Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-05-08
SOLDIER LETTERS
Somewhere In France,
March 20, 1918

Near Folks at Home;
received your welcome letters
yesterday. II sure Is great help
TO a young fellow 1000 miles away
from home to get letters and pre-
sents from relatives and friends,
] am going to give a few occur
renees In my army life. also about
France, quit school In my junior
year and left many schoolmates be-
hind although several Joined with
me. quit school In April. You
don't know how regret not being
able to graduate with the dear old
class OF rs, but I thought peace and
liberty was much moro important
than my education. therefore. AZ
soon as war was declared ! said to
myself. "I shall help win this hor-
rlble war" I acted nc once, knew
I wouldn't be drafted as I was but
lls.
When we left Grants Pass and
landed In Vancouver had my fin
ger prints taken. my photo taken two
ways. front and side views, with a
slate hanging from my neck on
which was written my name. etc.
II reminded me OF prisoners. All Of
us fellows expected to be sent 10
San Diego. but on the bulletin board
one day was my name and a lot OF
others ordered to 20 to Fort Sam
Houston. From Texas went to
Dayton. o.. and there had many
rides and liked them fine,
Since joining the army have
been In i6 states and travelled across
the continent and then across the
ocean. had some trip crossing the
ocean--found II some rough and
pretty chilly. The hrst thing ! no.
ticed In this country was difference
In the shape OF the buildings. most
OF them were made OF stone. The
railroad cars are much different
here. The coaches are compartment
cars with doors In the side for each
compartment. There Is room for one
squad OF eight men TO each CON-
partment. Most Of the cars are very
small.
receive the Rogue River Courier
quite often. sure love TO read II.
I am getting along fine with my
work on aeroplanes. J can't tell all
my experiences In a letter so will
have to leave them TIL see you
again.
CORP. WILLIAM POLLOCK,
18th Aero Squadron. A. r. r.
Mrs. II. II. Allyn few days ago
received an interesting letter from
"Somewheer In France" from which
the following extracts are made
I am getting along we'll and find
considerable enjoyment In the sltna-
tion. Avoiding. by force OF neces-
sity. all reference to war conditions.
and placing myself. as II were. In
the role OF tourist or sIghtseer. the
countryside OF France is delight.
We are at present In small but ex-
tremely old French city and at lois-
ure moments have taken every op-
to see the surrounding
country, which is beautiful. France.
you know. Is country OF beautiful
cathedrals, ancient chateaus, small
but neat farms and with all the ad-
miration possible for what the
French have done In this war, won
derful people. Few people can full
ly realize what this war has meant
for France until they have been here,
and am thankful that the U. s. A.
is In II to help them as well as to
down Germany. and I am grateful
for the loyalty Of the people at home.
Some there are. II is true, who are
plain traitors. but the solid mass OF
the people, I feel. are .whole-hearted-
ly in the cause.
We are for the present entirely
well quartered, treated and fed. |
know the folks at home are always
Interested in these items. Indeed,
since coming to this place we have
been having some Of the most de-
licious white bread that ] am sure
even the people at home don't en-
Joy, and II is certainly relief from
war bread, such as we have had. SO
for these things too we are grateful.
ARTHUR JENSEN
@. NJ. c., A. p. o. III.