that may be, for as I said before I have already had to order a new dress though I did not expect to have to do so for a few weeks yet).  And again as I said in my birthday letter, I was not very well during the latter part of 1918 and we were not sure at first whether this was so or not.  Then Mama saw the doctor and he seemed to think it was but gave her some medicine for me to correct conditions which should not exist under the circumstances.  There is of course a possibility that since I wasn’t very well that we may have set the date of the expected arrival too far ahead but this is only a bare possibility and not very probable (unless some abnormal condition should set in between now and then.)

Wed. a.m.

            Perhaps you think I am saying quite a lot, for the censor I suppose will see all this, but I wanted you to know as much as possible about things, and I don’t suppose the censor is any one either of us knows or will ever hear about and probably doesn’t pay any attention to anything that doesn’t refer to the war.

            Since the first of the year I have been feeling fine as far as physical health goes and as I told you in one letter I am getting plump (and pretty?) again and weigh about what I used to.  My ability to think quickly and accurately is slowly improving (I believe) too.  I don’t know that I ever told you particularly but my brains (if I have any) have felt sluggish and tired for more than a year.  I haven’t been able to remember easily, and altogether I have wondered sometimes if my letters to showed signs of “mental degeneracy” oh, perhaps not quite that but “mental fatigue” at least.  I surely would enjoy a chance to rest my “mental wheels”, for even planning meals is hard work sometimes.  Now don’t worry for as I said I believe I am better and gaining slowly and probably when my physical strength is such as it, should be my brains? will improve ? too.  (Stranger things have happened!)

            From now on I shall hope you will have received either this letter or the one I wrote on my birthday so will probably not go into details of things again, unless I decide to write a third letter for fear you may miss getting these.  Dear, dear heart I am so glad to have you know of our expectations and probably in a few weeks we can know “absolutely and for certain" though we are practically certain now.

            Now must say Bye-Bye for now and will write about your letters soon (I did tell you yesterday how glad and proud of your promotion to Corporal but haven’t had time to say all I would like to).

            Today is another bright sunny, cold day.

                                  So much love dear heart and always our prayers. 

                                      Mispah* always with so much love from your little sister  Susan

 

*The Lord watch between you and me while we are apart from one another.

January 25, 1919 -- The World Is Full Of And Lives on Love; Trip to Aix-Les-Baines

Dearest of Sisters,

            I didn’t intend to write you alone, or to exclude the rest of the family when I came over here, but the spirit moves me to rave a little, and the only excuse I can think of is to call it a birthday letter, tho it is now only a week until your birthday.  Anyway, you can read the folks as much of this as you want to.  Even now I don’t know just what I am going to write, but I know I want to talk to “My dear little Sister” even as we loved to do in bygone days.
 

            And first of all, I have just rediscovered one of the oldest of truths.  The World is full of and lives on Love.  Not the sudden flare of passion that surges over all red blooded men and women at times and threatens – yes often does sweep them off their feet for a time; but the kind of love that burns on year after year, flaming at times, again smoldering beneath the ashes of burned out passions, hopes and desires, but still glows on deep down in the human heart, warming the soul and keeping alive the conscience of the individual and society. And so smoldering it only awaits the slightest stirring of these ashes to break forth again into purifying flame, lighting the plainest countenance with the most beautiful of glows, reflections from the flames of love.  And how did I stumble onto the old, old story.  By the simplest of means – observation.  Yet I had seen the same picture many times before and it meant little to me. 
 

            I did not know what I would write about when I came to the casino, but that same little spark in my own heart bade me write you, so I came in and stood in line with some impatience to get my allowance of paper & envelopes.  After receiving a double share from the sweet-faced old lady behind the desk, I began circulating around the room looking for a place to write.  And as I went I became still more impatient, for every place seemed full. You see as yet the beauty and significance of the scene had not impressed me.  But as I passed on, I began to scrutinize each man more closely, in hope of finding one nearly finished and as I passed man after man, here one writing, there one laboriously doing up or addressing a package, my chaos of thots began to take shape, my impatience left me, and suddenly the beauty of it surged over me as a young fellow at the desk near which I stood, oblivious to his surroundings lovingly, almost reverently folded the little souvenir handkerchief he had been holding, and carefully placed it in the envelope he had just addressed.  Then he once more carefully withdrew it and looked at it as tho picturing the joy it would bring those who received it.  And with a last caress he returned it again to the envelope gave it a final pat and turned again to his writing, his face illuminated by the fires of love burning in his breast.  And as I look about me I see that same reminiscent, loving look in nearly every face, softening and relieving the stern harsh lines the last few months have brought.  Those souvenirs are all bought at the sacrifice of some trip or anticipated pleasure of their leave period.  And as those letters are written concerts, trips, cafes, etc, are all calling one to forget and enjoy life, as of old, after months of isolation, suffering & death in the lines.  Yet all the places are filled, and men who hate writing in the ordinary sense wait patiently for their turn at the desks.  Why?  Because the fire of love (for sister, brother, mother, father or friend or sweetheart) makes them wish to share the thots, the scenes, the pleasures they are enjoying.  And so I have come to feel more strongly than perhaps ever before that love is the strongest, purest truest phase of life or perhaps life and love are inseparable phases of our being.  And so perhaps you can get a little of my meaning from the little lace collar I mailed you for your birthday the other night in case my letter isn’t quite clear, for I yet remember the loving little pats I gave it as I addressed it and sent it on its way to the Dearest little Sister a Soldier Boy could Have.  Oh, how I hope you get it, for it bears my love direct to you.  Write and tell me all about your birthday.
 

