February 22, 1919 - George's Happiness Spills Into Army Life

Echternach, Luxembourg

February 22, 1919

Dear Ones ALL

            Since reading today’s mail, I’ll never forgive Bill Hohenzollern if I don’t get back by the middle of June.  By the way, Mother, this cancels the necessity for answering my “Confidential Note.”  Don’t you all think I’m a pretty keen kid.  Now Sister, do not blame Mother for in case you didn’t see what she wrote it was only a remark wondering if she could get away to Aunt Nellie’s Birthday Party?!?! Of course I was crazy for more information, for while I had hardly even thot of the possibility before reading that, the first thought that came to me was “I wonder.”  But having not even a ghost of a reason to think I was right I searched the letters all carefully and found not even a hint.  Then I thot I was probably crazy but occasionally a little bird seemed to whisper, “you're right, you're right,” and then when I read Susan’s letters of the last of Jan suggesting a secret, of course I knew my hunch was right, tho I rushed frantically on to her Birthday letter to get verification in her own dear words. Now I know I’ve got to get home to celebrate the Birthday Parties – How’s that?  Oh, folks – you don’t know how proud and glad I am.  I feel just like I did a little over a year ago when sister let me in on advance dope of March 12, 1918. Herman, I hope you won’t be jealous or vain either one if I say that the only thing which can make me happier than when I got you for a brother-in-law, will be the safe arrival of a little niece or nephew. 

            Sister, I’m sure glad to be let in on this too, and as luck would have it the news came just when we were preparing for the usual kind of an Army Holiday plus homesickness & Spring fever.  Now in spite of the preparation necessary for the coming inspection, and the work to do, and the rain etc., etc., I’m feeling as cozy and happy as its possible to feel “On this side of the Pond,” when you want to be “On the Other side of the Pond.”  Compree?

            I think this letter will mean quite a bit to you, but if it is censored very close they will have me up on the medical carpet examining me for InSanity.  Oh! Well, probably that is the only grounds I could get a discharge on at present!

            Got a letter from Mayme Finnican today too.  As I just sent her a rather bum letter telling her I wished she would write, you had better tell her I got it next time  you see her, but that I’m just as anxious to get an answer to this last one I sent.  I also received Aunt Nellie’s letter, which I’ll try to answer soon.

            All I can really say about when we will get home is that things look as bright now as they ever did for us to hit there by the 4^th of July.  And believe me, you bet if I’m in the US I sure will make an effort to be Home.  The longer I wait the more things to celebrate seems to pop up.  I guess you’ll have to fat up three or four “calves.”

            So my letters prove “intensely interesting.”  That is consoling but I’m afraid the General Public will not or rather would not appreciate it. Ha! Ha!  Bet if I really did write something good you would all die of delight.  By the way, what is the latest news from Ed Schultz.  And how is his mother.  You know there is a little hitch between the two arms of service, especially the Great Lakes Training Boys and the Army fellows over here.  The best name I’ve heard applied to them yet came out this week remarking on them as “Ladies Home Companions.”  Of course we realize that many of them really wanted to see some service, but so many of them squeezed into that as a bomb proof job to escape the draft and then were coddled in Chicago during the war that it gets under our skin a little to see the Hero’s praised for the “Terrible Battle of Great Lakes” as we call it.  And for every enlisted man you see in an advertisement, or posing by some fair damsel on a Magazine Cover you see forty sailors.  There is a little element of truth and irony in it at that for as far as most of the Great Lakes Gobs go, that is about all they did.  However, I’d like to know what Ed’s address now is and I’ll try to drop him a line as he doubtless has worked hard.  I dropped his mother a card from Aix-les-Baines.   Hope she received it OK.

            A couple of Dutchmen just came in with a pass to Germany to be vice’d and I had to trail off down to the town Majors with them, but in spite of the rain I was even whistling when I came back all because your letters had made me so happy.  If this one to you could only spread as much joy I would sure be glad I wrote it, but I’m having a lot of fun writing it anyway. 

            Now there’s more reason than ever to be very careful of yourselves so I’ll leave it up to the Webers to keep good tab on the Sherwoods and vice versa.)

