18 March 1818: France

Train to Nova Scotia perhaps?

 March 18, '18. In France.


Mr. Frank Trigg,

Dear Sir:

It has been some time since I have written you, so will try and make up for lost time. The last letter I wrote you was when I was in Texas (down by the Rio Grande). For some reason or other I have never been homesick enough to want to go back there. I ate more dust in 24 hours there than I ever expect to eat during the rest of my life. We left Kelly Field Oct. 28 and were enroute on Hallowe'en night. We took the southern route and saw some fine country. We stopped at several places of historical interest to drill. We spent about three hours at Washington, D. C. The Red Cross gave us a fine lunch there. You can't imagine what the Y. M. and the Red Cross have done for us fellows. The Y. furnishes all the amusements and everything is free of charge. We got into Garden City, L.I., New York, Nov. 1. We were in a concentration camp there until Dec. 7. We all had a chance to go down to New York and walk down Broadway. It is a fine city but old Chicago looks better to me. We were enroute on train till Dec. 16. We went on board at noon and left at 9 p. m. We were out for one day and two nights and then we ran into Halifax, just one week after the explosion. I hope I may never see such a devastated-looking place again. 

Soldiers Waiting to Board the Boat

We left Halifax Dec. 15 and landed somewhere in England Christmas morning. We remained on board all day and disembarked the next morning. We then had our first ride on a European railroad. The cars are about the size of a truck and the engines are somewhat smaller than ours but they sure can travel. We got into rest camp Sunday, that night about 12. I never will forget Christmas eve night, as I was on submarine guard and you had to be on the job. Christmas day we were out of bread as we expected to go ashore. We were all satisfied to think we got aстоss О. K. I wasn't seasick but some of the fellows swear that they won't go back across unless they can fly back or can cross on a bridge. They were sick going to Halifax, coming across and when we crossed the channel. It was sure rough. England is a very beautiful country. The holly trees were about the prettiest trees I ever saw. We left England Dec. 28 and disembarked Dec. 29th and stepped on French soil for the first time. We were put into another rest camp till January 1, and then we left for a permanent post where we stayed until Feb. 27. 

Soldier Barracks

We had good quarters and saw quite a little country. The town had about 5,000 population before the war. At one time Napoleon's headquarters were located there in one of the barracks that is being used by American troops now. The French towns are very interesting and I wish all of you could have the privilege of seeing what I have since I entered the service. It is going to be worth a lot to us in the future. We had a good football game Feb. first and several baseball games afterwards. We left there Feb. 27. While changing cars the next morning I heard that the 35th engineers were located at that place. I didn't stop for breakfast but lit out for their headquarters. You can't realize, how glad I was to see Rev. (Chaplain) Leo, Rufus Dunkelberg and Sam Leigh. I had a good, long chat with them. We arrived here the next morning and are in an artillery observation school. 

Artillery Observation Camp in Center

Our planes take up observers from the nearby artillery camp who direct. the fire of the 75's. We sure have a little home of our own here with electric lights, beds, mattresses, pillows, fine barracks and the best of grub. It is the best place I have struck yet. I have been working on planes till today and now I am assisting in the supply room, as we are invoicing and have a lot of extra wok. It is some job to translate French articles and invoice them. Well, I must close. One word for France. They sure do treat us fine and they can cook 100 per cent better than the English. I drank so much of that bloody English tea that I detest the sight of it. We are having fine weather and I am feeling fine. I weighed 147 lbs. when I enlisted and now I weight 185. I have traveled 10,000 miles since I left home seven months ago. Thanks very much for the paper. I receive it regularly.


Yours very truly, 

Victor S. Kuck,

1st Art. Obs. School,

P. O. 711, A. E. F., France.

Although not specified, perhaps ship used to sail from Nova Scotia to England


Comments

  1. That is remarkable. In what form do you have it? You may have said in the past. I don’t always follow your personal tree stories.

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    Replies
    1. The letters were published in Victor's hometown local newspaper, presumably given to them by his parents or in the case of this letter, Frank Trigg.

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