May 10, 1919 -- Corporal Pay and No Work At All

APO Brest-France

May 10^th, 1919

Dear Ones at Home:

            This letter has no special word to bring

Except the world old theme of Love and Spring.

But I thot I’d take the time to say hello

So it wouldn’t seem so long before we meet

For we’re getting out of here so very slow

Twill be in early June ere have that treat  

!?! -- !?!!??? XX - !??

             If the censor reads the above spasm I’ll be indefinitely detained for insanity or given a “cuckoo discharge.”  This is a beautiful sunshiny day.  It scarcely seems possible that a week ago we were suffering from cold and snow in our sidedoor Pullmans bound for Brest via “the longest way round.”

            I just had a bath “by the numbers.”  Explanations when I get home if you don’t “get it.”  I wonder how many phrases I’ve used in my letters have rather mystified you.  We sure will have to learn American when we get back, or teach you A. E. F. which really is expressive but probably will not improve the literary purity or beauty of the American language.  I used to call it English – but never again. Ahunderstand the bally Tommies about as well as Ich verstehen Deutsch or Compree French, don’t cher know.  Well I can’t complain right now.  Awhile back I said I drew the pay of a private and did the work of a corporal.  Now I draw the pay of and don’t do anything you might say.

            I haven’t take a trip down to the town of Brest yet.  Perhaps if there isn’t much to do tomorrow I may try for a pass, as I might get some interesting pictures. Now I’ll ring off and see what I can pick up about camp, sew on a few chevron’s buttons, etc. 
            Keep well and prepare to have a few good times in June -“This Means You” as  Uncle Sam’s enlisted posters used to say.

            Love to all.  Sent a letter to Aunt Nellie day before yesterday.  Goodbye and God keep us all still we meet again.

                                                            George

 

May 8, 1919 - George Writes Poem for Those Left Behind

 

 

Dear Ones at Home: 

            Just now I opened a little Y.M.C.A book of A.E.F songs and it came over me how much they show of the spirit, the soul, the varying moods of the “boys” – as “boys” – over here.  So I think for a change I will make that the theme of my letter to begin with anyway.  I may not make much headway or it may prove uninteresting but here goes.  This little verse first caught my eye, “It’s the songs we sing and the smiles we wear that make the sunshine everywhere.”  Then I made over a well-known song called “I’m gonna pin my medal on the girl I left behind” to fit my thots and memories.

 “The praise they give me belongs to those I left behind.

They deserve it more than I

For the way they said goodbye

I saw you try to keep away the tears that blind

For brave heros

Would be hard to find. 

You’ve put a smile in every letter that you sign

But I’ve read what’s in your hearts between each line

So when I get back home again

I hope you’ll bear in mind

That the praises people give me, belong to those I left behind.” 

I will try to bring one of the little books back with me.  I was just out and saw the old cigar shaped motor driven observation balloon which we saw a year ago here.  It brot back that time very plainly, for it was one of the first sights of Brest to impress e as it sailed out to meet us and guard our way up the harbor.  I suppose I should say they as of course there are several.  We may sail the early part of next week.  Didn’t expect to be here as long as this even.

            I hope a picture I snapped this A.M. turns out well. A rather cute little French girl of perhaps fifteen or sixteen was at the gate selling papers. I stepped around back to the sun and commenced to open my Kodak.  But she said “no” and ducked away.  Finally she threw down the papers, but refused to be taken with them.  So I snapped her then hung around.  Pretty soon a soldier stopped to buy a paper and dropped his change. They both stooped to recover it and I hastily got “set.”  Then I said “Victoria” sharply as that is what she called erself and she looked up and around. Quick as a flash she “compree’d” and threw up her arm, but I think I got her before she hid her face – papers and all.  Now I must close.                              Love to you all

                                                            Corp. Geo Sherwood 

                                                            108^th U. S. Eng.  APO #750

PS- Flowers from a camp here in Brest. 

March 21 - 23, 1919 -- Geoge Writes to Each In Turn; Hears from College Teacher

Echternach, Luxembourg

March 21^st, 1919

Dear Little Sister:

            I’ve decided to write you each a little line this time. I don’t know just why, but guess I can make it a little more personal that way, tho I have no objection to a comparison of notes after each reads his or her part.  And foolish as it may seem the main reason probably lies in the fact that last night as I lay thinking of home about 1: AM or so I got to thinking of some thing I’d like to say to you in one of our old fashioned talks and I inadvertently let slip an “Say Kiddo” in my minds conversation.  I nearly laughed outright at the way my old familiar way of addressing you slipt in so unconsciously.  And of course it at once flashed across my brain the wild look Prof. Klang gave me one day when I was saying something to him and accidently the same words.  I’ve forgotten what I was talking to you about in my minds eye last night but the irrepressible desire to address you as “kiddo” got the best of me, so as long as I can’t say it in person I’ll write it.  Dear little Kid, you don’t know how happy and proud the uncle to the future heir to the house of Weber is.  At first my happiness was mixed with just a little worry, but I’m over it now. Half the battle is over because you are so unworried and unafraid yourself.  And the calm, beautiful way you take it not only means safety for yourself, but health and beauty of soul and body for your baby.  Dearest, I think you are taking rather an advantage of me, cause being the only Uncle on your side of the family it’s up to me to brace up and amount to something as an example for my nieces and nephews, I guess.  How I wish I could take you in my arms and sit down in a nice big rocker and “just talk.”  For while the pen may be mightier than the sword, the tongue is a whole lot easier to wield than either, and would be a great deal more satisfactory in this case.  When I started to write this my head was as full of ideas as a Jerry mattress is of lice, but I have been stopped so often by the business of the office that they have all fled.  So I guess you will have to wait for any more “raving” till I get another inspiration, or till Johnnie comes marching home  But?