                                                                                    (Feb 23^rd, 1919)

            Just got that far when I had to stop as per usual.  But here we go again on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, the sun fairly blazing down on me thru the open window of the office.  So I’ll just send my love along with him as the moon hasn’t showed up lately.  Say, you nearly ruined me.  I went to bed last nite at about eleven P.M. and then I started to think about your letters and going home, etc. and before I knew it I was going over and over the trip from Echternach clear back home to that cool white bed.  Bet I made the whole trip at least 20 times, never twice the same.  And you have gone and busted one of my fondest hopes. With my little sister threatening maternity, and a mother with heart trouble, how do you suppose I’m going to dare try to surprise you.  No, that is another busted bubble.  But guess there wouldn’t be much chance anyway as Chicago will probably advertise our return enough.  But of course don’t expect me until you hear from me even then as it takes about two weeks to muster out after we hit camp.  Gee I’m raving as tho I was there already and there is no chance that I can see to get to Chicago before June 15^th or so.

                                                Love to you all again & again

                                                            Corp. Geo Sherwood

                                                            108th US Engineers

                                                            American Exp. Forces

C. L. Thompson

Capt. 108^th Engrs

Amer. Ex F
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1919-0212 - George Sherwood to Herman Weber Rock formation 

Dear Brother Herman

Was is los.  Ich habe kein brief von dir furLange zeit bekommen. Ich hoffe bald von dir zu horen.  Wel I don’t know as you can  read that, but if you can’t, write me again just the same.

Love to all, Corp Geo. Sherwood 108^th U.S. Eng. Amer. E.F.

C.L. Thompson, Capt. 108^th Engrs. Amer. E.F. (Censor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 21, 1918 - Missed Opportunity and Trip to Galveston

Herman and Susan (Sherwood) Weber

 

DeGeorge Hotel

Houston, Texas

March 21, 1918

9:25 AM

Dear Folks at home,

            George expected to get a couple of days off and thought he would get today and tomorrow so we got up fairly early, got our breakfasts and were ready for him about eight o’clock as he said we might look for him any time after that but he hasn’t come yet.

            Yesterday his regiment had a special drill and review by their general which we might have seen if we had known as much as we do now but George himself did not know just where they would have it and I did not understand what he said about the time so by the time we did finally get a “line on things” that part of it was over and they told us there was nothing else worth going out to see in the afternoon though George said last night that there was some of the ordinary work which we might have seen.  I suppose that if I had not been half sick with this cold and digestive disturbance that I might have gotten up earlier in the morning and we would have found out about   things in time enough to see part of it at least or we might have seen the “windup” if we had followed Herman’s suggestion and gone out to Camp about eleven but being one of those people who always want to know before I “leap” I thought best to find out where it was to be before we started out because if we went to Camp and it wasn’t there we would have practically no chance of getting out to the “remount” (where it was held).  Well, I suppose there is no use crying over “spilled milk” or lost opportunities but it surely was a great disappointment to George and to use that we were not there. If George had been able to find out just what they would do so as to tell us just what to do it would  have been all right but he could not find out until so late that he did not have time to phone, and being very inexperienced ourselves in a strange place we were slow in finding out things. 

            I can’t imagine what is keeping George so long this morning unless he could not get anyone to ride for him and had to go himself. He had planned a trip to Galveston today or tomorrow and then out to Camp Saturday or Sunday.  I told him that when he was off duty that he was to take us where he wanted and do with us as he pleased. Oh, it surely has been fine just to see him even if we did miss seeing him in his work.

            Here he is, couldn’t get off sooner.  We must hurry and catch the next interurban to Galveston if possible.

            Will tell you more in our next or when we get home, most likely the latter as I am not much good at letter writing.

            Oh so much much love to you each and an extra kiss for Margaret. 

Your loving Susan and Herman and George.   

March 19, 1918 - Susan and Herman Honeymoon in Texas

The newly married visitors to George in Camp Logan, TX.  Herman, right, and Susan, center, Weber.
No indication of who the other person in the photo is.

 

De George Hotel

Fourth Floor

(Room 409)

Houston, Texas

March 19, 1918

12:05 noon

Dear Father, Mother, Sister and Niece,
            Herman, George and I are sitting in Room 409 of the De George Hotel, rates $12.50 a week for room and bath, and as we have taken the room for a week it is probable that we will not leave here until next Monday.  Herman and George will be wanting some lunch in a few minutes so I must make this short.
            Arrived here Sunday night at 6:10 PM on the Sunshine Special[1], but as I had been unable to send a telegram to let George know just when we would be here, he was not at the station to meet us (though 20 minutes after we left he was there looking to see if we had come in on that train, but he thought it came later). We sent a telegram out to Camp Logan saying we were in town and giving name of hotel, got lunch and went to bed after having a warm bath each. 
            Intended to write a line yesterday but we talked so much and then went scouting for a hotel where we could get rates for a week (George persuaded Herman that he must stay at least a week). Most of the hotels are not making rates as I suppose there are so many visitors now that the soldiers are here that they can “hold up” almost anyone for the straight price.  George recommended this as it is quiet, lower priced than most of the better class because it is a little ways out of the way of the ordinary transient, but of course George had been asking around among others who had relatives come down to see them.                            

