2-52 Transcribed by Steven Thomas Howell. [Notes in brackets]

1-27-27-18-10-5

A Glorious day. Went up and
saw the boys who just come in. Elmer 
Close, Clarence Minard, “Stub” Clark, 
Fred Tierney, McGuire. Seemed to 
be feeling fine but a bit lonesome. 
Left them feeling better and got 
back to Btry [abbreviation for “battery,” which indicates the author was an artilleryman] just in time to pack. 
Busy day from then on. Slep [sic] 
on springs that night.

Left 9:30. Was Sgt. Guard on 
train till 5. [sergeant of the guard, I assume. Whether his rank or simply a temporary duty, I can’t be sure.] Fine trip, no trouble, 
saw several cities that had seen 
before, arrived.         10:30. waited 
till 2 nothing happened. Slept 
[illegible] in Hobo’s Hotel.

3-52 Transcribed by Steven Thomas Howell.

Up 5:30 stood around till 8 
when had breakfast. Dinner at 
1:30 with the sailors. One dandy 
dinner after fasting for two days. 
Up with them all the A.M. Have fine 
quarters and a good recreation 
room also a "Y." Good view of 
the harbor. Saw fishing scooners [sic] 
unloading. One large freighter 
unloading, one scout + a large 
loaded freighter being nosed 
into the slip. All the boys 
feeling fair but a bit uneasy 
till they had dinner. Oh a 
full stomach is such a comforting 
thing.    Up and visited the sailor 
boys again in P.M. Had one 
fine time too.   Early in evening 
our boat was nosed into our

4-52 Transcribed by Steven Thomas Howell. [Notes in brackets]

slip and we proceeded to 
load on almost at once. 
Loaded on Bags and [illegible]. We 
all went to bed in a hammock. 

Up at 6:15 at sea out of 
sight of land headed due E. 
Had a burn breakfast and no 
dinner at all. Supper at 4:30 
and good too for an empty stomach. 
1 tea, cheese, bread, butter and apricots. 
Boat pitched a bit with a head 
wind. Had boat drill just 
at evening.

Up at 7:15. Breakfast at 
8 out on stern deck till 11. 
Saw several fishing scooners [sic] 
and smacks, one whale giving 
himself a shower bath.

5-52 Transcribed by Steven Thomas Howell. [Notes in brackets]

A beautiful morning this was. Kelly 
and I out when we saw the 
whale. Gun crew drilling on 
gun. No wind. Sea just as 
smooth as a floor. Just at 
noon saw two more whales. 
approaching land headed due 
W. Just picked up pilot. 
At 2 PM dropped anchor 
along side of I [capital “I” with a dot over it] transport. 
Seems queer to lie in a 
harbor half a mile of 
shore and still have to 
wear life belts. We can 
damn the Huns for 
all this. — A fine 
dinner today, 1 potato, mutton 
and peas, bread, butter. 
Visited by several tugs. Lay

6-52 Transcribed by Steven Thomas Howell. [Notes in brackets]

at anchor all P.M. The evg [evening] 
band gave us a good concert. 
Gained an hour in time 
somewhere or else my watch 
miss a cog. To bed at 10P.M.

Up at 6:15. Breakfast and 
out on top to see what we 
could. Still at anchor. Saw 
0  transports drop anchor 
at our stern. Rained a 
bit during A.M. Our Btry 
stood muster at 10 A.M. That 
grand and noble experience 
of answering “here” to your 
name once every month.

8-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

                      B-C-             [top corner] 1918

     Up at 6:15 breakfast and
out on deck.  Still at anchor 
and bay as still as a pond
with a heavy fog.  Band
concert and about (cy=) left 
raised anchor and all the
transports lined out through 
the narrows fast (note)
and got out of the harbor
meanwhile we stood inspection of [illegible]
about an hour later.  Dinner
many of the boys had rusty guns
and a shave and now I 
am going out on deck, overcoat
and lifebelt to see what is 
going on.  Nothing doing till
2 PM when we had boat
drill.  Whistles going

9-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

all the time as we are 
in a heavy fog.  Boats
signaling back and forth.
Corp. Myers sick.  Tuttle
Gale + Turner [?] almost.
Several feeling like it.
Calm sea – heavy swell.

