1917 LETTER #4:

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LETTER SUMMARY:

--Slow Mail & Heavy Censorship

--Racing with the 23rd Division

--Christmas gifts

--Syracuse friend

--BERLIN BY NEXT XMAS.

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SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS LETTER:

4 (cut) pages, ink

Y.M.C.A. (A.E.F.) Letterhead

Dec 7 1917

Dear Ma and Pa,

Mil and I rec'd your letters dated Nov 9, on the 6th of Dec, so you can judge that it takes about 2 1/2 months for a letter to go and come. We landed [page cut off by censor] but[cut]
expect to[cut]
our regiment[cut]
over

Met quite a few 23rd Inf. men and from what they tell me I judge that Peck Fowler isn't going to enjoy a very good Xmas. You know he is the only Wollaston boy in that outfit and so won't be among his friends. . . . By your letter he said he got over before us. He just beat us as we caught up with the tail end of his regiment.
[...]

Am going to try and get you Ma, something pretty special but don't be disappointed if it doesn't arrive by Xmas. It all depends on the towns we get to. We have to send small things as large ones don't stand a chance . . .

Send clippings as newspapers take longer, and don't forget send them individually to Mill & I as we won't be together all the time.

Tell Eddie or his mother I met Winkworth of Syracuse.
[...]

I won't be back in time to go up into the big show next spring but will make it as short as possible. I write you a letter from Berlin next Xmas and then will back on the next boat if they haven't built a bridge by then.
With love
Bootus

[Censor's notation]

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