            FOR MOTHER:   (George says that he is all out of Dr. Kay's pills for constipation and would like some sent as soon as possible.) All well except for a slight indisposition on my part due to overeating and lack of elimination but didn’t eat any supper last night and had Herman get some apples and oranges for breakfast this morning and now everything is going O.K. again and George is making plans for a very pleasant week which I expect to enjoy to the limit.  [End of “For Mother” section]

            The weather here is like June but still it is not really hot yet.  What kind of weather have you up there?  Don’t suppose that a letter to us here would get here before we left so write to Des Plains and send any mail on there until next Tuesday.
            The boys are getting hungry so must say good bye for now and will try to write more after this, but we are “on the go” so much that we hardly get time to breathe.

                        Love and prayers from us to all.  Susan Weber

Dear Folks:  You see now it’s reversed. I’ll have to utilize the corner on Susan’s letter.  Got yours written the 14^th yesterday and brot it down here for them to read last nite.  Guess they had a lot of fun and got off pretty slick from what they say.  They sure seem to be having a happy time, and I know I am while they are here but I don’t care to think of when they go.  Wish I could see you all too.    Lots of love,           George

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[1] The Sunshine Special was inaugurated by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad (Missouri Pacific Railroad) on December 5, 1915, to provide a premium level of passenger train service between St. Louis, Little Rock, and destinations in Texas.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Special

March 6, 1918 -- George Becomes a First Class Private and Additional Duties

Camp Logan, March 6 – ‘18

Dear Ones All:

            Got yours of the second today.  Was sure glad to hear from you.  But right here let me ask what has become of the registered letter you said you were sending with the check in case I could come home.  I got that letter four days ago saying you had sent it but it has not showed up, so be sure you keep the receipt.  I am so disappointed to hear that you are afraid you can’t come down here.  Is daddy failing a lot this winter?  Because I might have made an extra hard fight for it and got a furlough home, had you not seemed fairly sure you could get away.  And it didn’t seem best to me to try to make it, both from my standpoint and yours. I expect if you do come (and please do if you possibly can I want to see you both so much), you will probably hit here the 18^th or thereabout. Things are rather disturbed around here, rumors of moving, etc., so I don’t want to promise to be in this camp after Apr. 1^st.  And let me know at once if you are coming and when you can arrive, so I can try and get a line on descent hotel accommodations.  I asked the Major if we might be at the rifle range the 18^th or thereabout but he didn’t know for sure so when I explained he promised to get someone in my place if you were here while we were there.

            Now, dear ones, it may seem to you that this is mostly to Herman and Susan but I’m thinking of you all, and wondering if my sense of best and duty led me astray when I decided not to make a special plea for the furlough.  But it seemed to me that the Major just had me broken in on this *3-7-18 job, and it would be rather out of place, if not entirely disastrous to ask him to take on another green man while I went on a furlough anyway.  Right where the star is I was interrupted so didn’t get a chance to finish this till now which is nearly a whole day later. 

            But no registered letter is here yet and I got your regular letter of the 2^nd last nite, so I guess you better put the postal authorities on it if you don’t hear that I’ve received it a couple of days after you get this.

            I went to the corral at 3:35 yesterday to clean the horses, as they were hot and I let them roll when I brought them in in the morning from riding. I got the Major’s cleaned off pretty well by 3:55 and was just starting on Mid when presto, orders (have the horses saddled at tent at 4:00 P.M.).  I tore up to my tent, got my saddle and the bridles, put them (the bridles) on the horses, then Fairchild rode the Major’s up to the tent bareback,, I slammed the brush over Mid, saddled him, washed my hands and put on my shirt, rode up to the tent in double time and found the Major struggling with the saddle.  The pad wasn’t on quite rite (being wrong end to) so I said nothing except that it was wrinkled, ripped off the saddle, reversed the pad while the Major was in his tent getting Red a lump of sugar, resaddled him, and we rode onto the field at 4:15.  And I flatter myself both horses looked pretty well, tho there was a regular cloud of sand and dust down in the hair next [to] Mid’s hide.  Maybe that don’t sound very speedy from the side lines, but it took some speed for a hot day if I’m any judge.

