Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6"x 8"
Writes that it was a particularly hard day of drilling, no mail has arrived since Saturday, he plans on attending a basketball game, he has issued a rifle (which Hawley sees as a sign that his company will soon be headed to France), and requests that his mother send him $10 so that he may purchase a train ticket home, if he can get furlough before he is shipped out.
1918-03-19
Camp Upton
March 19, 1918
Dear Mother –
Haven’t received any mail since last Saturday but expect to get some tomorrow. I like this place except for the Jews and there are a lot of them here. They feed us better down here than they did at Camp Devins. Most of the lads that came down together are all split up now. All I know in my company is a couple, but I should worry I can get along alright. I went to a basketball game last night and it certainly was a corker. They play in the Y. M. C. A. which is certainly a credit to the camp. They have one about every half mile in the camp. We certainly had to drill hard today. We received our rifles today and they are heavy to handle. They are hurrying it along so that I wouldn’t be surprised if we got orders to pack up to go across. They are issuing us everything we need to go across with so that we won’t know when we are going to go. Don’t worry about it. I’ll try to get home in a week or so.
By the way, send me ten ($10) dollars. I want enough to go home on if I get a chance, so send it soon.
Well, I am going to get my hair cut, so will say so long for this time.
Your Son,
Co. “B”, 307 Infantry
Camp Upton
Long Island, New York
P.S. Send the money by money order through the mail.
George
Letter to Mary. A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
Writes that though he won't make it home but he'd still like a $10 money order because he feels they will be leaving soon and would like to have some money when he gets to France; also informs Mother that the regiment had a group picture taken, how much rifle training they have been doing, wants to get a personal photograph in uniform if he can find the time, and cautions that they may not hear from him for a month.
1918-03-28
Camp Upton
March 28, 1918
Dear Mother –
Received your letter, and about the five dollars, you can fix it up any way you want to and send me $10 dollars more by money order because we are going to move from here the first of next week, so send it right away, and I don’t know when they will pay me so I will go prepared. By the way, send it registered mail so if I go before it gets here so if I go before it gets here they will forward it to me. We have got everything ready to go even a tent to sleep in. That is what we have been doing this afternoon, pitching tents. I think we are going Monday, but they won’t give any of us any time off on account of so many of them stay over their time. Our whole regiment had their picture taken last Tuesday and that is a very good sign of going. There are a lot of visitors here today getting a last look at the boys before they go. We spent three days on the range, and we made pretty good scores, but it is pretty tiresome work. We had a new Gillette safety razor issued to us today and they don’t give them to us until we are ready to go. I’ll try and have my picture taken in uniform before I go if I can find time in daylight. We have had to drill or do something until almost dark, and then give us lectures after supper, so you see we don’t have much time to do anything. Well, you can expect to not hear from me anytime for almost a month, but don’t worry. The Catholic boys are all going to confession tonight. Father Walsh spoke in our mess hall while we were eating and told them to come up to the Knights of Columbus auditorium to confession before they go. Well, it is nearly time to retire, so will say “Goodbye” for this time
Your Son
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
Writes to say that he received the money order he'd asked for, is still certain he will be shipping out anytime, that he sent receipt for his copy of the regiment photograph, he had a pass but could not make the necessary connections to get home so he went to New York City instead, and that marching all day with a forty pound pack certainly makes him tired. He also mentions that the Knights of Columbus buildings caught fire and burnt to the ground the previous Thursday.
1918-04-03
Camp Upton
April 03, 1918
Dear Mother –
Received your letter and the money order, also the bags you sent. Well, I am still here yet, but might go out tonight for all I know. I am pretty certain it will be soon anyway. We made out cards to whom they will notify in case of serious illness or death, and I put your name as Mary. I wasn’t certain if it was that or Anna. Also put Mary down when I took out the $10,000 insurance and when I made out my allotment sheet. I’m sending you a receipt for the picture of the regiment we had taken the other day. All of these lads will go over when I go. I am about seventh or eighth row from the front and about between the thirteenth or fourteenth officers in the front row from the left of the picture. All you can see of me is my head. The picture cost me $1.25, so if they don’t send it to you within a couple of weeks, write to them. I had a twelve hour pass last Sunday and tried to get home, but couldn’t make connections, so I went to New York. I didn’t expect to get the pass, but I guess I am so good, they gave it to me. I was lucky to get so long a pass a week ago last Sunday that I didn’t ask them for any longer one. I had to get up at 1 A. M. last Thursday because of a fire a short way from our barracks. The Knights of Columbus club rooms burnt to the ground. Yesterday and today we had to carry packs on our backs that weighed about forty pounds on our backs all afternoon. It certainly makes a fellow sleep well. My ear started to run a little. I don’t know whether it is from a cold or from being on the rifle range, but the doctor is taking care of it. I am going to take both safety razors with me unless they won’t let me. Regards to everybody.
