Post date: 17-Jul-2013 15:01:35
35th Division: June 30, 1918: Division moved to Vosges mountains for training under the French north of the town of Wesserling. They were considered in active battle service.
July 3, 1918
My Dearest Mary,
I have made another little move since I wrote the last time. This time by motor truck and only some forty or fifty miles. We certainly passed through some beautiful country -- some of the best scenery I have seen here in France. Our office is now in a big room of what the people here call the chateau. The building is quite old and is built in the form of a square with one side missing. In the center of the square is a large flowerbed bordered around by a nice plot of grass. It is quite attractive I must say. The whole place around looks like a park with its large trees and well laid out paths through well-kept lawns. It is quite hilly around us, too, larger hills than where we were before. On the whole, I believe it is the best place I have stopped yet. The people are much better dressed. Really I have seem some very neatly dressed ladies around -- almost makes one believe he were in U.S.A. And would you believe it, I found a swell tennis court hidden away in some shrubbery not far off and last night I even saw several ladies with racquets all fixed for a game. Civilization yet. Saw several old O.U.Ottawa University where Lloyd attended from 1915-1917. Chums, too. Hub Lock, Andy McBride, Harrington, and Art Barnes. The Engineers are here, too, now but I suppose they will be moving toward the front, too, as all the rest.
Saw two German aviators that were brought down near here a day or so ago. They were not hurt scarcely at all. Anyway they walked along with their guards alright. They were pretty good looking men, physically, too.
Well, tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I wonder what you will be doing. I know pretty well my line of activities for the day: get out the mail and get what comes in ready for the different organizations, maybe a band concert thrown in for the Engineer band is here. I can remember quite well a year ago tomorrow and I have no doubt but you do, too. Well, here's hoping the next year will find U.S. in more peaceful pursuits than the last Fourth or this one.
By the way, I saw Frank Norman yesterday. I expect you remember him. He is with the Engineers, too. I hadn't seen him for a good while before we left Doniphan. Camp Doniphan in Lawton, Oklahoma, where Lloyd went through training camp.
I don't seem to be able to think of anything to write that I could write, while there is so much that I can't that it stifles the rest of my thoughts. I will write again soon. So, goodbye for a time, little girl. With sincerest love,
Your own Lloyd