Howard Lyford

one that can only be appreciated, by a person who has had the "pleasure" of packing it for nearly two years. It made the first time my pack was ever hauled since I joined the army. We had expected to travel on regular "40 hommes or 8 cheaveaus" box cars, but received another pleasant surprise, when we saw real American box cars waiting for us, with straw on the floor n everything ---- and they only put 30 men in a car where they used to put 38 and 42 in the French box

would make a man leave home, and magazines have on front pages. Last but not least a real American woman said goodnight to me. May be you think it didn't sound good to hear good-night instead of bonswa. The first time in many months.

It took me twentynine hours to make the trip. We reached our destination at ten o'clock Friday night and after we detrained we had some of that said chocolate and heard that real American girl say goodnight. At 11:40 we

started for our billets and arrived about two o' clock and went to bed.

This said burg is 25 kilometers from Le Mans in the American Embarkation Center. We expect to remain here from three to six weeks and then start across the pond. All the divisions are sailing ahead of schedule. The Captain told us at retreat last night we wouldn't be here over three weeks and rumors are making the rounds now, to the effect that we sail the latter part

of this month. It will certainly be a great day when we board that old ship.

It is one inspection after another now. This morning we had an equipment inspection and this afternoon a "cootie" inspection. The "top" said this morning that there would be inspections every day until we leave. I am willing to stand anything as long as we are preparing to go home.

All the incoming mail has been held

up for two weeks, or since we started to move and yesterday I received two letters from you two from Lola, one from Ruth, one from Mrs. Adams and one from Ethel Corrigan, and two bundles of papers and magazines. Believe me those said magazines certainly are appreciated. You cannot imagine how much, reading matter is appreciated over here.

I don't blame you for not writing letters when you have a chance to go for an automobile