Smyrna times., 1918-06-05
CLAYTON BOY OVER IN FRANCE

SLHI ON OOI ONEn I'm FRANOE 1
Raymond T. Seemans, Son of Mr.. and
Mrs. John l. Seemans, Writes Let
ter Appropriate to Mothers Day"
Raymond T. Seemans, of Company
C, 18th Engineer Corps. who was
one of the first boys to 60 to France
from this vicinity, writes home after
nearly years absence. Private See
mans is son of Mr.. and Mrs. John
L. Seemans near Clayton, and his
letter IS directed to his mother. in |
honor of Mothers Day" Z" The let
ter was dated May 18th. 1918, and |
reads as follows: France, Sunday,
May II, 1918,-My Dear Mother:-
As this is one day in the year set
aside for Mothers Day." we must
see that she is not neglected. When
home we wear the earnation in your
honor, but now that we are so far
away, think this letter so much more
appropriate, and am sure you will
appreciate it more. You see our
Gov ernment has made all arrange
ments that these letters shall speed
across land and sea as fast as possible
and the ceusor will have to work
over time in order to rush them, ab-
solutely nc delay. So it seems that
Mother is quite the honored one as
she deserves to be and you can believe
me there is going to be one big mail
going back to the good old U. S. A.
with the magic words Mothers Let
ter" written on the envelope. So as
the old saying goes, tho far away,
you are not forgotten, and mother, l
often think of the day when we said
good ny in the "Citv of Brotherly
Love. knew how you hated to see me
60, yet you knew that was doing the
right thing, and it made you strong,
brave and true fer what ever the fu-
ture may have in store for you, and
Mother | feel that you still have that
spirit. the letters that l receive prove
it, and maybe you don't realize the
effect that it has on the boys over
here-so encouraging to know that
our mothers stand back of US with all
they have. Not that we have the
least idea of being discouraged. Oh
no. for t's you we are fighting for
and we wouldn't be worthy of calling
you mother if we were not willing to
give all we had for you. But of
course, hope the greatest sacrifice will
not have to be made, as l am look
ing forward to the day when these
war clouds will fade away and the
sunshine of peace on earth, good will
toward men, shall shine again and
may mothers smile be there to greet
US after our sojourn to this foreign
land, which we have come to save
from German bondage, and we are
going to do it. So here's to my
Mother, 50 brave and true, with a
! sweet smile to greet me, when this
, job is through. Say yes, ha, ha.
! Mother am sure we have it much
: better over here than you have any
! idea of, real comfort, l should
: say, and ! am sure much better thar
r a great many have it over here. We
have more shows and entertainment!
than we have time to attend. YoJ
see we have letter writing that mus
a be done, and things to keep clean ant
d neat. We don't wash any clothes a
: we pay the French women to do tha
5 for US. We have one of the nices
e camps-electric lights, hot and coll
T shower baths, everything o. K.
e tobacco and cigarettes to burn, goo
e eats; going to have pumpkin pie TO
# dinner; often have hot cakes 70
b breakfast. That sounds rather strang
h for the army doesn't it? Well, it.
|, true, and I'll tell you my health
n excellent. About the only thing tbs
ID bothers me is cold once in while
,e So will close this letter, assuring yo
"a that all is we'll with me somewher
1t in France. And hope you, Dad, an
" the rest of the folks are enjoying th
d best of health on this "Mother'
10 Day" and all the rest. -