This is it: the last piece of Robert's writing during this amazing period of his life. Continue reading...
Jane Turner West
Letter to Mother
"It is a part of a doughboy's life to kick you know. It is our privilege to kick. I have seen men after going twenty-five miles in the dark curse the Army and swear that they will go only to the next town and absolutely quit. But they don't quit they go right on and continue to curse our good army and the men that are in it." Continue reading...
Letter to Mother
"[A]t last I am on the sea and Chaplain Edwards said this morning that this was our last Sunday in France, and I am weeping no tears unless they be of joy." Continue reading...
Letter to Mother
"It seems I told you a little too soon that you should stop writing to me, for I have received no mail for a week, but I’ll leave France soon so I did not miss it far. However I will be lonesome without any mail." Continue Reading...
Letter to Mother
"Betting about camp favors two to one that we will sail before Apr. 10th, but I’d never bet on anything cause orders can be changed too easily. We moved yesterday from the tents at the Rifle Range into barracks and I hear that we are due for another move in a few days to another part of camp." Continue Reading...
Letter to Mother
"Well there is no news today but the sun is shining and I feel more like my self. Just think in 1918 there were only 33 days of no rain out of 365 and they call it 'sunny France.'" Continue Reading...
Letter to Mother
"The papers say that the divisions will go home in the order that they came over. That means that we will go home sixth." Continue reading...
Letter to Mother
"I wrote you a long time ago that I got your box from Scotland. It was awfully good of you Mother dear to think of me like that. I nearly cried." Continue reading...
Letter to Mother
"The Frogs tell us “le guerre par finish” which means the war is not over." Continue reading...
Letter to Mother
"We have men in this company from every trade and walk of life, but the men from the smooth part of Texas are the biggest liars in the outfit, moon shiners and coal miners included." Continue reading...
MN Doughboy 1918 