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France, July-14-18.

Rev. W.B. Christy
Dear Sir and Pastor,
As this is the national Holiday in France we men of the A.E.F. are taking things easy for today I 
will write you a short letter, of our doings over here as plain as I can without the censor cutting 
any of it out.

The people treat us the very best they know how and we would have better times and enjoy our spare 
moments if we could only understand each other in words. Of course we can speak some French and the 
French can speak

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a little English but not any way plain enough for us to understand fully what they are talking about.

Every person here wears wooden shoes and use themselves for pack horses. They work from about three am. 
until dark with cradle and hoe to get their crops taken care of.

They raise the very finest of gardens and take great pride in their flowers have every kind you can think of.

If it was not for them

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Being so dirty with their dress and habits I would say this is the prettiest place in the world but the 
dirt and filth off sets the beautiful part.

This town in which we are staying is in a valley of the _ Mountains of which the papers in the States 
mention often and their tops are above the clouds and it is real pretty all the time but prettier at 
sun set than at any other time.

I have seen several aerial battles above us that is real exciting to watch but I suppose the ones concerned

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in them are quite busy for I imagine they have to duck and turn to keep the other from knocking him down.

Everything is fine and dandy with all of the boys from home. Our YMCA will open tomorrow the first one 
we have had since arriving in France. We haven't been still long enough to have our own Y. But now we 
will get everything that is ours in that line.

Some of the Parents of the men in C Co have heard wild rumors about certain fellows being killed or 
wounded. Such things are unfounded and are started by some foolish person in the States for

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Some thing to tell. In case any thing should happen the U.S. Gov. will tell the parents and wives of 
the men immediately. It causes a whole lot of unnecessary worry with the folks back home. We are being 
well fed and clothed and get plenty to eat.

We don't have time to write all of our friends but we do the very best we can, and one friend will 
have to pass the letters around to let each other read them, but we don't want that done on return 
to us. You want to return good for evil in the letter writing.

All churches here are Catholic and are very fine Buildings

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I suppose it is very hot & dry there now. We have warm days and cool nights ideal for sleeping but we 
sleep more in the day time than we do at night.

The letters the Rotary Club sent out to use were very much appreciated by all of us. The new men who 
have joined us read them too. We passed them around. Our company is like one large family and get along 
with each other fine. From indications here the war won't last thru the winter but cannot tell, as things 
might change at any time but right at present we are getting decidedly the

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the better of it. Well I must bring this to a close and write mother a letter.

Give all of my friends and Mrs. Christy & Edith my best regards.
I am very truly,
Sergt. E.W. Howey,
C Co 139th Inf
A.E.F.

P.S. Please write us a letter when you have a few moments spare time.

Censored By Lt. Hausen

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E.W. Howey
C Co 139 Inf
A.E.F.

Rev. W.B. Christy.
Kirksville.
Mo
U.S.A.
M.E. Church.

AMERICAN RED CROSS

Soldier Mail

u>S> ARMY POSTAL SERVICE
JUL 15 
5 PM
1918

[illegible postmark]

Censored by Lt. Hausen

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W.W.I.94.47