A little birdie keeps singing to me

            And these are the words she seems to say

                        Cheer up my boy don’t homesick be

                                    You might be home in the month of May.  

                                                            Love to my own little Sister from

                                                            Corp Geo. Sherwood

 Echternach, Luxembourg, 23-3-‘19

Dear Brother Herman:  If I don’t get an answer to this letter I’m going to give up in despair.  And you had better be careful how you treat me, or I’ll take up so much of your wife’s time when I get back that you won’t get anything to eat.  Now don’t you think you had best write me a nice letter.  If you hurry you will just about get a letter back in time to catch me in this town – maybe. And after we start to move we will probably not stop long enough to let much mail catch up with us, at least I hope we won’t.  We are hoping to go out Via Antwerp, as the chance of Rotterdam seems to be pretty slim.  Say, I’m brimful of questions which I want answered.  In the first place, how is the feed, hay and ensilage holding out this spring?  And did you get all of the wood out on the last snow?  Does Sis feed you any better since the war was over?   How is old Maxine?  Did she come thru the winter without catching the asthma?  You see, she has to be in good shape to celebrate when I get back.  The roads ought to be good then.  How I hope I can get home in time to welcome the expected addition to the house of Weber.  You don’t know how proud and happy the future Uncle George is to be let in on the secret.  Please write me if you can find the time. Don’t try to do too much work yourself, when Dad is feeling bum you ought to be able to get help now the boys are coming back from France.  And take good care of my little sister – your little wife as the time draws near for the Big Event.

                                                                        Your Loving Brother

                                                                        Corporal Geo Sherwood

 

Echternach, Lux. 23/3/19

Dear Daddy:  What’s this I hear about you overworking, getting a cold and being sick.  This will never do.  Do you think I’m going to stand for that after risking my neck – a little – to Bosch shells & Bombs?  Remember, you haven’t got the rookie of a year and a half to settle with on my return, but a veteran of the World War.  And if you have not kept your promise you gave at Logan to take care of yourself, and keep young and well till my return – well, I leave it to you to imagine the cruel reckoning.  And if I can’t scare you, which I doubt if I can, did you ever stop to consider how Susan and Herman have your cornered.  You just have to let up on work and preserve yourself, and mother too, so that the approaching family of grandchildren can know, and profit and be proud of Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood.  Daddy, I wish you would drop me a line as I asked once before, and let me know about how the family finances stand.  You see, I can plan my future civilian operations more intelligently if I know how things are at home.  How is the milk market since the war?  And how do the cattle take to ensilage.  Oh!  Tell me all about it please. Now I’ve got to ring off and send a line to mother. 
                                                            Love to my dear Dad

                                                            Corp. Geo Sherwood

 

Same Place, Same Date, Same Guy

Dear little Mother:  Here I have been telling them all to keep an eye on you and one another so you wouldn’t work too hard and I caught myself wishing I had you here to rub my ankle where it pains yet.  The thotless inconsistency of man!  Well, I wish you were here just the same.  Or, better yet, I wish I were there. But wishing is vain so we will try to continue to do our share and hope for an early fulfillment of our dreams.  There is always someone worse off than you are in this world anyway.  They have just sent us two Y.M.C.A Girls who have only been over here since Feb 19^th.  They want to make up to the boys for some of the failures of the Y in the past, and for the hardships they have been thru.  But here they are practically alone, inexperienced and with such poor organization behind them, that they get to feeling sometimes as tho they weren’t really wanted or their efforts worth while.  In reality, the officers and organization of Engrs are nearly all trying to help them, but they haven’t been “in the Army” long enough to realize the pressure of work and the constant pounding away that is necessary to accomplish anything.  Nor are they used to the impersonal attitude they must face.  Poor kids, it is a shame they are sent out so inexperienced, but tho it hurts to learn in the school of experience, they have their heart in the work and put up a good barrage of cocoa and cookies yesterday, so I guess the will come out on top in the end.  Now I must close.  Maybe I can be your birthday present yet this year.  Love to all especially my little mother. 

                                                            Corp. Geo S. Sherwood, 108th Eng. Amer. E. F.   

Censored:  C. L. Thompson

Captain 108^th Engrs

Amer. E. F. 

1919-0323 ---   Martha Schufflebotham to George Sherwood

My Dear Mr. Sherwood,

                                                Your postal came about a week ago, I was very pleased to receive it.  Certainly I will send you a line if that will help you any to while away the hours.  I have also sent your address to Howard Lowry and asked him to write to you.

            So Mariam told you I was here in Elroy?  Yes, I’m here teaching Latin, English, Ancient History and (no bricks, please) music.  It’s all right, but I’ve had things to do that suited me better.

            I know your cousins May Sherwood and Beth Waterman real well.  The people here in Elroy surely are a bunch and they make it mighty nice for us teachers.

            Perhaps you would like some Lawrence news.  I don’t know any very new but it may be news to you.  Did you know that Mac Ainsworth was killed by electrocution this summer while working in a mine?  Also did you know that Leona Kimball is making  a name for herself in some brilliant chemical investigations she is carrying on for the Du Pont Powder works in the east.

            Dr. Wright the Latin prof, you remember died this winter at a sanitarium.  Oh yes!  The Lawrence chapel (the new one) was finished and dedicated a short time ago and now plans are being laid for a new gymnasium.  I tell you, the old school is growing.

            Are you still interested in rocks, and rock minerals?  I can imagine you scaling the cliffs of Germany (Are there cliffs in Germany?) in search of pyrite and dolomite!

            I must “ring off” now and hie me down the hill to supper.  Best wishes to you! 

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Martha Schufflebotham