Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-18
OUR BOYS
OUR CoUNTRY'S SERVICE
On Active Service, A. E. F.
somewhere in France
June 1.
Dear Folks;

some where IN france
June /.
Dear Folks;
Have just received two letters from
home so l am answering them at once.
One was dated May II and the other
April II. SO you see the first one came
Our mail is coming much better now
and also 10 days earlier than they did.
We are i'll better location than we
were and we're having great weather.
1t seems to be making UP for the poor
weather of last winter.
When you see Wilbur, please ask him
for me if he knows he has a brother in
France. l have heard from him just
twice since / have been here.
| hope by this time that you have
heard from my allotment. I told my
lieutenant about it and he said he would
look it up or have it seen to.
There are two or three Maine boys
here with me and all good friends of
mine.
shalt send. you an order in my next
letter I don't know Just yet what
wait HlCSl JuSN SCI put Nill ~ AiiS
time | write.
Yes. l have been in Paris and it's
Some Town as the French say.
have also been in one of the castles and
some of the cathedrals. They certain
~ have some great buildings here. what
they have left, but for me | had much
rather look through some of the Maine
cities.
These aren't the only interesting
things I've seen but | can't tell you
about the rest at present, but just wait
till I come hcme and III tell YOU all
about it.
Tell Dad and Ruth and all the folks to
write because l get a little lonesome
some times. I haven't got acquainted
with many of the boys in my new COM
pany yet. IT will be much better when
do.
Well cheer up. This war can't last
forever and we will all he home soon.
Lots OF love, Harold.
The above letter was recently received
by Mrs. A. A Horne of Fairfield from
her son. Harold l.. Horne. formerly Of
Co. II, 1oSd Inf Am. FIX. Forces, but
now in the 18th Casual Co. His present
address is Priv Harold /. Horne. 18th
Casual Co, Garden Service, A. p Q.
7o2, Am. Ex. Forces.
The following letter from one of the
Belfast boys al Camp Devens will be
read with interest:
Camp Devens, June 18th.
Have been thinking of writing to you
for long time but have been so busy
have not found the time. We start in
working first thing after breakfast AMI
keep it up until retreat at so Then
we have rupper. shave and do our
washing, getting to bed by 10 o'clock.
so you see we do not ave much spare
time.
I am getting along fine kind Of sore
at being in quarantine for the measles.
have been out but three nights since
here. We start the morning usually
with a little snappy drill which lasts
for about an hour Then we have
an hour Of bayonet drill which is
the hardest of all. We practice on dunn
mics Then fall out for FIVE minutes
for rest and start for the rife range
I like that part of it best of all Usua.-
~ fire about 90 or 40 times. at different
positions, standing, lying down. sitting,
etc.
l would give anything to get down to
see the fellows that come in tonight
(from BelfasD. 1t is great fun when
YOU first arrive. They issue bed tick
and two blankets and dump a bale Of
straw on the ground and let the boys
scramble for it. Higgins was just up
to see us, said he had been down to see
them. and they were just filing their
ticks. He saw Fuller (Wentworth) who
was about the only one he knew.
Bramhall and some Of the fellows
were down to see US last night Sent to
the canteen for ice cream so we had
nice little party Floyd (McKeen) has
not yet. June 2sth) been transferred
from the Depot Brigade He is the only
one left from our bunch down there
We sure had :ome nice times there to-
gether. The bunch that Bralev and N.Y.
self are in are most all from New York.
We get pretty fair feeds but no sweet
1000 and the menu does not vary
great deal
Wen, 1t is nearly bedtime so must
close for this time, Suppose you took in
the dance last night / would like 20
nave been there. We surely had a fine
1ime at the dance they gave for us at
nome the night before we came away.
Let me hear from YOU again and T will
nnd time TO answer it. Sincerely.
Howard H. Tibbetts,
303d Inf, Co r