Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-12
LETTER FROM W. ]. FRAwLEY

The following letter was received
by Del Curtis the past week from
William j. Frawley, First Lieutenant,
M. D., 150th M. G. Bn., American Ex-
peditionary Forces;
Somewhere in France"
February 13, 1918.
My dear Friend: Have been intend
ing to write you for some time but
somehow or other have not been able
to make the grade. Have been a
pretty busy officer for the last two
months or so, but | must take the
time today for we have but a few
days left of ''life in a billet" and | am
sure that life in the trenches is not
conducive to writing. We have fin
ished practically all Of our training
now and in just week or so we are
to journey to the trenches for the fin
ishing touches. | am rather looking
forward to it for ii will be about the
first real excitement that we will eX-
perience in France
| imagine that the majority of the
people at home think that our life
must be rather an exciting one, full
of wonderful sights. | know that they
are very much mistaken for the only
novel experience we can claim is that
OF living in French village, which
is very simply described as a cluster
of old stone buildings-nestled be-
tween few pretty green hills. Just
couple dozen combination barns and
houses that contain none of the mod
ern conveniences that we have at
home. We have lived in a half dozen
such but one is exactly like the other.
The officers are fortunate enough to
get "chambre" with French land
lady, while men arc quartered in
the lofts and unused houses.
We were somewhat disappointed at
our first sight of France, and | am
sure that every one of us will have a
new respect for our own country when
we eventually return, for we are at
least two hundred years in advance
of these people. We are not per-
mitted to make any comments upon the
natives or | could give you an anus
ing description of some of the GUS
toms here. AS it is l will have to
"saVe them up" against my return.
My organization has taken part in a
few rather strenuous marches and
vi IlIdI nave uClpSu
to make us the veterans we are at
present. We now have all the equip
ment that is considered necessary for
modern warrior, including the he'll
NETS and gaSmaskS. Some of these
things are rather comical in appear
ance, but they will no doubt prove
to be very practical later on. We
have received ample instructions in
the use of all of them, and l am sure
that we will be able to entertain
many with all that we have seen and
are going to see.
The weather has been very warm
and pleasant for the past month, the
winter as whole being not near as
severe as our Wisconsin weather at
this time. This has helped our train
ing somewhat and it has also enabled
us to have little outdoor recrea-
tion, thing we sadly missed the first
three months. The men are a lot
more comfortable now, and naturally
in much better spirits. Every one
seems to be we'll contented, besides
being well pleased with the manner
in which the people at home are
backing us.
l expect that the balance of our
stay here, however long that may be-
will be rather active and crammed
with exciting novelties Yet | hope
to find opportunity occasionally to
again remind you that 1 am well, in
the very best of health. l would like
to hear from you for mail is a very
welcome article to one in our posi-
ton"
w. ]. Frawley is a brother of Dr.
r. M. Frawley of this city, and is
well known to many in Wausau.