Comments on: Somewhere near Royaumeix, 5/31/1918 http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/somewhere-near-royaumiex-5311918/ Letters Home from a Yankee Doughboy 1916-1919 Tue, 07 May 2013 23:19:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Myscha Aiken http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/somewhere-near-royaumiex-5311918/#comment-553 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:54:02 +0000 http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/?p=4242#comment-553 Good to see you’re in good spirits Sam. I’ve been a bit busier of late, so hard to keep up with all the news.

]]> By: worldwar1letters http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/somewhere-near-royaumiex-5311918/#comment-408 Tue, 05 May 2009 13:59:45 +0000 http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/?p=4242#comment-408 Dear Readers:
Sam’s remembrance of Memorial Days past honoring the G.A. of the R. refers to the Grand Army of the Republic which was the veteran’s organization of the Union Army following the American Civil War. Prior to the Great War, the Civil War had been the greatest military conflict in American history.

Sam’s oblique mention of wishing he could iron wax into the seams of his uniform refers to a way that he could get the upper hand on the cooties if only he had the chance.

Sam also refers to the irony that he would have been a commissioned officer by now if he had remained safely stateside with the State Guard rather than joining the AEF. The 5th Pw refers to the 5th Pioneer Infantry which was the old 8th Mass. Infantry’s re-designation as of early February, 1918. Although serving under Federal status until January, 1919 this unit remained in the United States for the duration of the war.

Regards,
REL

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