January 14, 1919 – Letter to Robert’s father:

Dear Dad,

Your letter of Dec. first. I was very glad to get it for you did not write the week before.

Thursday is bath day. We have a shower bath. The water is warm but the air is rather cold, so we don’t waste much time. I am just about rid of cooties now and hope to be entirely rid of them soon.

It seems funny that my letters all reach you in bunches. 

Cousin George says that if we were going to Germany we would have been sent there before this time. I hope he is right, though I would rather go there than stay here in this mud + rain. The 88th from Camp Dodge was split up to replace other divisions, and is to go home very soon. But I do not know when we will go.

I am glad that you are able to be at work again. I can realize how hard it was for you to give up so many of your customers. I hope that business will pick up. You will have more chance to pick up the smaller towns that you had to pass up before.

I had a tooth filled yesterday and am going to try to have a couple new ones put in before I get out of the army. It is sure that I will not be home before you move out to the lake.

The money that was given for the United War Work Fund has provided us with a movie show every Wednesday night. The outfit travels about from one camp to another. It is a neat outfit carried in a Dodge car. Which makes the power for the lantern. The show was very good last night.

As you say war is no picnic. When I look back at it, it seems impossible for any body to stand it.

I am glad to see that you are going to Lodge again. You better not wait until I get back if you want to take some more degrees for it will no doubt be some time before i can afford any more.

I went to the 140th church last Sunday. One of the chaplains preached a very good sermon on prayer. He lives in Mpls. I have never had the chance to talk to him but I intend to. I also went to C.E.

We only drill in the morning now from 8 to 12 then in the afternoon we have one hour for athletics, the rest of the time is ours except Reveille and Retreat. We have shows every night or so.

While I was writing this, your letter of the 29th of Dec. came and also one from Elinore. She said she just cried when the boxes and Mother’s letter came. It was very good of you, and relieved her a great deal I am sure.

When Jane’s baby was 7 mo. old he only weighed two pounds more than my boy who is four months younger. Dad I am so proud of that boy and I feel sure that you + Mother will be just as proud of him later. I realize now that I was not the kind of a son that you both prayed I would be, but you + I together should have better luck with Robt. jr. I will need your help in raising him, in the way of advice.

Well Dad I must quit + go to the show.

Love to all, Rob

Send Gilbert’s address. R.

P.S. Tell Ruth that my wife said that the baby looks like her when he laughs but tell Ruth that even if he does look like her he will get over it so she must not feel mad.

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The United War Work Fund was created in late 1918 by order of President Wilson and ultimately raised more than $200 million to provide comfort and entertainment to the soldiers and sailors overseas.

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.