May 17 – 1918

Dear Mother Father Bros & Sisters
Well mama here I am again. It is about 7 PM now and I have just came from the front line and at 9:30 must go back on gaurd until 2:30 if things hold out I will try to write this letter. I received your two letters of April - 10 - 25 also two letters from Alice and Florence. a letter from Aunt Florence and a few others from different people. From your letters there seems to be a great deal of things taking place in K.C. and at home. I am happy to hear you are all keeping well and hope the spirit is the same. Mama it seems the longer this war goes on the heavier the bearing comes onto the folks at home. But when you
 

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come to think about it, if it was not for the suport of the people at home, the longer the war would last. say there is one thing certain the Anderson family is there with the man-power, ha! I was surprised that Willie joined the marines, but no doubt he would have been drafted soon. This is a good branch of the service, but it would have been better if he could have stayed at home to help ends come to a good meeting. Did he enlist for the duration of war? Well I hope so, as for myself when the war is over; I want to be over – yes over there in the states with everything but a war to think about. Well I hope that you and papa are not work – your heads off and worrying about tomorrow as you know you always did. The U.S. always
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find that a little recruation and sport is always good for the soldiers and makes them better fit. so I call you and papa soldiers and hope you get out and have your recruation and sport along with the troubles and worries. Everything is about the same with me. the sun has been shinning now for a few days for the first time in a long while. The ground has dried up considerable, also my face has turned considerably tan. Henry Allen White from Kansas was here a while back and spoke about Red Cross work. He has charge of all the Red Cross work in the A.E.F. which is a pretty big job. All the American prisionor in Germany are looked after by the Red Cross. There is still little fighting on this front. only at times and it is not heavy. I guess everybody knows by this time
 

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about where our Div is located from the way the newspapers advertise. This is a pretty part of the country now, everything is green and the French farmers are out in the fields planting potatoes etc. you would laugh at some of the impliments and things they use. The old cow has to get out and work the same as the horse and at night they milk her so that's getting farming down to fine points. The country is rather laid out with long slowing hills, and is a pretty sight to stand on the top of a hill and look for miles, around down in the valleys and can see away into Germany. The French people do not live on the farms, but stay in the villages
 

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and go in and out to their work. when the people are not working on their farms they are busy all day skinning the bark from small switches that are used to make baskets etc. I do not see why they live here because these town could be blown off the map if the Germans took a notion to do so. Our bunch is still busy taking up ammn. but are not as busy now as we were a while back. I see Lee Peterson and some of the other fellows quite often and they are getting along well. Lee is a corporal now. Tommorrow is inspection day everything must be cleaned up and in order for inspection so tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I have not seen Geo Jr. yet and the chances are I may never see him because he may
 

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be in one in of France and me in the other. but I would like to get a letter from him. If you will send me his address I will drop him a letter. Mama send Willies address in your next letter so we will be able to write each other and if he should come to France I know I will make every effort to see him. Well I will close for this time, tell Dan and Edith not to grow so much so I will know them when I get back.

With love many times
George

in a hurry
P.S. Will send my picture (too – sweet)

Lt Cahagn