Sunday – Up at usual 
time.  Kelly and Lyon went to
mass.  No protestant service.
Up on deck, still in heavy 
fog and whistle still blowing.
At noon heavy electrical storm.
Rain cleared fog away only
one boat in sight dead ahead 
sailing due South.  An hour
later we ran into a heavy fog
with quite a wind blowing
from our port side.  Heavy

10-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

sea rolling and white caps.
Ship heaving quite a bit.  Several
sick boys and they don’t care 
whether school keeps or not.

   Monday   up at usual time.
Feed is better.  Two cooks
arrested for selling Q.M. food
and no more sandwiches can 
be bought.  Still in heavy fog.
boats all around us.  Boys had
privilege of buying a little 
tobacco and cigarettes this
evening.  They act liked a
bunch of wolves over a few
packets of tobacco.  Greatly
hurt if they cant have as 
many as they want just 
when they wish.  Never got
in such a mess in all
my life.  I am badly bent

11-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

but not broken so did not
try to get anything.  Had boat
drill every man being inside
and it took about 1 min.
to get all men to their
stations.  Right after roll
call there we had S.A.
inspection.  Band concert in
evg.  Tuttle, Blummers [?], Russell
and I played 500.

Tuesday.  Up at usual
time.  Mess is rotten.  At
times good but not enough
at others. I wouldn’t give 
it to a dog that I would
trick.  Had a snooze on
deck and awoke at 0 just
in time to see the fog

12-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

raise and all out transports
with C cruisers in sight.
Getting warmer right along.
Played cards in deck till
[illegible] oclock.  When we came
Below deck it was stifling
hot.

Wed.  Up at usual time.
Have a very bad head 
ache.   ‘Tisn’t cigarettes for
I cut them in -----.  Just
plain hungry and conditions
I guess.  Lovely day on 
deck till [illegible] when it gets
decidedly colder.  Tuttle and
I together all day.
Inspection of rifles at
cgoy.  Saw several small
things that could both
 

13-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

swim and fly day before
yesterday.  Today saw 
several fish that would
swim along our side and
every now and then jump
out of the water in long, 
graceful curves.  Said to be
porpoise.  Boats signaling
back and forth all PM.
Suffer  ing -awful head ache
yet.  No sea sickness as yet 
in my part.  Voyage so far
just grand except for the fog.
Bed early, fierce head ache, chills
aches + pains, heavy fever at
10pm.
 

14-52 Transcribed by David Entreken.

Thursday – Up at usual
time.  Felt lot better.  Ate no
breakfast as it was stew.  
Went to Sec B and got put
on sick report. (The 2nd 
time since I have been in 
the service). Went to hospital
got salts, aspirin and
some other dope.  Feel fine
at this writing.  Had a 
fine snooze on after [?] deck
Saw a school of jumping 
fish in PM.  Entered war
zone today.  Report 13 vessels
lost off American coast.
Band concert, boxing & wrestling.

15-52

16-52

17-52

18-52

19-52

20-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Thursday
Began march at once and
went to depot at Knotch Ash [Oak?]
on London + North Western.
Passed through Broad Green
for Long City. Train was good but
old, good speed, beautiful 
country. No grade crossings
saw peat bed, passed
Collins Green [illegible]
beautiful factories.  Passed
Earlstown jct.  Hedge and
Board fences, very few wire.
Fields small. Lots potato + grain, many
cattle grazing (Ackton Bridge)
(Hartford) [illegible] (Wolverhampton)
Saw [illegible] camp outside (Oxford)

21-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 German prison camp (Winchester)
Got out with packs and marched
Up hill 3 miles to Camp Morn Hill.
Arrived at 8 pm had our first
good wash and ate supper at
11 oclock.  Turned in.
Friday-Camp on a side hill.  Up at
7am Lay ground all day. Met 
boys who had been transferred to 
San Antonio (Westmiller among
them).  Canteens robed us of our
$.  Prices awful.  People stingy 
and disrespectful.  Had good
sleep in PM.  Rain in evg. Went
to Y.M. [?] and turned in after
getting our rations for next 
day.