Your Son
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
Writes that though he is still at camp, this may be his last letter for a while,. He has not found time to get a picture taken nor write to more relatives. He wants his mother to take a trip to his base to see how he lives, and states that he had to go to the infirmary to get his ear checked.
1918-04-05
Camp Upton
April 5, 1918
Dear Mother –
Well, I am still here. This will probably be the last letter for a while. I haven’t a chance to get my picture taken. There hasn’t been a fellow around with a camera in three or four weeks but will try and have it taken in Europe when I get there. We have a lot of new rookies that came in this last draft down here now. You ought to have taken a trip down here. You would have had enough to see and keep you busy for a couple of days. If you ever get a chance to go to a camp, why take it in for instance on a Sunday. They won’t be drilling then, but you can see how they live and get fat. I suppose Father is working every day. I sent Mayme a letter last night. I owe Aunt Vinnie a letter or a card, but she will have to wait a while just like the rest. I have been up to the infirmary to fix up my ear. It has been discharging lately but is about alright now. The infirmary is where they take the soldiers without sending them to the hospital. There is a doctor there most of the time. There are lines on this side of the paper and none on the other. Ink must be getting scarce. This is all I can think of, so will say “Goodbye”. Regards to everybody.
Your Son
Letter to Mary (E. Hawley) Fairchild
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
He writes that the mail must be delayed since he has not received any letters and of the great distances he has traveled since joining the army. While France is nice, he still prefers the U.S.A., Only in the major cities are there trolley cars and the trains run once a week. Most of the land he has seen is cultivated for agriculture, He did not get to contact his uncle in France, and he complains of the constant rain and a possible cold but is happy to note that the Y.M.C.A. provides them with entertainment and church, while the Red Cross provides tobacco and coffee. He also states that though he may not be able to write often he hopes that his family will.
1918-05-05
Somewhere in France
May 5, 1918
Dear Sister –
Haven’t received a letter from you in quite some time. The mail is probably held up somewhere but expect to receive some in a few days. Well, I have certainly traveled some since I have been in the army. Will never be able to stop when I get back. France is quite a country, but give me the good old USA to live in. The trolley cars only run in the principal cities and the trains run once a week or so, but the scenery is certainly wonderful. Most of the land is cultivated and very few forests as far as I’ve seen. The chief occupation seems to be agriculture. Tell Grandma I didn’t get a chance to call on Uncle Jim when I was there but will try and call on him on my return or if I get a furlough, I’ll try and spend a few days with them.
My address: Private George B. Hawley
Co. B, 307th Infantry
American Expeditionary Force
Via New York % B. E. F.
It has rained nearly every day since I have been here, which makes it rather muddy. I also contracted a slight cold but will get over that alright. The Y. M. C. A. furnishes us with quite a bit of entertainment, such as music shows, lectures and a place to hang out. The Red Cross gives us tobacco and when we travel they are generally at the stations we stop at with coffee. We have church services in the Y. M.C. A. and I went the last two Sundays, getting good all of a sudden.
We don’t get much time to write and conditions are so when we do get time the places are always filled up, and when we do get a chance it is nearly time to go to bed, so if you don’t here from me, keep on writing because there isn’t anything we would rather get than a letter from home. This is all I have to say for this time, so give my regards to everybody. By the way, I sent Mother a letter about three or four days ago. Has she caught any trout yet?
George
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
Writes that he hopes his mother will keep writing to him. He is getting closer to the front as he can hear shells now and has already acclimated to the point where he can sleep through bombings. He is excited to get to the line for his "shot at fritzie" and notes the British like to watch them play baseball, which they do every day. His regiment's band gave a concert the previous night. He is sending handkerchiefs as souvenirs for his mother and sister.
1918-05-23
Somewhere in France
May 23, 1918
Dear Mother –
I suppose you have answered my other letters I sent you and hope you will write often even if I do slip up. I may not have time to write as often as I would like.
