Somewhere in France, 6/26/1918

June 26^th, 1918

Dear sister Madaline:

Again another letter and no mail from you the reason I still think is that our government is rather neglectful or either on account of the freight train shortage.  A few of our regiments in our division have received their pay but as yet we boys in our regiment have not received any money although rumors have been going around that pay will be given to us before the end of this week.  My feet are in good condition in fact I am feeling so well that I think if a good meal was given me I could eat without pain.  I really cannot say that our mess is bad as I can allow for it as we are so far from home and I fully realize the hardships the U.S.A. has to undergo in order to bring rations to this country.  My chief craze is for bread.  We American troops are only allowed one pound of bread per day so you see this country is not only fighting on the field but behind the lines and that is the shortage of flour.  The French people have their bread cards but some how I can always buy enough for my meals.  I guess I have said about all that I know so I will close with love to you all.

I am

Your Brother

Joe

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, Around 6/25/1918

Somewhere in France

Dear sister Madaline:

At last we have decided to stop hiking and do some drilling instead.  The last few days we boys have done nothing but hike practically all day.  My feet surely do ache me theirfore I am resting today to recuperate.  We are stationed in a fine city the largest we have been in yet.  This is my first opportunity since we left our last town to write you so you see we boys are kept busy continually all the time.  As yet our regiment has not received any mail or money but hope to receive both before the end of this week.  I am feeling fine except for my sore feet but a few days of rest will bring them around OK.

Must close for now will write again tomorrow.

I am

Your Brother

Joe

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, Around 6/22/1918

Somewhere in France

105 U.S. Inf Co A.

Dear sister Madaline:

The weather at present has been very good.  I witnessed an air battle the kind you have read about which took place at and near the place in which we were billeted.  Of course the battle was at night and the only time the planes could be seen was when they came within the rays of the moon.  They surely did make quite some noise that is between anti air craft guns and machine guns.  The boys did not get excited and held themselves cool.  We moved again and we are in billets the kind Empey describes in “Over the Top”.  His descriptions of the billets is exactly what we boys are undergoing.  The place is fatuated with rats and cooties but the American is quite different than troops that have been billeted here before that is sanitary conditions.  We do not use straw for bedding nor do we allow cob webs hanging around on the walls or ceilings.  Everything is policed and kept so clean that we appreciate our little temporary home.

While on short hikes I happened to see some German prisoners and their greeting by us boys surely is great.  Their are many different kinds of uniforms in this section.  Their is one kind of troops which talk the same language as we do but with a different accent for some reason of other is not liked by an American soldier.  Their ways and actions I suppose is the main course of our dislike of them.

Must close now with love and kisses to you all, I am.

Your Brother

Joe

Am feeling fine and am in the best of condition.

Joe

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, 6/21/1918

Somewhere in France

June 21^st 1918

Dear sister Madaline:

Again another day gone by and no mail as yet.  If only the government would see that our mail was delivered to us I think the boys would feel very much better although I know the boys of our battalion are all merry and happy.  The eats are great but their is a shortage of bread.  For lunch each day we get good old irish stew with plenty of potatoes, meat and carrots.  It is rumored that we boys get paid either tonight or tomorrow but you know what the army is for rumors.  According to the New York Herald Paris Edition the Allies are winning on all fronts.  I’ve seen quite some German prisoners since we moved to our new town.  They are a good and well fed lot of men but poor fighters.  As you know an American soldier has the gumption and blood to fight hand to hand but Jerry or Fritz will run away as soon as an American shows his steel.  The german army that is riflemen are not very good but credit must be given to their artillery.  Guess I will close for now as first call for retreat or call for inspections has just sounded, I am.

Your Brother

Joe

Corp 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, 6/19/1918

Somewhere in France

June 19^th 1918

Dear sister Madaline:

I really do not think this letter will be very long as I’ve written you all the news of interest in my last few letters.  Up to now we boys have not received any mail the reason I suppose is on account of the shortage of freight trains for delivery of our mail from town to town.  I know that you have written at least once a week thierfore I think I am entitled to one letter in one month for that is how long we boys are on foreign soil.  I am taking up an interesting subject which keeps me busy for a few hours during the day and a few hours at night.  Morning I go to school and for one half hour in the afternoon I get detailed to lecture on this subject which is hand grenade.  The subject although it is hard is interesting.  The weather yesterday and today has been very poor as it has done nothing but rain then stop and rain again.  Theirs no sense of us praying for rain as we drill and work rain or shine.  As yet I haven’t had the chance to write any of my friends but expect to do so soon.  Guess I will close now will write again tomorrow.

I am

Your Loving 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.

From John, Jamaica N.Y. 6/16/1918

John J. O'Farrell, Joe's Brother-in-law

Jeffry Ave, Jamaica, N.Y.

June 16, 1918

Dear brother Joe:

I suppose it will be some time before we get any mail from you but I know that you will be glad to hear from home, for when one is a distance from old New York they always like to know whether the old town is still on the map.  I don’t know whether you have heard of Fritz’s latest scheme, but he is now operating a few submarines off our coast, but like the brave man he is, he is attacking a few small unarmed craft and is taking damn good care to keep away from anything that looks like a war vessel or a transport in convoy.  Generally speaking he has made a fairly good mess of things.  My boss, Paymaster Karker, left for duty overseas the other day and before he left he fixed things so that I can follow him later if everything else is O.K.  I hope to be able to arrange matters, for I am really fond of him, as he is one of the most efficient officers in the Navy.  My old team, the Yankees are going pretty good so far this season and I am pulling for them to win the pennant.  Home Run Baker is pounding the cover off the ball and the rest of the team is following his example; the fans have nicknamed them “Murders Row” for the way the can slam that old ball.

