World War I Collection

[Imprint: AMERICAN YMCA ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE]

March 1, 1919

Dearest Lela:

Your letter arrived last night and there are not words enough in the dictionary to tell you how glad I was to hear from you. Just think it has been almost five months since I received your last letter. It really doesn't seem possible.

From the way thing look now I do not think it will be long befoe I am headed for home. We leave Plancy for Le Mans the twentieth of this month. It is our first step home and I do not think we will remain there very long, six

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

Printed stationery - AMERICAN YMCA ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ___________ 191 __ Written: Le Mans May 5, ___9

Dear Edward,

Wonder if you really sailed yesterday. I was glad to glad [sic] your letter Saturday and almost sent you a wire. But kept forgetting it except when far from any postes or telegraph. Because we got our movement orders Saturday and came down to Le Mans yesterday. So if you go to Marseilles on leave, stop off at Le Mans and not Paris. We will probably even get to Brest later but that won't be till after you're gone I guess. Expect to be in this district till June first. Headquarters probably always being Le

Mans, and working out from here.

The billet Ethel and I were supposed to have was occupied so we came over to the YM Hostess House and its really very nice. A very attractive house with a wonderful garden. And as the weather has cleared and the sun shining, I quite like Le Mans. Anyway tho I miss Paris I'm glad to be away. Because there it was just one good time after another and hard to settle down to even a thot of work.

I was quite impressed with all your medals. Thanks very much for the picture. I often think how queer things turned out in your family. Here Norman and