22-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 Sat. Up at 545 Inspection
With full pack at 8.  Lay around
Till cq [?] where we marched back
to Winchester + took train for 
SouthHampton.  Lay around all PM
and left for Havre arrived
early next AM.  Saw two boats
in dry dock.  Largest dry 
dock I ever saw.

Sun. Left boat and marched
5 miles up to camp above Havre.
People fine Women pretty and 
could buy things without being
robed. Large bar chocolate 50 cents.
Camp in tents 12 to a tent. Good dinner and

23-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

fine supper. Slept in PM and turned
in early.  Foot inspection in evg.
Camp is subject to air raids.

Mon.  Good breakfast. Had a good
bath and am feeling fine. Houses
around camp queer.  Sounds funny
to hear natives talk and gesture to
one another.  Everyone in fine spirits.
Canteen and “Y” doing a big biz.
Open only short time in am + pm.
Left at a<4 PM for depot a
distance of [illegible] mile.  Got on
Train and about coyg PM left
for __________.

24-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Tues.  On train all day.  NCO
together and feeling fine.  All
are asleep and I am going.
Had four good meals on train 
and hot coffee twice.  Saw
many interesting things, among
them the many crucifix along the
roads.  Many extra large and
beautiful stone buildings.

Fri.  Landed.  Camp about 5 miles
away from Vannes .  Made up
of one story wooden buildings.
accommodations good.  Filled our
bed sacks with straw and Oh so
good it did feel.  Camp still

25-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

under construction.  French
soldiers doing guard over a 
great many German prisoners.
Work seems to be done by
prisoners.  Mess Sgt Walker
sure knows how to get good grub.
Food is great am feeling much
better just behind my naval.
Been drilling.  Have a field
of about ¾ acre to drill whole
Btry.  Drilling in platoons, very
interesting and men are
working like mad.  All in
extra good spirits.  See two little
girls each day, about 5 + 7 yrs.
Look about 12 or 18 in the face.
All wear wooden shoes.  People
back home would die if they were
compeled to wear wooden shoes.

26-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Old women come down to a
little brook and do their washing 
each day.  People here have queer
methods.  307th band woke us
up this am.  Sounds good. Good night [heavily underlined]

Monday.  Everything running in fine ship
shape manner.  Drilled Sat am.
Issued gas masks + had examination
of same Sun. am.  Got pass and went
to Lannes at  noon.  Queer streets, nice
park.  Got two good meals.  Not very 
nice city from what I saw.  Am going
some week day when it will be nicer.
Wine and beer runs freely but is expensive.
Arrived back in Camp des Mencon to
find Powell, Kane + Pierce back with
us. Powell in with Jenkins + I.  Also find
I was on for Sgt of guard for
Today.  First guard Battery F

27-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

puts on here.  Guess we did ok by
all criticism. Been cold here today
trying to rain just at evening. [illegible]

Sat, the 29th   Been busy all 
the week.  Drilling, attending telephone
school, and bothering Powell.  Happy
bunch.  Recd two letters from home
Wed and two Friday.  Feel fine.
Got four horses today. The first 
of our quota & they are beauties.
Tuttle on pass to Lannes
this PM.  Great feed these days

July 8th Monday.  Been busy.  Out
on the range digging. Friday and 
Sat out [illegible] acted as telephone
operator at B.C.  My first experience
to drill with the 4th.  Many visitors
and French soldiers in to see parade.  Received
letter from Florence she had received my

28-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

card of arriving safely overseas.
Good war today.

Sunday July 14.  French Independence Day.
      Up at 5 am.  A detail of 
4 Sgts, 5 Corps. and 15 pvts. were
sent to Vannes at 6:20 am in trucks.
We marched there and passed in review.
Had dinner with 116th Infantry
who were stationed there at that time.
Had a very fine feed and passed
the afternoon watching games.
Moral and discipline of the French
soldier is excellent, and they sure
know how to use a fellow well.
Left about 5pm in trucks and
returned.  Only one bad feature.
It rained like the very devil
all the time we were on review.

