The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-03
LETTER FROM J. H. D0WNEl
Somewhere in France, Nov. "a.
1918 Dads Day..

! 1919 tDadS Day).
Dear Father: This date has been
set aside as Dads Day. This is a
day we all write to our fathers and
DO not ask for money. | have plenty
of time as this is Sunday and | will
tell you everything am permitted to
tell.
We had Mothers Day when we
were in the States. | was too busy
to know or write on this particular
occasion am sorry ! didn't have
| the opportunity to write mamma a
long letter. | hope she won't feel
sighted on account of not hearing
from me on this day.
went to church this morning. Our
chaplain gave us a very interesting
Thanksgiving talk. He spoke as
though we would be on our way to
Germany Thanksgiving, so he spoke
Of the occasion today. He also spoke
Of how many things that had taken
place in the last few weeks we should
be thankful for. He especially was
thankful that our last position was
hidden by dense fog. If it had not
been for this fog we would undoubted-
~ have been blown up.
! am thankful that / came out all
right. | am especially grateful that
have such good parents-that they
are WELL and to know that | have a
good home to which | can return. 1t
is hard to think of how many poor
French soldiers who will not have a
home. The place that they once
called home is now heap of waste
that was shelled to pieces by the Ger
mans. Their people have been killed
so they can't go home. This is the
reason the Germans lost---God would
not permit such scandalous govern
ment to win.
We are going to Germany. | sup
pose we will start tomorrow or in a
few days. 1t will be wonderful ex-
perience. 1t will also mean that !
will soon be home, but | don't know
how soon. We will, | think, take
charge of one of the large forts that
the Germans have been boasting of
for years. 1t is wonderful to think of
taking such strongholds from the
once great" German army, which is
now helpless and asking the world
for mercy. | wish | could tell you all
IIldJ i "OuIu llhG W but IiC SSiioOl
prohibits.
We are going to Germany to show
those child murdcrers what men are.
They will take notice to civilization
and learn that "a man is not a saw
age and that it's the good in him that
counts"
We have moved back from the lines
and are living in small shantics that
were built by the Germans 1t is not
anything like home but is as comfor-
table as circumstances allow. We are
| and have been since going into action
ready to move at minutes notice.
The weather has changed since we
ceased firing. While heavy shelling
was going on it rained some every day
and night. The sun seldom came out
and the chilly nights certainly made it
miserable. 1t is just the opposite
now. We have bright sunshine days
and clear moonlight nights. It hasn't
rained since the eleventh. 1t is turn
ing rather cold, but the dryness of the
air makes the weather agreeable.
As Thursday is Thanksgiving day
| would certainly like to be at home.
| might possibly be home by Christ
mas. IF | am not it is sure thing
that | will be home sometime and this
sometime won't be long.
| am feeling fine. | am more con-
tented now than any time since the
war started. | hope you are the
same. | hope you enjoy reading this
letter and realize that | thought OF
you especially on this day. Give man.
ma my love and best wishes. Hoping
that | can do as much for you in the
future as you have done for me in the
past, am your loving son,
Private James Henry Downey,
341st f. A.--Battcry B. A. f. f.