World War I Letters from Abroad

 July & August 1918

The Humboldt Republican
Humboldt, Iowa
26 July 1918
Page 1

Letter from Lieutenant Edge.

Camp Pike, July 18, 1918 -- Am down in this forsaken state, and am wondering if you would be so kind as to forward me a copy of the Republican. I believe father subscribed for it for me while I was in Camp Dodge. Let me know when the time expires.
Arkansas news is about as good as nothing. We get a DesMoines paper, but would like to hear direct from Humboldt. There must be plenty going on up there.
Am getting along fine and enjoying my work. At least, I was enjoying it. Had been receiving special instruction in a grenade course, and while we finished yesterday, it almost finished me. Was struck in the head with a piece of a grenade, and really I didn't know which road I was going to take for a time. I am back on duty now, however, and seem all right. Have been appointed battalion grenade instructor since arriving and expect to take up my work next week.
The weather's fine, bed bugs plentiful, and everything lovely.
Lieut. J. W. Edge,
1st Regiment Inf. Re. Camp Pike



 

The Humboldt Republican
Humboldt, Iowa
16 August 1918
Page 1

Letters From Raymond D. Hansen
France, June 23, 1918

Dear Folks:
     Received letter of May 12th while in the trenches, just luck I got it too.  The Platoon Sgt. had it in his pocket and had not seen me for some time.  A shell came over and killed him and when they took him to the hospital, a first aid station, they found this letter and gave it to me.  I also received the Republican and the Independent dated May 2nd.  Would like very much to get a few magazines with good stories, would like to get the "Top Notch" if you could get a hold of it.  Well how are you all, fine I hope.  I have been having a headache for a few days.  Did you get the pictures I sent you.  Look kind of tough on it, but that is the way a fellow has to feel and look.
     One of the mottoes of this bunch is, "We are ruff and we tuf, and we don't know when we get enuf."  I guess that is the best way most of the boys feel when they run up against a Boche.
     Don't think I will be home to eat Christmas goose with you altho I would like to, but hope I will be home and celebrate my birthday.  Had a little talk with Albert Monson the other day.  He is in the trenches now.  He seem to be in good health.  Oscar and Grover I have not seen for some time.  Grover is probably at the hospital yet while over here.  Well, tomorrow will be 10 months since I landed down in El Paso, Texas.  Time has went fast in spite of the fact that it seem to go so slow.
     Tell Hanna to drop Lille and Ruth a letter and tell them I am still alive.
     How does Walter Jensen like army life, fine I hope.  Great life if you don't weaken, but pretty easy to weaken.  Has Harry Christensen joined the army yet or was he drafted?  Well I must go and polish up and I can't think of any more to write for this time.  I am sending you another picture in case you did not get the ones I sent.  They are not very good.
     Greet every body.  I am as ever
Your son Raymond.
     P. S. Did you get the letter that Oscar Knutsen sent you about the middle of May.

France, July 12, 1918
Dear Folks:
     Received your letters dated June 9th.  I received July 2nd.  Have been up to the front for a while and had a few very exciting events and by the way you ought to see our Battalion mascot.  It is a little chicken and if it could talk it would have a few exciting things to relate.  It went through two gas attacks, both of which lasted four hours, but some way survived.  It also has a small dugout which it would run for if any shells came very close.  One experience I had was that I had to go to head quarters and was delayed for about ten minutes and during this time the communication trench, and if I had started it would have caught me and maybe I would not have been able to tell you about it.  Another time during a bombardment I was crushed in the trench and a shell burst over head and a piece of shrapnel the size of a small hens eggbrushed my coat sleeve and went into the ground behind me.  I could relate a number of different incidents but think this will be enough for this time.
     Will try and cut some clippings out of Stars and Stripes, and A.E.F. news paper, and send them to you.  The Y.M.C.A. man sleeps in the same building as I do.  His name is Mr. Lee and sure is a jolly fellow.  He always has some comical story or joke to spring.  I am inclosing you a copy of "A Mother's leter" wrote by the Y.M.C.A. for Mothers Day, which I think is very good.
     I received a very nice letter from Hazel House.  She sent me a picture of herself and one of cousin Jack's wife and baby.  Was her name House before she married Jack.  But that makes no differents, I will write to her and acknowledge it.  I also saw in the Republican that Walter Jensen was made corporal three weeks after he went in, good for him.  I supposed the kidies are getting so big I won't know them when I see them.  You also wrote foxy.  How is Pete and have you got lots of little chickens?  I suppose they are pretty good size.  Could you send me a bunch of good pencils and erasors, as they come in quite handy.  If you see Johnson's or cousin Jack's tell them to write me a few lines and tell me if he knows Hazel and if she is the girl that was at Burth the time they moved to Arnold.
     Well my letter is getting long, I will have to close and write more later.  Hoping to hear from you soon.
I am your loving son,
Raymond D. Hanson.
Co. G. 23rd Inf.
A.E.F. France via New York.