29-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

July 19.  School each day.
Work, Work, Work ____ Good
mail from home so far this
week.  Good news. Lots of
wet weather for a week.
Out on range.  Detail did
good work.  Gas mask
drill from 10 to 11 PM.
Walked about 3 miles.
Got paid in French 
money.  Two months in one.
July 21st  Rain all the
week. Out for stable call
this am.  Went to farm, watered
and cleaned horses and then
Lt. Whittingham took us
into the field and gave
us riding lessons.  After

30-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

dinner about a dozen of 
us went out for a 24 hr.
drive with the Lt.  Had
a very nice ride.  It was
great.
Aug 4. Back yesterday
from a 32 hour hike.  Rained
like the Devil for 10 hr
of it.  Wet through.
Worked hard in stables
all day today and
have an early start
for another hike of a
days duration in 
the morning.  Were
assigned horses last evg and
I have a pretty beast.
Hope she shows up well
on the road.
(Proved to be No [illegible]

31-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 8/21/4:40/18
   On our way again.  Loaded
all our equipment.  Was again on
guard at depot.  Worked hard and
nearly had a sun stroke.  Heat is
terrific.  Animals are just dripping 
with sweat.  Sgt Olmstead, Powell +
myself in a cow pasture by ourselves.
Left without any supper.
Nantes [?], Angers, Tours, Blois, 
Orleans , [All are French cities moving West along a river]
Sept 1st
  Again a great change in 
every carns [?].  Hope it is for the
best.____ Never can tell.
Had one beautiful trip 
going in.  Passed into Taul [?]
sector at night.  Beautiful
position.

32-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

There few days, witnessed
a few air raids, bombing
exhibitions by the Huns ,
air fights and on big darned
big rain.  Was
recommended by the Col. 
to attend next artillery
school at [illegible] and
left at once.  Four of us
from the Rgt.  Sgts from
Hdq. Co Btry. [illegible] C. D + myself
From T:    Sorry to have
to leave the Btry & the boys
just on the beginning of
our first chance to help
out in this cursed war  but
orders are orders.  No alternate.
“A good soldier is one who
obeys and does not question
his superior’s Orders.”

33-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

On way here. stopped for a
whole day (because we
missed our train) in Paris.
Saw many things I never
expected to.  Rode around
on the Ferris Wheel.  Saw
Eiffel Tower, also big 285
mm gun the English captured
from the Hun. July 5th 1918.
It sure was a monster
mounted on rail road trucks
5 trucks on either end.

“September Morn”.
    Tis Sunday and oh
for just a few minutes
among some of the home
people.  It sure would
be great.

34-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 Sgt. Howe and I went
through a beautiful castle.
It was great.
To-day is the beginning
of three long months of
hard, hard study.  Joe
has studied hard and 
worked hard before and
he is going to try hard 
to make good again
for several reasons.
-- -- -- -- Guess
I won’t name them.
  There are many Regular
Army men + N. Y.[?] men
in with us.  But they
will find the N.G. [or N.C.?] men
are good sports and 
we will give them a
run for their money.
Am writing on the
window sill.  Lights out.
                    Good night.

35-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Well here I am in a Real
Artillery School.  Have had a
week of it and like it great.
Feel that I can make good
and am going to give it a
run for its money.  Worth trying.
Saumur  is a pretty place. [City in Western France]
Has a famous castle where
Richard the Lion Hearted was
imprisoned and killed , his body 
lies at an entrance to one of the
underground passages. (14k away at Fontevrault) Four
pretty churches and many beautiful
Women._____________
We are very comfortably quartered
and have good eats.
Saumur is the home of the 
Great French Rideing School
and many worthy noted beings

36-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

have gotten some of their
training here.  The buildings are
famous + old.  The Rideing
Halls are just grand.
Words cant express their
Magnitude + beauty.
Large enough for the famous
Tilting Matches that we
read about. [medieval sport]
   Three of us are in a small
room by ourselves + we have
it just great.  Am wondering
how the boys at the front are
just now for it is raining like
the very Devil and when it
rains up there it is “HELL ”
with Capital letters.

