Letters Home - World War I

Letters from World War I

Getting access to a letter written by a deceased ancestor is rare, if only kept by a living relative or donated to a library for their manuscript collection. Lucky for you, the Advocate-Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, just happened to have published letters that World War I soldiers sent home to their families in Warren County. Since this newspaper is now online (thanks to the Warren County Historical Society), these sometimes brief and sometimes LONG letters are available for you to read - soldier's first hand experiences during the war.
Listed below are the names of the soldiers, where they were stationed, and the date their letters were published in the newspaper (NOT the date the letters were sent). Click on the Advocate-Tribune link and choose the year, issue, and page number.

ADY, Oscar –San Francisco, CA (Aug 29, 1918, p.7); U.S.S. West Hosokie, Pacific Port (Sep 12, 1918, p.1; Sep 19, 1918, p.4); “somewhere on earth” (Nov 7, 1918, p.4); “off the coast of Mexico” (Nov 14, 1918, p.5); Atlantic Ocean (Feb 6, 1919, p.1), Gironde River, France (Feb 13, 1919, p.6), Bordenux, France (Mar 6, 1919, p.8)

ALLEN, Eldon I. – San Antonio, TX (Dec 6, 1917, p.7)

ALLEN, Oscar E. – San Antonio, TX (Dec 6, 1917, p.7; Dec 27, 1917, p.5)

BALES, Cecil H. – St Nazaire, France (Aug 29, 1918, p.1, Sep 12, 1918, p.1)

BARGER, Harold B. – Bitburg, Germany (Apr 10, 1919, p.1)

BARKER, Clare W. – Washington, D.C. (July 18, 1918, p.3)

BARKER, John R. – Camp Cody, N.M. (Dec 20, 1917, p.8); Toms, France (Sep 12, 1918, p.4; Sep 19, 1918, p.1); “in the hills of France” (Dec 26, 1918, p.6); France (Jan 30, 1919, p.1), Barsuranbe, France (Feb 6, 1919, p.6)

BEAUCHAMP, Ward – Fort Bliss, TX (Aug 29, 1918, p.7)

BEDWELL, Gerald A. – (Jan 3, 1918, p.1); France (June 13, 1918, p.1; Aug 8, 1918, p.2; Aug 15, 1918, p.1; Aug 22, 1918, p.7)

BITTING, Fred - Camp Mills, Long Island, N.Y. (Oct 4, 1917, p.1; Nov 1, 1917, p.6); Morning Hill Camp, Winchester, England (Mar 7, 1918, p.2; Apr 25, 1918, p.7; June 6, 1918, p.1; June 27, 1918, p.2; Aug 1, 1918, p.1)

BITTING, Jesse – Camp Dodge, IA (Oct 10, 1918, p.1)

BLAKE, Oliver – France (Dec 19, 1918, p.1); Langes, France (Jan 2, 1919, p.5)

BLAKE, Richard I. – Fort Sam Huston, TX (July 11 & 18, 1918, p.1); France (Dec 19, 1918, p.1); Dijon, France (Apr 24, 1919, p.2)

BREWER, Dean – Del Rio, TX (June 6, 1918, p.1); West Point, KY (Oct3, 1918, p.1)

BREWER, Frank BREWER – from Camp Cody, New Mexico (Sep 13, 1917, p.1; Sep 20, 1917, p.2

BREWER, Lloyd W. – France (Aug 8, 1918, p.1; Dec 12, 1918, p.7; Jan 2, 1919, p.7)

BREWER, Ralph E. – Cleveland, OH (July 11, 1918, p.8 & 10)

BROCK, Ray – France (June 13, 1918, p.7)

BRUCE, Charley – (Jan 9, 1919, p.5), France (Apr 10, 1919, p.1)

BUCKLEY, James L. – France (Oct 3, 1918, p.7)

BUTLER, Carl H. – Angers, France (Sep 12, 1918, p.7)

BUTLER, Linnie – Washington, D. C. (Nov 1, 1917, p.1; Jan 24, 1918, p.1), France (Apr 18, 1918, p.9; July 4, 1918, p.2; Aug 1, 1918, p.1); Brinon, Sur Saldre, France (Aug 29, 1918, p.1 & 7); Brinon Cher, France (Oct 3, 1918, p.7; Nov 14, 1918, p.1; Nov 28, 1918, p.1; Dec 26, 1918, p.7; Jan 9, 1919, p.3; Jan 23, 1919, p.1; Jan 30, 1919, p.1; Feb 6, 1919, p.6; Mar 6, 1919, p.1)

