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.