The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-02-12
HARRY AND ROY CURTIS
WRITE FROM France
Wednesday, January Is. 191!


My Dear Mothcr:-
Yesterdays mail brought me very
nice letter from Jessie and | was so
glad to get it, not having had one
from you all in sometime.
spent yesterday in bed taking
medicine and reading Several days
ago, | contracted d very severe cold
and | thought it best for me to get
after it in time. | am feeling so
much better today and am up for
duty. Our company is on guard to-
day and only few remain for duty;
so I've been by the fire nearly all
day.
We are still sitting tight here in
the little village of Groccy Cote'dOur,
waiting for something to happen to
us. Have been here seven weeks al
ready and it is so unusual for us to
remain in one place for so long q
period 1t is generally believed
though that we clear OUT OF here right
soon, but no one knows the direction
of march--Gcrmany Russia, or Amer
lea. We have about resigned our
selves to our fate and know that any
thing is possible for us right now.
The climate here is very bad and
conclusive to pneumonia. Two days
only of our stay here has been bless
ed with Gods beautiful sunshine. The
rest were rain. The ground is sloppy
all the time, and it is necessary for
us to keep Il goodly stock of shoes
and wool socks on hand for daily
changes. The Frcnchmcn all wear
wooden Shoes; so they fare somewhat
better than we. At the door of all
the homes can be found pair of
these monster shoes for each member
of the family even down to baby. They
arc very skilled in walking with them,
and it takes skill. | know that |
could not navigate freely in such
clumsy things. A very dear friend
sent me a copy of "Ihc Manning
Times" and "rhe Herald" this morn
ing. | read each line in them includ-
! ing the advertisements and enjoyed
them SO much. | note the publication
in bold headlines in "Thc Times" let
ters from Roy and myself to you
appreciate this courtesy from the
editor. Well, after thinking, it is per-
fcctly plain to me, that all Of the
people back home are really proud of
their soldier boys, and want them to
know it. ] can't help but say that
W" are proud to represent so loyal
4. people on foreign soil, and on the
blood stained battle fields of France.
Ooi I'oh Has DccH q nara one, ana
| when our first small band of heroes
embarked for this shell torn land, few
of you all realized the horrors of
| their existence over here and the dan
gerous incident to their reaching here.
| | saX&you did not, for / was there
| thcn&and | don't think that | did.
Well,Nrthose guns which greeted us
upon our arrival here, with their peals
OF thunder and death dealing shrapncl,
have been silent now these two months
| and burdens have been lifted from
| our shoulders. You sent us here to
| do what we could and it is pleasing,
| to us all to look back and see the
wonderful way in which we did it.
We gave you all for Christmas, "a
Peace on Earth and Good Will To-
wards Men," The real American
"Push' was brought to bear upon the
Bochc by the hands of boys who pos
seSs nerves Of steel, and heart and
soul full OF bravery, courage, and de
| termination, unequaled by any soldier
OF the Allied armies, and unparalleled
even IN our own glorious history made
years ago in our fight for freedom.
The insignia of our division is the
wild Cat" 1t is far from a mis-
nomer, for our boys at the eleventh
hour, on the eleventh day were demon
| st"atinG to the Hun what "Wild Cats"
90, ANA the Hun realizing the quality
Of the stuff which the "Wild Cats"
were giving them would very soon
triumph over and resistance, did the
| inevitable.
Mother dear, soon am coming
back to YOU and to the loved ones At
home. 1t will be a great day for us
all. You might observe some chances
IN me; but remember no one could
live under these conditions here with
ont undergoing change. Don't worry
about my having cold, for Pm getting
alright now.
My love and very best wishes t.
all of you, and all Of my friends in
old PaXvillc. Dcvotedly,
lcur sen,
Harold