1919 LETTER #1:

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LETTER SUMMARY:
Bootus criticizes the politics of the War.:

-- "We jollied thru Hell for fourteen months"

-- "A fist fight or two at the peace table"

-- "Uncle Sam owes me a fortune for winning this War"

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SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS LETTER:


4 pages, pencil

Esnouveaux, France

Priv H. W. Chapman
Co D 101 US Eng
AEF

Jan 10 [1919]

Dear Ma and Pa,

Brace up and write a jolly letter. We jollied thru Hell for fourteen months and now we need help to keep our sporting blood up until such a time that we start home. "Home!", that’s the one question.
[...]

Before we had a chance to settle War for all time, someone butted in with a speech or two and the fighting changed to words. Hostilities stopped with speech-making reigning supreme. . . Before "speech" came into its own I believe we crippled the enemy to such an extent that about the only fighting we will see or hear of will perhaps be a fist fight or two at the peace table.
[...]

Don't worry about our allotments or pay that has not been received . . . Its a small amount when you stop to think that Uncle Sam owes me a fortune for winning this War and which I'll never get.
[...]

With Love,
Bootus

[Censor's script passing letter]

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