Well, we are up where the shells are dropping a little ways from us. Once in a while we have some going over our heads, and nearly every night aeroplanes drop bombs near our place where we are camped out, but we get used to it and I sleep through it about all of the time. We are attached to a British division but will get back in our own division soon. We expect to go in the line very soon, which most of us will be very glad when we get a shot at Fritzie. We play ball nearly every afternoon and the British soldiers do like to see us play. Last night our regiment band gave us a concert and the boys nearly went wild when they started playing ragtime. My address is:
Private George B. Hawley
Co. B, 307th Infantry
American Expeditionary Force
Via New York % B. E. F
By the way, did you get the two handkerchiefs I sent you for souvenirs. Well, here is another for Mayme. Those stamps you sent me are no good to me now, so am sending them back. I received a letter from Aunt Bess sent to me at Camp Upton April 16, 1918. Tell her I’ll answer it soon. How is Father? Hoping to see you soon.
Your Son
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs. 6" x 8", partial envelope
Hawley writes: of a baseball game played last night was so engrossing the teams didn't notice much of the air battle going on overhead. He states that baseball is their chief diversion when they have the time; that they have still not been shipped out to the front but still get bombed by the Germans. He thinks he is going to the rifle range tomorrow to learn how to fire grenades. He met someone in his platoon who is from Danbury and is acquainted with the Hawley family. Hawley also instructs his mother on how to send him care packages, inquires as to whether his family have received the souvenirs he has sent yet and asks for a description of the memorial day parade in Danbury.
1918-05-30
France
May 30, 1918
Memorial Day
Dear Mother –
Haven’t received a letter from you since April 8th but expect one soon. I suppose there was a very large parade there today. Write and tell me all about it. Last night we had a ball game which lasted until 9 o’clock and while we were playing, there was an aeroplane battle over us, but we were so busy we didn’t notice it much. Today, we played the non-commissioned officers of our platoon and defeated them by a score of ten to four. Baseball is the chief sport when we have leisure which are very seldom. Today the Germans shelled our vicinity more than any time since I have been here. We haven’t been in the line yet but expect to be very soon. Tomorrow I expect to go to the rifle grenade school to get instructions in firing grenades with very high explosives in it and when it explodes it fires shrapnel which are small pieces of steel. My address is:
Private George B. Hawley
Co. B, 307th Infantry
American Expeditionary Force
Via New York % B. E. F.
I thought I was the only fellow from Danbury in this company but yesterday I heard someone talking about Danbury and I questioned him, and he said his name was Rowley, lived on Elm Street. Mayme knows his sisters. They used to work in Rogers’ Silverplate factory. They work in Warner’s Corset factory now. He is in the same platoon with me. I saw one of the Zucca boys the other day, but forgot what company he was in.
By the way, if you want to send me any cigarettes, write to this place and ask them about sending things.
Miss Virginia Fuller
18 East 48th Street
New York City
They hold meetings the first and third evenings of each month at 6 East 30th Street. It is a family unit for Company B. They look after allotments also. Send your address to them if they haven’t notified you yet. They have tried to get all the addresses of nearest relatives of the soldiers in the service. Did you receive the two handkerchiefs I sent and one for Mayme? I wrote to Aunt Vinnie the other day. Hoping this letter will find you, Father, Mayme and her children well. I have got to clean my rifle now. I did a little shooting today and want it clean for tomorrow. Best regards everybody.
George
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
2 pgs; 6 x 8"
Hawley writes: about a tent-mate who keeps everyone in good spirits; rifle training reminding him of the fourth of July; his expectations of another German bombing; how soundly he sleeps; his chat with a fellow Danbury resident; asking his parents about sending him care packages; and jokes that he wants to bring his father home a french kiss, if he can get one for him.
1918-06-01
France
June 1, 1918
Dear Mother –
I received the letter you took a chance in sending to me, dated May 7, 1918. You must have received a letter shortly after the one you sent, from me. We have a fellow that sleeps in out tent that looks and acts like Charles Hamlin. He keeps the fellows laughing most of the time. He is a rube and acts exactly the part. We expect the Germans to come over again tonight and give us some machine gun or bomb music in their aeroplanes. At rifle grenade school this afternoon we had some signals which almost reminded me of Fourth of July. I’ll be able to handle most any kind of explosives. Last night I was on guard duty and the sky at times was almost as light as day at times from the big guns, also lights in the sky which resemble stars. They are signals. When a shell bursts near us, it almost made us deaf at first, but we sleep all through it now. You know how good I could sleep when I was home. Well, I sleep just as good now, only I sleep about eight or nine hours instead of three or four, but I get tired from drilling, that is why I sleep so sound. Rowley and I had quite a talk about Danbury tonight. He knows Louis Peter. I sent you an address of Co. “B”’s family unit in my last letter. If you didn’t get it let me know. They are looking after the insurance and allotments. We expect to have another baseball game tomorrow. Did you get the handkerchiefs I sent you and Mayme? Tell Father I’ll bring him home a French kiss, if I can get one for him. Well, the bugle just sounded for lights out, so will say goodnight. Best regards.