            Yesterday we went to the to the top of Mt. Revard on the cogwheel railway, hoping to see Mt. Blanc with the glasses but when we got there we were right on a cloud tho it was clear when we started up.  But the scenery was beautiful and the trip of an hour and a half up on the cogwheel well worth while. 
 

            Then we borrowed some skis up there (free for soldiers by Y.M.C.A.) and had some fine rides – and tumbles.  Got back just in time for dinner, 6:30 P.M.  The day before that we took a trip on the boat across and up the lake to the old Abby [Abbey of Echternach - see  previous post]. It was founded back in the early days of Christianity by St. Bernard, was used as a burial place for the kings and princes of France and Italy for many years, but was nearly destroyed by the French Revolution.  Was reclaimed & rebuilt by King Felix of Italy in 1824 and changed hands from Italy and France and back several times until finally it was deeded forever to the King of Italy by France in 1860 because it had been reclaimed by Felix who was buried there with his wife and contained the restored graves of so many of the other Italian Kings and Princes.  15 monks have charge of the Abbey, one of them having been there for 30 years now.  The paintings and carvings are mostly modern but they are truly wonderful
.

            On the same trip we saw the pass thru which Hannibal led his army across this mountain range in his march against the Romans. And after a year's army experience one realizes more than ever the magnitude of his task and wonder of its success when they consider that he went thru an even more rugged part of the Alps Mts. than we have here before he was finally able to strike at Rome from the North.
 

            Now I’ve got to close.
                                    Love once more to you all and may many more happy birthdays come to my dear little sister Susan – Her Brother

                                                            Corp. Geo. Sherwood, Hdqts Co

                                                            108^th U. S. Engineers, Amer. Exp.

1919-0123 - George Sherwood Aix les Bains Cathedral

Dear Brother

The hotel annex where we stay while here is just back of and across the street from this old church.  If you think we have hills in Wisconsin – come over and take a look at what they farm here.  Very few horses mostly oxen and women do the work as near as I can find out.

Write me soon.  Love to all

Corp, Geo. Sherwood  108^th U.S. Engrs. Amer. Exp. Force

 
 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO POSTCARDS FROOM TRIP TO AIX-LES-BAINES

 

 

January 9, 1919 -- A Small Crush on Helene; Off to Echternach, Taste of Comfort

Echternach, Luxembourg

January 9, 1919

 

Dear Ones at Home:                                                                                   

            Once more I’ll take my pen in hand long enough to drop you a line and tell you where I am located.  We are now on the Sauer River, the boundary between Germany and Luxembourg.  We moved up here the fourth of January from Medernach.  That was sure some town.  It’s the first place we were ever in on this side where people seemed genuinely sorry to see us go.  And the best of it was that we did not seem overly welcomed when we first landed there.  But the whole command acted fine while there and there were many places where tears were shed at parting.

            I was rather surprised and genuinely touched when the old lady told me the little girl from Belgium was crying because we were going away.  I doubted it at first, but seeing is believing.  Guess it is just as well we left when we did.  But what a damnable shame she must, or at least probably will, remain in this country to be wasted in a life of drudgery for some unappreciative, lazy peasant husband.  Every time I think of it it makes me sore.  Well, if I say much more you will think I left my heart at Medernach, whereas it is still beating in the same old place.  But I’ll not deny that Helene Heirenitz [See end of blog] is the first little European girl to make it beat faster, and I’ll long remember her parting handclasp and the tremulous smile as we passed around the corner and left her standing in the doorway.  So geht es im Krieg. 
            This is quite a little city.  It is on the Sauer River (the boundary between Luxembourg and Germany proper).  The office here is in a hotel, a fine place.  Makes one think of home with the running water and such conveniences.  As yet we are out of luck on baths tho but hope they come next. 

We have an elegant room too.  At last I have found a real bed – sheets, down coverlet and all.  And electric lights that you can turn off form the bed.  Really, the room is better furnished than most of us are used to at home, but tit still lacks the indefinable “something” necessary to bring complete content and repose.  There is a movie show in this town, too.  When we get some pay we will try to take that in too.

            The people we are billeted with are very well educated and refined.  The family consists of the father and mother, two boys (who speak English) a little girl, the maid and dog Florrie.  Four of us (Sgt. Bates, Corporals Willet and Sherwood and Pvt. Johnson) all from the office force, occupy the room I spoke of.  I can make a rough sketch of the arrangement.  There is an electric light over each wash stand – lace curtains on the windows and a centerpiece on the table, rugs on the floors.  We are doing our best to recover part of the badly battered fragments of civilization in our makeup under these surroundings. 

