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Imprint: YMCA Triangle
ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
June 9, 1918.
Casual Comp. Repl. Battalion American Expeditionary Force France, American Post Office Box 702.
Dear mother: Arrived here yesterday safely. Was sure glad to get my feet on land again as we were on the water about 13 days. The submarines didn't bother us any. We were well protected all the way by convoys. Made the trip without getting seasick.
We had a pretty smooth sea through most of the way. A great many were sick though at that.
Every thing seems funny over here. The trains are smaller than the narrow gauge at home. The cities are a lot different than they are at home, old fashioned.
You sure see lots of poor
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have some good pictures taken of myself and sent them home. But it was a case of not having any money. We haven't been paid off for nearly two months as we have been on the road a good deal of the time. Expect to get paid before long though and if I can get my picture taken here, I sure will send some home. We get paid off in French money here. Will have to get on to the change or will get cheated out of some. It mostly currency & looks something like these coupons that come out of Baking powder cans. This is a very pretty country of what I have seen and you see some very interesting things. Seen several big towns in U.S. before we left. Came through Washington,
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Never stopped in any of them though, but got a pretty fair glimpse of them.
Got the candy alright the day before I left and sure enjoyed it. Well I guess I will close for this time, hoping you are all well. Will write as often as possible and hope you folks do too as we dont get mail very often here.
Love to you all,
your son, Albert N.
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Semper Fidelis Marine Corp. Logo United States Marines
June 15, 1918.
Dear Folks,
Here I am somewhere in France. Wrote one letter home already since I arrived here but don't suppose you would get it for sometime yet as it takes considerable time for mail to get over there. The submarines didn't bother us any coming across and it is a good thing thing they stayed away as we were well protected by convoys.
Another bunch met us over
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in the war zone, also come aeroplanes.
We were on the water about fourteen days in all and it sure seemed good to see land. We had a very smooth sea so I never got sea sick. Had a big appetitite all the time. This is a very beautiful country & the soil seems to be mostly all fertile of what I have seen so far. You don't see many large farms like in the states.
Hardly ever see a fence. Every little farm is hedged off by trees. Most of the people where we are now - seem to be of the poorer class and have very old fashioned ways. There are a great many Marines and doughboys over here. It is very interesting to talk to some that have been in the trenches. The Marines have put up some great fights against the Germans so far. Guess you have seen that in the papers. We have been issued our trench helmets, shoes, caps, masks etc. and expect to get a crack at some of them