Tombstone epitaph., 1919-03-23
TELLS OF TOMBSTONE
 soYs IN GERMANY

Mrs. James Marrs has received the following letter from her son Charles Bachelor, who is now with the Ameri can forces over there:
 Schoneckew. Germany.
 February IA, 1919. Dearest Mother:
 Your letter written just a month ago received today. and as usual was oA,eremely glad to get it. They come so few and far between tho. Just got back last night from a few days in Cooienz. Thirty-seven from our bat ,ery and the same from the others. Hsd 8 very good time considering ev- ery,hlng. We arrived at Coblenz about noon Tuesday. The first thing was a good hot dinner then to a large building where we were to ssep. 4 building of 4 floors with a capacity of about 2,000 cots. Quite a job for Uncle Sam to rustic 2.O00 cots and equip them with blankets each. From then until $ p. m. Thursday We were free to do as we chose Al Ian Benedict and took in the hull town. buying a few small articles but mostly cigarettes and jam. Our trip up the Rhine was called of owing 10 so much ice floating. Bu; We got in ! eyeral sight seeing trips close in tn sending a book of post cards and some single ones that I mailed. Al. together t was a good trip.
 don't know where that rumor start ! el about Noel being killed. see him most every iday and sometimes hear him late at night. He is just the same old Noel except if anything ! trife more hot air"
 : As to my Xmas box you have my ! letter before now explaining every | thing and am enclosing a copy of the ! letter written to the postal authorities i over here and postscript by Lieut. Smith. who was then commanding us. You can see for yourself just how it | goes. I wrote to Mae and Donna both ! and told them so Mae surely must have had the wrong idea about it. , Haven't heard from Mae since don't now when and even Donnas letters are scarce. know tho there are sew eral never got because she often asked about something in one letter that she had asked me before. There was no heads or tails to it for me.
 Saturday, Feb. I5. 1919.
 D!dn'; f:ssh last night so will do so now. \ t-,ac excited tho just now as Benedict and have been given a pass to Paris. Wow. We heard it I'll. morei yesterday but we didn't know anything about i, as We had just go, back from Coblenz. This a. m. We re. ported to Lieut.. Smith and be asked Us if we wanted to go to Paris. Can a duck swim" That wasn't our an swer to him of course. but felt like asking him. Then he told us our names had been sent in and to be ready Monday, the I7th. So we're on! l haven't even had any previous and am glad especially to get over here. Will have a chance to see now what l don't suppose ever will see again Will have "buco' to tell you when do get home. Sure am glad got over here when We did. We have the distinction of being the 1st National Army artillery to hit the front. made good record. was one of the honcred divisions to rank as troops of occupation. Have seen and been thro lots of country and now a couple leaves that probably wont be everybody's luck to get On top oi that my health is the very best, have a good place to sleep and manage enough to eat. Of course there are times when our work seems all wrong but saw wood and say nix" as the told saying is Smile, damn you smiIe."
 Well -aother dear, no more for now Give my best regfards to all inquir ing friends, love to the James, the kids and yourself.
 Your loving son,
 \ BACH.
 Had word from Cecil. He is fine Tony, Noel and Benedict send love.