CHAPLINE, Holman – Manancourt, France (Dec 26, 1918, p.3)

CHURCH, Robert S. – “in foreign waters” (Nov 14, 1918, p.1)

CLARK, Elmer – Camp Syracuse, N.Y. (Aug 29, 1918, p.7)

COLE, Bruce – Camp Merritt, N.J. (Aug 22, 1918, p.1); (Jan 16, 1919, p.1; Mar 6, 1919, p.1)

CONARD, Ralph L. – Coutres, France (Dec 12, 1918, p.1; Jan 9, 1919, p.4), Paris, France (Feb 6, 1919, p.6)

CRIPPEN, Marcus – St Loubee, France (Mar 20, 1919, p.1)

CUMMINGS, Emerson – Del Rio, TX (June 13, 1918, p.1)

CURTIS, R. V. – Langes Haute-Marne, France (Oct 17, 1918, p.4; Dec 19, 1918, p.1; Jan 9, 1919, p.4)

DAFT, Glen – Camp Dodge, IA (Sep 20, 1917, p.3; Oct 11 & 18, 1917, p.1; Nov 1, 1917, p.1; Dec 20, 1917, p.8); Camp Jackson, S.C. (May 16, 1918, p.2); Saumer, France (Aug 8, 1918, p.2; Jan 23, 1919, p.1)

DARNELL, Harry – Co.G, Iowa AMM, Train Motor, State Fair Grounds, Des Moines (Sep 20, 1917, p.1); Camp Cody, N.M. (Oct 11, 1917, p.1; Dec 6, 1917, p.7; Jan 17, 1918, p.3); France (Oct 31, 1918, p.7)

DARNELL, Leo – San Antonio, TX (Jan 3, 1918, p.3); Garden City, Long Island, N.Y. (Jan 10, 1918, p.3); France (July 11, 1918, p.1); Romorantin, France (Oct 31, 1918, p.6)

DAVIS, Carroll – Camp American University, Washington, D.C. (Nov 8, 1917, p.8)

DERROUGH, William F. – (Jan 30, 1919, p.1)

DILLON, Gilbert – France (Nov 28, 1918, p.3; Dec 19, 1918, p.10)

ERB, Harry G. – France (Nov 21, 1918, p.1)

FARLEY, Ardis – Camp Cody, N.M. (Nov 15, 1917, p.1; Dec 6, 1917, p.7); England (Nov 14, 1918, p.1); Mesves, France (Dec 26, 1918, p.1; Feb 6, 1919, p.7) AEF New York (Feb 27, 1919, p.1)

FEAR, Harry – France (Dec 26, 1918, p.1)

FISHER, Harold – Gondrecourt, France (May 1, 1919, p.2)

FLESHER, Everett – Camp Dodge, IA (Mar 14, 1918, p.1; June 6, 1918, p.1)

FLESHER, Herschel – France (Oct 31, 1918, p.7)

FLESHER, Warren S. – France (Mar 14, 1918, p.1; Apr 11, 1918, p.1; June 6 & 13, 1918, p.1; Aug 22, 1918, p.7; Sep 12, 1918, p.1; Nov 7, 1918, p.1); Nieder Zissen, Germany (Apr 10, 1919, p.1)

FOLEY, Charles W. – France (Oct 24, 1918, p.4; Dec 19, 1918, p.1)

FOLEY, Earle B. – France (Oct 24, 1918, p.8)

FREEMAN, Frank – Camp Dodge, IA (May 9, 1918, p.1)

GEHRINGER, Edward P. – France (July 18, 1918, p.7)

GILLESPIE, Joe – Camp Merritt, N.Y. (July 18, 1918, p.7)

GINN, Gladstone – Shelby, MS (Nov 21, 1918, p.7)

GOODALE, Earl H. – Camp Pike, AR (Aug 29, 1918, p.7; Sep 12, 1918, p.4); De La Concorde, Paris, France (Feb 6, 1919, p.2)

GOODE, Harley H. – France (Aug 15, 1918, p.2)

GRAVES, Seward – France (Oct 24, 1918, p.8; Nov 7, 1918, p.1); Toulsector, Sebastopol, Barracks (Apr 10, 1919, p.1)

GREEN, Albert – Gievres, France (Sep 19, 1918, p.4; Jan 2, 1919, p.5)

