I am well.
I have received you letter.
Letter follows at first opportunity.
Corp. Joseph Maus
July 15th 1918
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/13/1918
Somewhere in France
July 13, 1918
Dear sister Madaline
Well here I am again although I only wrote you yesterday. You can’t realize how happy I was when I reported back from drill and found mail awaiting me. I surely was lucky as I received thirteen letters in all. Three from you, one from John, three from Anna, one from Mrs. Grabow and one from Bob Paulsen and the rest from my friends. I also received the money order you sent me which amount to five dollars. I surely do appreciate your kindness buy sending me money but please do not send any more as I have about 600 francs, this you see amounts to about $115 in American money. As yet I did not receive the papers and would gladly write the home paper but I doubt as if the censor would permit. Your letters were all very interesting and I feel from what you wrote you are all feeling in the best of health. In all your letters which dated June 10th and 16th you say you did not hear from me only that I arrived safe in France. Well I am sure that I have written you almost every day and by now you surely ought to of received at least one letter from me. I also received very interesting letters from Anna, John and Aunt Gertrude.
The weather in the last few days has turned from good to bad as we are bound to get rain at least every day. Our billets are water or rain proof but some how it doesn’t seem to be rat proof as each night our small friends pay us a visit. I can’t see why they come to us at nights as I can assure you dear sister that they can’t come for eats as we only get enough for ourselves. Isn’t it to bad Harry Ahrens joined the Navy poor child he should go away from his ma like that. I honestly think the Navy discipline will make a man out of Harry. How does Fisher like the Army life. Does it seem to agree with him.
Well I guess I have said about all I know so I will close with love to you all, I am
Your loving brother
Joe
Corp. J. Maus
105 U.S.Inf. Co A
American E.F.
Thank you very much for the money.
Joe
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/11/1918
Somewhere in France
July 11th, 1918
Dear sister Madaline:
I really do not know what to write about as news is very scarce and their isn’t anything of interest taking place here except our daily routine of drilling. I am going to the movies tonight as I really do not feel just right for all day my mind was towards home. It surely is terrible when a person feels slightly homesick. Otherwise I feel fine and can honestly say that my condition is the best ever. I am stationed near a large town where candies, chocolate and plenty of eatables can be bought. This is the first good large town we have hit so far and of course during our leisure hours we boys generally spend in walking and buying a luncheon almost each evening. The bill of fare generally consists of eggs, chips, wine, coffee, bread and lettuce salid. So you see dear sister I am very well taken care of and can always tend to myself and stomach. It surely is a shame for a young fellow like me to have such a large appetite my stomach somehow can never be satisfied. Although between the meals that Uncle Sam is giving us each day and my meals which I buy on the outside I think I am getting plenty.
I guess I will close now dear sister with love and kisses to you all.
I am
Your Brother
Joe
Corp Joe Maus
105 U.S.Inf. Co A
American E.F.
PS: Love and kisses to you all. Tell pa that I am feeling fine.
Joe
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/10/1918
Somewhere in France
Dear sister Madaline:
Just after going through a very excited night. The Boche raided our town by air last night and did some damage. A few of our horses were killed and it lookes as if we boys will get some steak tonight as the butchers have already started to skin the dead animals. Honestly I was never nearer heaven in all my life. The weather here is wonderful and being that today is rest day I guess I will do some washing and writing. We boys are still very busy hiking and drilling six days a week. I was speaking to Bill Wulfooder and he sends his regards and speaks about you and John quite often.
Guess I will close now will write again tomorrow, I am.
Your Brother
Joe
Corporal Joe. Maus
105 U.S.Inf Co A
American E.F.
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/9/1918
July 9th, 1918
Dear sister Madaline:
Am living up to my promise of writing you as often as possible as I realize sometime I might be handicapped and not be able to write you for days perhaps weeks but while the going is good I am going to write both you and Anna every day. I am feeling fine and have plenty of money therefore I am still enjoying myself and have great times during my leisure hours. I always manage to buy a meal each night and before going to sleep each night my appetite is well satisfied. The last day has brought us quiet some rain but like everything else we boys are used to it by now. I expect to go to a movies tonight. It surely is a long time since I last saw movies. How are all the folks home? I suppose Bob and Baby have gotten so tall that I suppose I would hardly no them if I saw them now. Its almost time for retreat or call to colors so I guess I will close now with love to you all.
