On Active Service
with the
American Expeditionary ForceAmerican Y.M.C.A.
Nov 3 1918
Dear Aunt Emma and Cousin Abby,
Well at last I am going to start your long delayed letter. I have just finished writing to Newm. [?] and want to write to Uncle Reno and Aunt Hattie tonight if I get the inspiration. I don't think that I have written to you since I received the note from you some weeks ago.
We have seen quite a bit of France, as in every country there are some very attractive things as well as otherwise. I will be perfectly satisfied to be right back in God's country. It looks now as if this war will not last many months longer to say the most.
According to one of the fellows at Amherst Mt Holyoke has been affected some by this Spanish influenza. It surely is a dredful [sic] thing and I hope you are not bothered at all with it. We have had no cases of it in our battalion.
The leaves are turning here now. You see they stay on the trees quite late. There are some pretty scenes around here now. Especially one from a chateau where I am now. There is a big river only a hundred yards away and just byond [sic] that is a big chateau with a back ground of beautifully colored leaves. These chateaus are very attractive. I have not had a chance to go inside of a big one yet but hope to be able to soon. There are no wooden houses over here. They have their floors made of stone, cement or tile for the most part. They waste absolutely no wood over here. There are large fireplaces in most of their rooms with large ovens extending back into the wall. The houses for the most part are one story buildings altho there are some higher ones in the larger places. This is a small town we are in, about the size of Phillips but it is a very clean place. There are churches in every town over here, no matter how small it is. I was very surprised to learn that all of the people in these smaller towns are relatives. Mother surely had a fine time with Uncle Sam. He is very good to Helen, my wife, and always has been. I wonder how you are getting along Aunt. I wish you could feel as well as I do. I weight 162 in my shirt sleves [sic] which is the most I ever weighed I think. Our meals are very good considering the fact that one meal we may have one hundred and the next five hundred or more on account of the nature of our work. Well Aunt Emma I think I will close for this time and write my other letter, Much love to you both from your nephew
Corp. Chas. R Atwood
Co I 331st Infantry.
A.P.O. #762
American E F
FranceCensored by 1st Lieut. Norman Fuller [?]