GREEN, Fred D. – Fort Barrancas, Pensacola, FL (Dec 26, 1918, p.3)

HAMILTON, Will – Fort Snelling, MN (Nov 1, 1917, p.2)

HAWORTH, Raymond - (Jan 23, 1919, p.1)

HANRAHAN, John J. – St. Mihiel, France (Oct 3, 1918, p.7; Jan 2, 1919, p.7), Commercy, France (Feb 7, 1919, p.4)

HESTER, Frank – Camp Dix, N.J. (July 11, 1918, p.1); (Oct 3, 1918, p.2)

HILL, Gerald – France (Aug 22, 1918, p.1; Nov 28, 1918, p.1; May 8, 1919, p.1)

HODSON, Cash – Camp Pike, AR (Oct 31, 1918, p.7)

HOLCOMB, Charles R. – San Antonio, TX (May 1, 1919, p.2), Lenoke, AR (May 8, 1919, p.1)

HOLLAND, James A. – France (Nov 7, 1918, p.5); Int. Ord. Depot No.2, American E.F. (Feb 6, 1919, p.5)

HUTCHESON, Allen – San Diego, CA (Sep 15, 1917, p.1); Norfolk, VA (Mar 7, 1918, p.5)

HUTCHESON, James – U.S.S. Jaunetta Skinner (Aug 1, 1918, p.2); a port in France (Sep 19, 1918, p.7)

HUTCHESON, Walter – in the Navy (Dec 5, 1918, p.7)

HUTT, Roscoe – Miami, FL (July 11, 1918, p.1)

HYPES, Frank E. – Camp Cody, Deming, N.M. (Nov 22, 1917, p.1); France (Aug 15, 1918, p.1; Oct 24, 1918, p.5 & 9)

IGO, Wilbur – Camp Pike, AR (Oct 24, 1918, p.8)

JOHNSON, Albert C. – Camp Dix, N.J. (Sep 19, 1918, p.1)

JOHNSON, Mack – France (Sep 12, 1918, p.2)

JONES, Ralph E. – Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN (June 20, 1918, p.9)

KEENEY, Lon A. – Camp Devens, MA (May 16, 1918, p.7); France (July 25, 1918, p.8; Aug 15, 1918, p.2); Nevers, France (Sep 19, 1918, p.8; Dec 26, 1918, p.5)

KELLER, Lester – Camp Shelby, MS (Oct 17, 1918, p.6; Nov 21, 1918, p.1)

KIMZEY, Robert G. – Camp Pike, AR (Aug 22, 1918, p.2)

KIRKPATRICK, Fred W. – U.S. Naval Training Station, Detroit, MI (Oct 3, 1918, p.1)

KONRAD, Jerome – Camp Dix, N.J. (Dec 12, 1918, p.1)

LEE, “Teddy” – Camp Cody, N.M. (Nov. 1, 1917, p.1; Nov 8, 1917, p.8; Dec 6, 1917, p.7)

LEE, Walter G. – Fort Warden, WA (Sep 12, 1918, p.4; Oct 3, 1918, p.1)

LEWIS, Barnett L. – France (Aug 8, 1918, p.2; Oct 24, 1918,p.8)

LONGABAUGH, Wren – France (May 2, 1918, p.2; Aug 15, 1918, p.2; Aug 29, 1918, p.7; Sep 26, 1918, p.1; Nov 7, 1918, p.1); Echtenach, Luxemburg (Jan 9, 1919, p.4)

LYON, William R. – (May 23, 1918, p.3)

MAHAFFEY, Harvey – Camp Kearny, CA (Oct 18, 1917, p.6); Camp Merritt, N.J. (July 4, 1918, p.4)

MARSH, Donald J. – Camp Mills, N.Y. (Nov 15, 1917, p.1); France (July 4, 1918, p.4; July 11, 1918, p.1; Sep 19 & 26, 1918, p.1)

MARSHALL, Gale – Camp Pike, AR (Aug 15, 1918, p.2)

MARSHALL, Loreen – joined the Marinettes (Jan 23, 1919, p.1)

MARSHALL, Russell – France (July 25, 1918, p.2)

McCAUGHIN, “Bill” – Garden City, Long Island, N.Y. (Feb 7, 1918, p.3); England (June 20, 1918, p.9); New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst, Hants., England (Sep 5, 1918, p.6); Portsmouth (Sep 19, 1918, p.6)