Bill Zimmer, who formerly was quite a ball player here in town, I think you know him, was home from Camp Devens last Sunday.  He shapes up pretty good as a soldier and says he likes the life and that he has gained 20 lbs. in weight.  Doctor Hyland was around town in uniform yesterday.  He has just been made a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps and leaves in a few days for some camp.  Lieut. Fletcher, who lived down in Bergens house has also gone Over There.

I hope, Joe, that you are in good health and spirit, and that you are learning fast, so that when the proper time comes you will be able to fill any position of responsibility assigned you, for you are aware surely of our keen interest in your future.

I will close for now, dear brother, with the sincere wish that no matter what may happen you will always show the stuff you are made of and make us all feel proud of you.

With love and best wishes for all, and may God bless and protect you.  I remain, as ever.

Affectionately,

John

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, 6/16/1918

Somewhere in France

June 16^th 1918

Co A. U.S. Inf.105^th

Dear sister Madaline:

Just after finishing a good old army dinner of boiled beef, army beans, coffee and good old french bread and butter.  A few of the boys including myself went to church this morning and received the sacraments.  Their are quite a few french orphans around this town and one in particular has been around our billets from early morning until late at nights.  I have always loved children especially Bob and Madaline and since I’ve been away I always try to be around the youngsters.  This youngster went to church this morning with me and shared in my mess for lunch.  He can speak very little English and that little I have taught him.  He can say mess and Joe and count up to ten.  I am going to try to teach him our army song “Hail Hail the gangs all here”.  I am going to look up Pete Bagnasco this afternoon as I do not think he is very far away from our billets.  The past two weeks we have been feeding on english raisins but are now feeding on our true american raisins which mean more to us.  The English soldier can feed on cheese jam bread and tea but we american boys have to have our meat, coffee, butter and bread.  The english soldier does not get as much pay as we boys do so you see we American boys have no kick coming.

Up to now I can assure you dear sister that my health and condition has been great.  Many nights my thoughts go back home and think what sorrow is being shed for the boys who left their happy homes.  Of course dear sister we boys are sacrificing our homes some good times and some boys their lives but from what I know have heard the Boche is afraid of he Yankee and will not give sammy a bayonet fight.  Our slang word for German is Jerry and from reports Jerry is down very low on his feet.  Must close now dear sister with love to you all, I am.

Your Brother

Joe

Co A 105 Inf

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, 6/15/1918

June 15^th 1918

Dear sister Madaline:

After playing a sociable game of cards I thought I would write you now instead of waiting until evening as I expect to go to confession tonight and communion tomorrow.  Our american boys attend church as often as possible.  Up to now we boys have been issued everything except a few little things.  I received my gas mask, new rifle, and helmit.  If ever we must carry everything that been issued to me why I think I will look more like a decorated tree than a soldier.  As yet we boys did not receive any mail or pay but it is rumored that both pay and mail will be given out shortly.  During my off time I generally read, write letters or take walks as this country surely is beautiful.  The people here are not exactly poor but both husband and wife do farm work.

Now about the women – A La Carte.  You know the average American fellow doesn’t like anything except style and if we were to live here for years we would never find it here.  Theirfore you can see that I am interested in only one girl and that’s Priscilla.  Outside of my folks she’s the sweetest girl on earth.

Must close now dear sister with love to you all.  Will write you again tomorrow.

I am.

Your Brother.

Joe.

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, 6/14/1918

Somewhere in France

June 14, 1918

Dear sister and pa.

After going through a hard stiff hike and nothing to do but write and wash.  I am kept continually on the go but am satisfied as long as I can get enough sleep and eats.  I know you are all worrying and thinking of me at all times and praying for my safe return but I feel your prayers will not go unanswered.  Of course dear sister I am in a more dangerous position than when I where in the states but you must consider that I know more now about the trench welfare and also the chances of safety.  The war over hear from what I have been told from men that have been through the mill is very much safer than it were years ago.

I cannot go into details regarding where we boys are billeting or what is going on in this section but what I can say is that we are quite some distance from the front.  My thoughts of home many a times makes me feel bad but I always think of the bright sides.  Although I really do not know whether you are all well but I always make myself believe you all are feeling fine.  My health and condition is good and am if I say it myself ready to go further into this war.  Tell pa that his boy will be home before long.

Must close now with love + kisses to you all.

I am

Your loving brother

Joe

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere in France, 6/13/1918

June 13^th 1918

Dear sister and Pa:

I really do not know what to write about as I told you every bit of news of interest in my last few letters.  It is almost time for bed as tomorrow we expect to be busy hiking for about ten miles.  As yet I have not received any mail but expect to get some within a day or so.  Cigarettes tobacco and candy are very scarce as I doubt if any tobacco can be gotten in France.  The weather is still continuing to behave good wish helps us as their isn’t very much pleasure in drilling in rain.

Must close now will write you again tomorrow, I am.

Your Brother

Joe

© Copyright 2011 by Lanny & Patti Brown, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.