Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-02
SIX MONTHS IN
FRANCE WITH GOOD
SOLDIERS RECORD

OOs0sSst - bb6VOuIO
CORPORAL CLARENCE c. BAILEY
is CONFIDENT u. s. CAN
CLEAN UP ON KAISER
The following letter was received
from Clarence Bailey by his sister.
Dana, telling of the happenings in the
army in France:
On Active Service
with the
American Expeditionary Force
Somewhere in France"
December z, 1917.
Dear Sister:
Friday night and most beautiful
night. The band is playing some
dandy, dance music and if you were
only here just think what fun we
could have.
We are having cold weather now
and little snow mixed but | guess
you had snow long before we did over
here.
We just got back from long hike
and its about four bells and am some
tired, you bet, but know you want
few lines from your brother, so /
Will try and see what / can do.
1t did not seem much like Thanks
giving to me and guess it will not
seem like Christmas either. l was
thinking today while | was riding
along on my mule that / should have
birthday before long and sure
enough it is only a couple days off.
Your big brother is getting along in
years-nineteen years.
| wish l could get my mail quicker,
but you know isis" that a large BODY
of water is between here and the good
old u. S. A. and the mail may get
over and it may not, but / write real
often and there is always mail on the
way. If Germany does sink any of
our mail boats and they left for US
boys to settle there would be an aw-
ful battle going on over here and it
would not take long either for that is
one thing a soldier prides himself on
his letters home.
Tell mother what she told me she
read in the Grand Rapids Press was
right. | can't tell you about it but /
was in that, but | am safe and sound
as ever.
would like to see the boys that
started out when did. Do you know
where "Dick" Moon, George Menkee,
Leo Orser or any of them are. | had
letter from Paul Harrington from
Texas few days ago, also one from
Mr.. Walton. my teacher at Ludington.
They are both anxious to get over
here.
Some Of the boys say they get lone
some, but | don't let that stay on my
mind long at time, just for that
reason. If there are any of those fell
lows over here i will take my mule
some Sunday and ride their way.
L was up at the Y. M. C. A. the
other night looking for something to
read and ran across Manistee paper
and | would like to find the owner of
it. / might know him.
You should have been over here the
last day of the month. 1t was a big
day in camp. We went out on hike
and had muster in the afternoon,
which made the day pretty busy one
We sign the pay roll, have inspection
and clean everything out. all on the
last day of the month and we have to
go some.
| must tell you that we had a fine
I Thanksgiving dinner-turkey, duck.
goose, cranberry sauce. sweet pota-
toes, cake. pie, figs, nuts, bread, cof-
fee and all Of everything we wanted
So you see of the U. S. is awful busy
she does not forget her boys in
France.
What kind of weather are you hav-
ing? Once in a while we have a lit
tie snow but it don't stay long and it
makes it hard for us to keep clean.
I But we have to do it.
1t will be six months the twenty
sixth of next month since we landed
in France and | have not been sick a
day nor missed over three or four
meals, and / sure have not lost a
pound of flesh, nor missed call and
that is coming along pretty fair for
your brother, if / do say it.
We had a show here Thanksgiving
night put on by the soldiers and it
sure was good-singing and small
acts. The band gave US some fine
music and you should hear our band,
it is great.
/ wish to send a Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year to all my
friends at home. Give my regards
to the 'bunch" at Sparks & Gamblers
and all the rest.
Well. isis" / am tired and my eyes
are getting heavier every minute, SO
while you are about to eat your din
rer | am ready to "hit the hay" so
7 will quit Hoping to hear from you
soon. With lots of love to the fam
ily. Just note my new address and
don't forget it. Your brother.
Corporal Clarence G.. Bailey.
II Machine Gun Co.. 28th Infantry,
American Expeditionary Forces,