McCLAVY, William Lawrence – Camp Shelby, MS (Oct 17, 1918, p.6; Nov 7, 1918, p.5)

MONTGOMERY, Arthur S. – (Jan 2, 1919, p.7), Goudiecourt, France (Jan 23, 1919, p.2)

MORRIS, Hubert V. – France (June 6, 1918, p.1; June 20, 1918, p.9; July 4, 1918, p.4; Aug 8, 1918, p.1; Aug 22, 1918, p.1 & 2; Sep 19, 1918, p.1; Oct 17, 1918, p.4; Oct 24, 1918, p.9; Dec 5, 1918, p.7 & 9; Dec 26, 1918, p.1); Epinal Vosges, France (Jan 23, 1919, p.7; Feb 13, 1919, p.6)

MURDOCH, Tom –France (Aug 8, 1918, p.2; Dec 26, 1918, p.3; Mar 6, 1919, p.3)

MUSSLEMAN, John – (Mar 20, 1919, p.1)

NICHOLL, H. W. – France (Jan 2, 1919, p.2)

OGG, Howard – Douglas, AZ (May 30, 1918, p.5)

ORR, Carl – Camp Cody, N.M. (Oct 4, 1917, p.6; Dec 6, 1917, p.7)

PARK, Bernard – Camp Grant, IL (Oct 17, 1918, p.4)

PARKER, Thomas – Fort Andrews, Boston, MA (June 27, 1918, p.1)

PEARSON, Paul W. – France (June 6 & 13, 1918, p.1; June 20, 1918, p.9; Aug 22, 1918, p.1; Sep 12, 1918, p.7; Sep 19 & 26, 1918, p.1; Oct 24, 1918, p.1; Nov 14,1918, p.1; Dec 5, 1918, p.7; Dec 26, 1918, p.7); Neuwied, Germany (Jan 30, 1919, p.1), Polch, Germany (Feb 6, 1919, p.5), Neuwied, on the Rhine, Prussia (Feb 13, 1919, p.5; Feb 20, 1919, p.1; Mar 20, 1919, p.4)

PECK, Glen – (Jan 24, 1918, p.1)

PECK, Harold M. – Fort Leavenworth, KS (Aug 22, 1918, p.2)

PERLEY, Ernest – Aixe, France (Dec 12, 1918, p.1)

POLSON, Edison K. – Hempstead, N.Y. (June 27, 1918, p.1); (Aug 8, 1918, p.1); France (Aug 15 & 29, 1918, p.1; Sep 12, 1918, p.5; Oct 3, 1918, p.7; Oct 17, 1918, p.4; Oct 24, 1918, p.5; Nov 14, 1918, p.7); Marville, France (Dec 26, 1918, p.1); Remich, Luxemburg (Jan 2, 1919, p.2), Dreis, Germany (Feb 6, 1919, p.4), Berncastle, Germany (Feb 20, 1919, p.1), Obeischiedweiler, Germany (Mar 20, 1919, p.4; Apr 3, 1919, p.5)

POWERS, George Thomas – Manancourt, France (Feb 20, 1919, p.1)

PRALL, Arthur M. – France (Sep 12, 1918, p.5; Oct 3, 1918, p.7; Feb 20, 1919, p.1), Menton, Alphes Maritimes (Mar 20, 1919, p.1; Apr 3, 1919, p.8)

PREHN, Lester H. – France (Oct 31, 1918, p.8); U.S. Base Hospital, France (Nov 21, 1918, p.1)

PRICE, Jesse C. – Clermont, France – (Dec 5, 1918, p.9)

PUGLSEY, E. L. – France (Sep 19, 1918, p.4)

QUINN, Leslie – France (July 25, 1918, p.2)

REED, Paul – France (Oct 18, 1917, p.6)

REINMUTH, Park – France (Aug 8, 1918, p.1; Oct 3, 1918, p.1; Nov 21, 1918, p.1 & 6)

RHODES, Ellis M. – London (Oct 17, 1918, p.6)

ROUSH, Earl – (Apr 3, 1919, p.4)

ROUSH, Robert – (Mar 13, 1919, p.2; Apr 3, 1919, p.4)

RUBLE, Frank – Warrenton, OR (Aug 8, 1918, p.2)

SCHIMELFENIG, Katherine – U.S. A.N.C., U.S. Base Hospital, A.E.F. (June 27, 1918, p.2)