George
Letter to Mary A. Hawley
3 leaves 6" x 8"
Hawley writes: of how lonely he feels without letters from home; that he feels he will be in the front very shortly; of his stop at the first American Y.M.C.A. he has seen since arriving in France; and that his regiment received various cans of tobacco from the Little Rock Gazette.
1918-06-19
France
June 19, 1918
Dear Mother –
Haven’t received only one letter that you sent so far, and that was the one you took a chance in sending. Our mail has been held up on account of traveling so much but expect some today or tomorrow. We just completed another two nights of hiking. We are going in the line very shortly. I wish you would try and write nearly every day as it gets very lonesome without it. We have just hit an American Y.M.C.A., the first American Y.M.C.A. since we hit France. The have a Victrola and a piano and the boys try to murder the songs. Some of the boys from New York that are in our company are sort of a Minstrel Troupe and they stir up some life when they get near a piano and they are at it now. It is almost impossible to sit still. The French soldiers and another division of United Sates troops are crowding in to listen. The other Y. M.C.A. we were in are British. You could see that from the writing paper that I sent you. The other night, U. S. troops passed us going the other way for ten miles. We were going one way and the other troops were going the other, so can imagine how many U. S. troops there are over here, and that was from only one small sector. We received a package of tobacco from Arkansas put out by the “Little Rock Gazette” sent by Mrs. Cochran, Elkins (?), Arkansas. It contained three packages of Bull Durham, one can of Lucky Strikes, one can of Tuxedo tobacco and a corn cob pipe and some pipe cleaners. I am answering the card she sent in the kit. Frank Rowley of this company told me that Charles Giegrich is dead. Did I tell you I sent Aunt Vinnie a letter the other day? I also sent Aunt Bess one. The French people are getting hay. Mostly women, boys and old men. The rest are at the front. Regards to Father, Mayme and children and everybody. My address is the same except leave of(f) the %B.E.F.
Your Son
Letter to Mary (E. Hawley) Fairchild
2 pgs. 6" x 8"
Hawley writes: about the distance he has covered; that he thinks he will reach the front soon; that the American Y.M.C.A. bemoans having not been paid in nearly two months; and asks if his sister got the handkerchief he sent for her,
1918-06-20
France
June 20, 1918
Dear Sister –
Don’t get a chance to write very often and when I do, I write to Mother most of the time. Haven’t heard from you in quite some time. Wish you would write often. I sent Mother a letter yesterday. Did you receive the handkerchief I sent to Mother for you? I wrote a letter to Aunt Bess a week or two ago. I received the letter Mother took a chance in sending. We have traveled about all over France. First, we were in the northern part and now we are in the southern. We traveled two days inside door Pullmans and hiked for about eight days to get here. Most of our traveling was done at night. We have seen about all the representatives of the allied army and also, we have seen German and Austrian prisoners. By the time you get this, we will be in the line, I think. We are in an American Y.M.C.A., the first one we saw since we were in France and last night we had an entertainment which consisted of a woman playing an Irish harp (classical music) and a Scotchman playing a violin and singing popular music also springing Scotch jokes. He is a very good entertainer. The last two days we have spent in resting but expect to move shortly. I received a kit of tobacco from Mrs. Cochran, Elkins, Arkansas set by the “Little Rock Gazette”. We are not connected with the British division anymore. We are back with our own division. My address is the same except to leave off the B.E.F. Is Ivan still in the Home Guards? How does he like it? How is Dr. Stahl? Aunt Bess wrote and told me he was seriously ill. How are you and the children? Haven’t been paid in nearly two months and am nearly broke but expect it soon. We have a fellow in our company by the name of Frank Rowley. He lives on Elm Street. You know his sisters, I think. Well, this is all I have to say for this time.
George