Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-12-19
CLARENCE c. BAILEY
IS NOW CORPORAL
OF HIS COMPANY
WEARS TWO STRIPES ON HIS
ARM. HAS TWELVE MEN AND
EIGHT MULES IN CHARGE
On Active Service
with the
American Expeditionary Force
Somewhere in France"

American Expeditionary Force
Somewhere in France"
November 26, 1917.
Dear Ones at Home:
Monday night at camp and it is a
dandy. night. 1t is about two o'clock
back home, but here it is about six
O'Clock and supper was over about
three-quarters of an hour ago.
Mother said in her letter that the
states had been visited by snow
storm. Well, we had our first snow
last night and got up this morning to
see the hills white and it sure did
look pretty, although it was very cold.
we wore our overcoats out to drill
today and they were mighty comfort
able, too.
1t has rained here for about three
months straight and the mud and CLAW
are very deep, but such is q soldiers
life here in France.
You may think the days short over
there but America has nothing over
France. We eat supper at 4:30
o'clock and it is dark then and it does
not get light again until about seya-.
bells, so you see how much daylight
we have in the winter months: but in
the summer months there is very lit
tie darkness. You never saw such
beautiful nights as we have here
when the moon is in full swing and
the sky clear with the snow on the
mills 1T is most beautiful picture.
WISH you could see it for yourselves.
had letter from Florence Smith
OF Portland and one from Agnes Hall
and just listen, DIR. Armstrong;
daughter sent me pair of socks that
she knit herself and they are dandies.
and you don't know how / appreciate
them, and please thank her for me.
and when / get time (if | ever dol /
sure will write and thank her myself.
When fellow is a long ways from
home it is good thing to have friends
that still think of you.
We have bee naway for about two
weeks and no way of writing. When
got back had bunch of mail wait
ing for me an dit seemed good. I
sure do get my share of mail. You
wanted to know if your mail passed
through the censor's hands. / don't
think it does for your mail comes lust
like you send it but it sure does 90
through his hands when l send mine
TO you and if we tell the least little
thing out of the way it does not get
any further, but here am right in
the swim" and I'm proud of it. We
drill and drill and then drill some
more.
Well, Dad, when / joined the army
/ did not think that l would get
along with it very WELL but | have
changed my mind. You were right
when you told me that / would find
all classes of men and the army IS
the place to find them. Some of the
best read men are men in the army,
and then on the other hand some of
the worst crooks are men in the ranks.
But, Dad, in time of war and the con-
dition OF things the place for fellow
that is old enough is in the army. 1t
is the place for experience and when
he comes out he can make something
out of himself if he wants to.
When we first came "over herev
and after we had been here about two
months | was made first-class priv
ate. They get $500 more than a
private and it is not hard to get it
either If a fellow comes into the
army with the idea of being soldier.
Well, / soldiered as a first-class priv
ate until month and a half ago and
/ was made an acting corporal with
the same responsibility as corporal.
L held that place about two weeks and
then | was made corporal, and how /
am in charge of twelve men and
eight mules. Yes, mules! They are
for the gun carts with the machine
guns, and | have two stripes on my
arm. How's that for starter? So
you see there is chance in the army
if a fellow wants it and believe me /
am after those Chances.
/ have given you an outline of my
army life as much as / can and / only
wish could talk it to you. Perhaps
can sometime.
Just tell those brothers of mine to
get about three years more on their
shoulders and then begin and think
of it and by that time / may get
chance to talk with them and help
them some.
| got the pictures you sent me and
about once a month / get them all
put and look them over.
suppose the boys in Texas are
drilling hard. Well they have lot
Of hard drilling ahead of them yet
when they get "over here" and they
will find it out believe me-
Give my regards to all my friends
and Banner force not forgetting
the "Judge" and Collie" Love to
all at home. II is nearly time for
lights out" so l guess | will have to
stop now. So hoping this finds you
all As well as it leaves me will bid
5ou goodnight. Your son,
Corp. Clarence c. Bailey.
Machine Gun Co., 2Sth Inf,
American Expeditionary Forces,