SCHREIBER, Frederick A. - Battery E, 339th U.S.F.A. (Aug 22, 1918, p.2 & 7)

SCHREIBER, Will – Austin, TX (Nov 14, 1918, p.1)

SCOTT, John E. – Base Hospital, A.E.F. (Sep 12, 1918, p.1)

SEYMOUR, William J. – Neuweid on the Rhine (Apr 3, 1919, p.1)

SHADE, M. L. – St. Aignan, Loir et Cher, France (July 25, 1918, p.5)

SIMPSON, Arch M. – Hempstead, N.Y. (Nov 1, 1917, p.6; Nov 15, 1917, p.1); England (Jan 3, 1918, p.3); France (Jan 24, 1918, p.1; Apr 25, 1918, p.6; May 16, 1918, p.8; June 6, 1918, p.1; June 13, 1918, p.1 & 2; June 20 & 27, 1918, p.9; July 4, 1918, p.4; July 18, 1918, p.1; Aug 8 & 15, 1918, p.1; Aug 22, 1918, p.7); Mars-Sur-Allier, France (Sep 12, 1918, p.2; Oct 3, 1918, p.7); Newport News, N.J. (Oct 24, 1918, p.8)

SMITH, Ralph E. – “on the broad Atlantic” (Oct 17, 1918, p.6); Demangeaux Eaux, France (Apr 3, 1919, p.1), Allery, France (May 1, 1919, p.8)

SONES, Jasper – Camp Pike, AR (Aug 22, 1918, p.7)

STANLEY, Claude M. – Neider Breisig, Germany ((Jan 30, 1919, p.1)

STEVENS, Charley – Camp Joseph Johnston, Jacksonville, FL (July 4, 1918, p.6)

STIERWALR, W. G. – U.S. Naval Base Seventeen (Sep 12, 1918, p.4)

STOKESBURY, J. C. – France (Nov 14, 1918, p.7)

TAYLOR, John E. – Neider Breisig, Germany on the Rhine (Feb 6, 1919, p.6; Feb 13, 1919, p.4)

THORNE, Jonathan C. – France (Aug 15, 1918 p.2; Dec 5, 1918, p.7; Aug 29, 1919, p.7)

TILLEY, Paul W. – France (Oct 3, 1918, p.7)

TOMLINSON, Milo – France (Aug 22, 1918, p.2)

TRABERT, Andrew – Camp Dewey, Great Lakes, IL (Oct 17, 1918, p.4)

WAECHTER, Lloyd – France (Aug 8, 1918, p.2)

WALKER, Foust – Camp Freemont, CA (Aug 15, 1918, p.1)

WEEKS, Floyd – Camp Forrest, GA (Sep 12, 1918, p.5)

WIEDMANN, W. A. – Camp Lee, VA (July 14, 1918, p.4)

WEINMANN, Harry C. – Fort Snelling, MN (Oct 11, 1917, p.1)

WELDIN, Clyde – Fort Logan, CO (June 20, 1918, p.1); Camp Presidio, San Francisco, CA (July 4, 1918, p.4)

WILLIAMS, Floyd – Fort Snelling, MN (May 16, 1918, p.2; May 23, 1918, p.9; May 30, 1918, p.3); Camp Dix, N.J. (July 11, 1918, p.10); France (Oct 24, 1918, p.9; Dec 19, 1918, p.3)

WILLIAMS, Luther Paul – Old Detention Camp, Great Lakes, IL (Aug 22, 1918, p.2; Sep 12, 1918, p.1); Hampton Roads, VA (Oct 3,1918, p.1)

WINNING, Duane – Great Lakes (July 11, 1918, p.2 & 4)

WOODCOCK, Arthur J. – Dover, N.J. (Oct 3, 1918, p.1)

WRAY, Floyd – Camp Devins, MA (Apr 24, 1919, p.8)

WRIGHT, Ralph – Newport, R.I. (Nov 15, 1917, p.1); U.S.S. Connecticut (Dec 27, 1917, p.5; June 27, 1918, p.5 & 7)

YATES, Ed E. – Camp Mills, Long Island, N.Y. (Oct 18, 1917, p.1); France (Apr 18, 1918, p.6; June 13, 1918, p.1; Aug 8 & 15, 1918, p.1); Debarkation Hospital, Hampton, VA (Dec 5, 1918, p.1 & 7); Oteen, N.C. (Dec 19, 1918, p.3)