As I suppose you are getting curious to know if my pen slipped above here, I may as well say that yesterday morning I was appointed Corporal.  So now I am an Unter Officer as the Germans say.  Guess I’ll send a copy of the orders along with this as long as I’m file clerk and have an extra copy. Now I guess I will have to ring off or I’ll be busted for non-attention to duty. 

 

 

Oh!  I forgot to tell you about our trip here from Medernach.   We saw a real “castle,” one of the long gone by medieval days.  It is badly ruined, and no one now lives in it I understand, but as we wound around the steep side of the mountain we passed it and then followed the hill around till we were on a level slightly above and to one side of it.  How I wished for films for the kodak.  But I have the picture in my mind and I’ll try to get some postcards which may give you a faint idea of how it looks.  It sure is a massive structure, the grey, grim walls rising in one place at least eighty feet.  Ad the grim turrets, with their slits of windows make one realize that life in one of them must have lacked much in brightness and comfort, in spite of the highly colored pictures and stories of the glorious days of knights and chivalry.  Oh!  How Mother would enjoy the scenery and natural beauty. I have been privileged to see in the last month, not to mention father, sisters and brothers, and auntie. I only wish you might all enjoy it. Censorship rules will make it possible to send me a couple of films with the next magazine. Please try it anyway.

                                                            Love to my dear Ones,

                                                                         Corp. George Sherwood

                                                                        108^th US Engineers

                                                                        American Ex. Forces 

 This is the back of the photo postcard with the three children, the sheep and the dog.  No guarantee this is the Victor Kries family, but this seems likely.   

This is the postcard apparently with Helene's address and note.  No idea why she has postcard of General Field Marshall von Mackensen.  May just be lack of other paper available.  He lived 95 years and was in both WWI and WWII. He was on the other side in this war so this is an oddity!

 

November 16, 1918 -- Ideals and Peace Bells

14^th Somewhere in France.16/11/’18

Dear Sister & All:

            Horray.  Mere words are futile to express my (and I might say our) feelings as the Armistice and the Political Revolution in Germany progress, and we realize that  the things and IDEALS the ALLIES have so nobly fought and sacrificed for are actually beginning to be realized.  While in name it is only an Armistice, the terms, and the attitude of the German soldiers and Government is our greatest assurance that the fighting and blood-shed is over, and that once more PEACE BELLS can chime out a real message of “Good Will to MEN” on Christmas Day. 

            I can scarcely realize yet that the guns are really ALL still for the first time in four long years, and once in awhile I stop and listen to the QUIET that reigns, to convince myself that I am not dreaming.  That may sound rather queer, but after six months of the ceaseless roar of cannon and shell one can almost hear and feel the stillness.  So tho in the light of present events, we may be unable to give the folks back home much in the line of material gifts, I hope we can at least give you a VICTORIOUS PEACE for which the Democratic world has sacrificed so much.  And after, what could be more fitting GIFT to commemorate the birth of Him who gave His life for the same ideals of Brotherhood, Charity, and Equality the Allies have successfully preserved. 

            So in case the mails are delayed and this is the last letter you receive from me before the holidays, I’ll just take this opportunity to wish you ALL a MERRY XMAS AND a VERY JOYFUL NEW-YEAR. And tho I can’t be with you in the flesh I’ll be there in spirit and any little or big worry you may have felt for my safety must be laid on the shelf while you prepare that Celebration for the day when “Johnnie comes marching home.” 

            I continue to get the Keystone regularly and sure enjoy them.  We saw some real American vaudeville the other night.  One joke was so very appropriate that I remember it:  An old darky Captain noticed that his men were continually scratching so he lined them up in company front one morning to investigate.  The following monologue is significant. “Ah thinks some ‘o you uns be’n got cooties.  All dat am ma’ch strait forrud. ** COMPANY HALT.”  [In the next few weeks George will be sharing his OWN on-going personal experience with "cooties."] I expect that unless we go away forward as part of the army of occupation we will see a good many much entertainments, as there are several troupes of entertainers over here now.

            Well, I intended to make this a nice longer letter as it has been so long since I wrote you, but I seem to have run out of ideas again, so I think I had best bring this to a close before I make any more bad breaks in spelling. Once more, three rousing cheers for the good old “STAR SPANGLED BANNER.” 

                                    Love and Best Wishes to You All, GSS

P.S.  Just a little line to let you know that the moon is doing his duty these nights, and to thank you for the letter you forwarded from Margaret and Dora.  This letter is a carbon coy of one I sent her, so don’t send it on to her, as I know she would never forgive me while you may.  Don’t you think it is nice and handy to have a sister at each home, so all I need to say is “Dear Sister & All” and go right on pounding the keys.  I started this letter, or at least one to you folks, three times before I got this done.  Have really been too busy to write.

                                                With love again to all, George Sherwood