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(2) 740 yard race. The prize was a leather bill fold. We had band music and the "Y" sold orange ade, candy and cookies in booths placed around the athletic field and served by "Y" women. Along with the crowd it made one feel as if he was at a county fair. In the evening we had a band. Concert and a speech by the general of our Division, "General Menoher." Mother writes that she saw you and your mother at a movie show given at M.A. for our benefit. I wrote mother the same day I wrote you and its odd that she hadn't heard from me yet. Your letter must have gone straight thru while hers went to England and
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(3) then to the states. Some of the mail I get takes a month and a half while others I get in two weeks. Well sweetheart how is my little girl getting along with her work. I'll bet your getting to be quite a saleswoman and are selling lots of music. Harold told me he wrote you yesterday, telling you what a wild and good fornothing fellow I'm getting to be. If he writes anything like that let me know and I'll fix him for it. I've been kidding him about his soft job, only one mule to take care of and he says he'll get even with me now. Dearest — I haven't heard from you for some time so write soon and let your solider boy
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(4) know if you still love him. I am feeling fine and in the best of health. Hoping you are the same and are just as lovely and beautiful as when I left you.
I remain for ever your soldier boy lover Pvt. L. J. Ashby American E. F. Co. "F" 117 Reg. Engineers via New York.
P.S. Send me one of those pictures you are having developed. One you look the best in With love and kisses Lewis
P.P.S. Some class to this stationary, eh? L.
HK Phelps 2nd Lt ERC
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Postmark: LOS ANGELES CAL. AUG 10 8 - PM 1918
Postmark: U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE. JUL 4 130 PM 1918
Pvt. L. J. Ashby Co. "F" 117 Reg. Engrs.
Miss Mildred Neher 316 Ave. 64 {lined through} Garvanza {lined through} Los Angeles, Ca {lined through} U.S.A.
Long Beach 402 East First St.
{Censor Mark to left} L.R. Paxton 2nd LT. Eng.
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June, 26, 1918 "Somewhere at the Front"
Dearest Mildred
Hello! dear. Im sending you the souvenir, that I promised you. We moved the day after I bot it and I've carried it on my pack for about a hundred miles. We have arrived at our destination and I will mail it in a few days. I'll not tell you what it is, just a little surprise.
The other night I saw a movie entitled "They're Off." It showed Exposition Park race track, grand stand, stables and the tennis courts. It sure made us home - sick to think of all the good times we've had there.
We've been on the move for over a week and have hiked thru some very pretty country. Everything is green the fields of grain and vegetables look prosperous. The roads are lined with shade trees and the cherrietrees along