France
Aug. 19, 1918
Dear Mother –
I haven’t heard from you in over three weeks but hope to soon. We are going so fast that the mail can’t catch up to us. Fritzie is certainly having their troubles now. I saw nearly a whole battery of the coast artillery from Danbury day before yesterday. Amongst them are (Chisel) Smith, (Spider) Walsh, Jack Marsh and fellows by the name of Boughey, Carroll, Gustafson, the last named used to work on Durgy’s grocery wagon. They told me that Herbert Durgy and Arthur Kelly and a lad by the name of Knox are also in the same battery but did not see them. If I get another chance, I’ll try and see more of them. Chisel Smith gave me a Danbury Evening News, dated July20, 1918. The first one I have seen since leaving the States. I don’t know where the papers you said you sent me. It seems more interesting the last few days over here by meeting so many fellows from my home town. There are about ten Ansonia lads in this regiment, and the other day I saw two more from another outfit. We get all the newspapers together that are sent to us and sit around in a circle in Indian fashion and talk about the different experiences we have had in France, etc. Just like your sewing circle do. Today the Sun Tobacco Fund gave us a package of cigarettes and matches, and they were certainly appreciated, the first ready made cigarettes we have had in over two weeks. The government issues us Bull Durham about twice a week and nearly everybody has learned to roll his own. When we are out of the line we can most always buy one or two packs of cigarettes at a time and the Y.M.C.A. man comes up occasionally with cigarettes for us to buy, not where there in much fighting to be done. The Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross certainly (treats) us the boys good over here. Frank Rowley has been away on baggage detail for about two weeks but is back in the infantry again. We have another fellow in the company by the name of Woods. He lived on Triangle Street. I think Uncle John knows him. Fritzie retreated so fast from where we are now that he left nearly all his stores and supplies behind him. I am not collecting any souvenirs yet because I have enough to carry without. Here is a souvenir, a couple of eye glasses that goes in Fritzie’s gas mask. Did you get the pictures I sent to you of myself? I sent Mayme one also. You can do what you please with the rest. I wrote Mayme and Aunt Jane yesterday. I suppose they won’t get their letters until you get this one. Well, I guess this will be all for this time. Best regards. How is Father? I remain,
Your Son