(My cootie won a race on a 
ten franc note.  Guess who has
the note_____________

37-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Sept 15 – Have met Knowlton
Evens and Russel Wardwell.
Took dinner with Wardwell
at a hotel just for the fun
we could have. Cost us 15 f.
Big Review today.  Sec. Baker 
was supposed to decorate
a guy with the D.S.O.
but didn’t show up. Oh it
was some review.  Like a 
passel of  rookies.  Big test
in BC Sat.  Am wondering
how it worked.  Will find
out tomorrow.

38-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

                           Nov 24th  

Sunday – School is finis 
for me.  Finished yesterday
noon.  Now the --finis –
All kinds of rumors afloat
as to whether we will be
commissioned or not.  I believe
we will but it looks 
very doubtful.  Reports that we
will be sent back to our outfits
If we are, hell will be out 
for noon -------  I pity the
organization if we are sent
together which is also the 
rumor.  To make a long
story short we are “S.O.L”
and in bad too - Goodnight

39-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

                              Thanksgiving

This is the most disagreeable
of all – Just because we are
American + have helped we
are no account now that
the job is done -
Menu--------
	For Breakfast
	Bread
	Butter
	Cold coffee (2).
	Corn meal (cold)

	Dinner
	5 half potatoes boiled
	Burnt something
	1 pt. turnips boiled
	Bread.
          (for 8 men)

40-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 	Supper
	Bread
	Coffee
	Beef
	Beans (that would bound on
a plate when dropped)

If any person would offer
to a tramp the stuff we got
today, he should be tared &
feathered and rode from town
on a rail----------

One redeaming feature however
in the days doing – our housekeeper
brought us a beautiful
Chrysanthemum plant with
Three blossoms + one bud.
She is a dear old lady +
really appreciates what we do for
her__  this is what she writes

41-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

on a card attached to the flowers:
 “Offert par Madame
Viennes a Mossieurs les
Americans de la Barrafnl [sp?]
10 en l’houneur de leur
Fete – “. 

   Rained hard all day.
One damn gloomy forlorn
lonesome day and only 
think it is Thanksgiving.
A year ago I was home.
Such is life -----.

42-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

 Saturday Nov 30 – Orders came to
report  to Replacement camp at
Le Courneau.  I packed, was paid + 
left before dinner left station at 1pm
for Bordeaux___  Arrived in Niort
at 7pm.  Got a room in a ______
Hasta.  Some place.  Had one
hell of a time, saw the time and
something else. Next morning
left for Saintes.  Saw horses
pulling cars from one track to
another.  Some methoid.
Had a real dinner in a real 
Café in Saintes.  It was in a 
small room.  One fine feed. Saw
ancient Cathedral built in 1562.

43-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Holding funeral for noted man. Find 
Few people who can speak English.
People are very good to us.  Went to
movie in a strange place.  Went
away up in the garret in a small
box.  Great spot. Left at 4.30 pm.
Arr. Bordeaux at 10.30 pm. MP
wont let us out so we sleet on
Hotel de Cement floor.  Left at 6.30
for Le Corneau via La Teste.
Arr. about 10am + found one awful
camp there.  Just simply disgusted
with everything in general.  Country is
level, covered by fir trees.  Sandy, black
and dirty.  Walked out to French
Aviation Camp about 5k south
of here.

44-52 Transcribed by David Entreken

Dec 15 – Walked to sea coast about
12 k from here.  Fine time.
Are now assigned special duty with 
A btry of rough necks that need a 
bayonet run through them.
Only there few days when they leave
camp as our valuable services are
no longer needed.   Finis.

47-52 Transcribed by Vicki Entreken

“Pull in your ears. The Government is looking for mules.
“Tankward Bound”
“Buttuck Exercise”
“Third Lieutenant”
Imediately after a lecture on
Topography “I’m going to buy
a gun and inject that stuff
into my system.”
‘Don’t you go and pull any bogus
moves around me.’
Just you all look me over
carefully, then let conscience
Be your guide.
He is so cross-eyed that
Where he cries his tears
will run down his back
 

48-52 Transcribed by Vicki Entreken

Saw [illegible] Oh shit?
Said Kelly. Yes, you will probably
lay there till it piles up around
your heart + dies.

49-52

50-52

51-52

52-52