            Well, next months allotment should be $16 plus any the Gov’t might give, as got raise of $3.00 March 1^st and they want ½ allotted.

            The Major was instrumental in getting me raised to a 1^st class private, as that is the ranking of most of the regular mounted orderlies.  I didn’t ask him for it, but he volunteered to see my Co. commander so I was glad to get the extra pay and slightly higher position.

            Now I must close this and get to work again.  Please come down this way if possible sister and my new brother.

            With love to all and an extra kiss to Margaret.

                                                                                    George

October 10, 1917 - Letter to George from His Dear Ones At Home

George Sherwood's Family

Susan, Will, George and Ella Jane

 

Lower pasture at Spring Brook Farm where George and Susan were both born and raised.

 



Spring Brook Farm

October 7, 1917

Dearest Little Soldier Brother,

            Can you guess who was at Church today?  Give you three guesses before you look at the answer.  He also is a soldier. Have you guessed?  Well, it really was A. E. Frederick in his soldier uniform.  And every time I looked at him I kept thinking about you, and how fine it would be if you could “come marching home” for a few days too.  After church we all stood around for about half an hour listening to him talk about how they build trenches, about bayonet drill, sleeping in the trenches one night and so forth and so forth.  They will have to stay in the trenches for three days and nights next time.  On the night which they have already spent there it rained quite hard which increased their comfort considerably, of course. 

            Mr. Fredericks troubles are not all when he is soldiering though for the car didn’t work right so that they did not get there much ahead of me and I was very late indeed, as I got started late and then could not hurry much as I had quite a load of things for Aunt Nellie and Ette can’t go any too fast as you well know. 

            Of course everybody was asking about you and where you were now.  Mr. Frederick received a card from you from Jefferson Barracks but was not certain that it was from you at first because you had not signed it and he did not know where you were.  Of course when he got home and Mrs. Fredericks told him of you, then he was sure, though he had thought so before.  Vincent also asked for your new address but as he had nothing to write it on he may forget it before getting around to write. 

            Forgot to tell you last night how sorry I was about your disappointment in regards to the officer and the fine girl which you might have met if you had been able to go to Rockford.  How I wish that there might be many instead of so few of the right kind of girls for you soldier boys to meet.  Oh, if some of those who are more thoughtless than really bad could realize that a soldier is a man and not a plaything, maybe they might also be made to realize what their good, clean, straight, friendship might mean to them and how they might help instead of hindering them to be clean fine men.

            We must all get up early in the morning as late last night we got word that the car of bran was on hand and must be emptied by Monday night.

            Herman stopped here tonight.  He went down to his brother George’s and brought him and their father up to Julius Webers to see them and to see the barn and its equipment.  He says though that his father can not stand riding in the car.  He had hoped to be able to take him to Sparta to see Philip some time this fall, but of course will not be able to now as his father could not stand it. 

            Grandma Atwater wanted to hear the phonograph so we have been listening to that the latter part of the evening.  We played your favorite, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “An Afternoon in June” and all or nearly all of our favorite ones.  How I wish that you had been here to hear.  It has been so lonesome since you have started for Texas. 

            Goodnight sweetheart.  So much, much love and many prayers for our Boy.  Mispah.               

Your lovingest little sister;

Susan

October 8, 1917 – 11:15 A.M.

Dear Heart,

Just a line to tell you how much we love you but there is so much to do that I mustn’t stop to write much  but as soon as the threshing is done I will try to do better about writing.  Oh, so much love and so many prayers for our Boy.  Love and love and love.

                                                                                    Susan
 

[Change of handwriting to his mother, Ella Jane’s] P.S.  Dear, dear Laddie Boy,

Mother is just baking cookies and how I do wish my boy was to have some.  But sister will have to eat your share.  She says she is eating one for you now.  Do you taste it?  Eat it quick for the threshers will finish them tomorrow. Sister says [The rest is illegible]  

November.  Daddy says to write ditto under this about Mr. Frederick as he is here again.

It is apparent that this letter did not get mailed in a timely fashion since the last sentence shows that it is still in Wisconsin in November.  But I thought it was better to put it near the other letters that George had written and to which Susan refers.