I am
Your Brother
Joe
Corp Jos. Maus
105 U.S. Inf Co A
American E.F.
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/8/1918
July 8th 1918
Dear sister Madaline
I hardly think this letter is going to be very long as time is limited and I feel that I am neglecting you if I do not write theirfore I am doing my duty and also keeping my promise. Our training is still going on but in a hiking manner. Our name hiking 105 is still with us and much credit must be given us as we certainly do do some hiking. I am feeling fine and also am having a wonderful time. Today was a day of rest but just the same I’ve been on the go washing clothes and taking a bath. I surely enjoy the bath as it was the first good wash since I left the states. Guess I will close now dear sister with love and kisses to you all.
I am
Your Brother
Joe
Corp. J. Maus
105 U.S.Inf Co A
American E.F.
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 7/6/1918
July 6th 1918
My dear sister Madaline:
I surely did feel bad when I did not get the opportunity to write to you for a few days the reason was account of military movements. Uncle Sam’s doing every thing possible to make it pleasant for us boys. Since I wrote you last I received ten letters about five from you and one from Anna. We also got paid which came in just about in time. I received 246 francs which is about $49 in our money. This included my pay for the month and liberty money. Is pa receiving the alottment regularly? Now about the fourth of July we had a wonderful time. The Corporals of our platoon had a luncheon for lunch we had a chicken and chicken soup, lettuce salid with eggs, dressing and ten bottles of campaign. All this cost us about seventeen francs a piece. A meal like this dear sister is very scarce as the people here are also feeding on rations. Bread is a scarcity but beer, wine and champagn is sold to the boys in large quantities. The chicken we had for lunch was to old for roast so the madam had to make soup out of it, just like the good old chicken soup we had for our sunday meals years ago. Our daily rations are getting better each day. My french is improving each day. So far I have learned to ask for bread, wine, beer, champaign, eggs, milk, tobacco, candy, chocolate, coffee and many other things in french tongue.
I guess I have said all I know today am going to write Anna tonight, I am.
Your loving Brother
Joe
Corp. Jos. Maus
105 U.S. Inf. Co A
American E.F.
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Postcard from Somewhere in France, 6/28/1918
I am well.
I have received your letter dated June 6th.
Letter follows at first opportunity.
Joseph Maus
June 28th 1918
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Somewhere in France, 6/27/1918
Somewhere in Fra
June 27th 1918
Dear sister Madaline:
Well here I am again even though I only wrote you yesterday evening. Here it is June and no pay and no mail as yet. You can’t imagine dear sister how anxious I am to receive a letter from home and find out how you are feeling. If only I were lucky enough to receive one letter why I think I would feel one hundred percent better. My pay doesn’t worry me half as much as one letter from you as at times I feel so homesick and feel that you all at home are downhearted and worrying. Just remember and think that your brother is in the best of health as I can assure you. Is pa receiving the alottment regularly if not write me and I think I can get it investigated through the military channels. I am still continuing my school and am taking quite some interest in it in fact I take and make myself acquainted with as many different studies or schools as possible for perhaps you do not now but this war is known as a Non Commissioners War theirfore I see where studying will do me no harm and loads of good.
Their are quite a few different colored uniforms in our town and at many times our boys can be seen walking arm in arm down the street. Guess I will close now will write again tomorrow.
I am
Your Brother
Joe
Corp Joe. Maus
105 U.S.Inf. Co A
American E.F.
June 27th 1918
Dear sister Madaline:
At last mail was given out and luckily I received five letters one from you, Anna, Priscilla and a few from a few other friends. You can’t realize how happy I was when I received both yours and Anna’s letters. Your letter was dated June 6th and according to what you say that you sent me six letters before this one why I haven’t received them. They have either gone astray or lost but I feel sure they will arrive here very shortly as mail is now coming in rather fast. I saw both Corp Stead + Jenison and both send their regards to you. My friend Bill Wulfenden has his commission as second lieutenant but is awaiting appointment.
Must close now dear sister as I wish to get this mail out in tonights mail, I am.
Your Brother
Joe
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Postcard from Somewhere in France, 6/26/1918
I am well.
Letter follows at first opportunity.
I have received no letter from you for a long time.
Corp. Joseph Maus
June 26th 1918
© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Soldiers' Mail
