(Page 1) Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date March 31, 1919 Pvt. E.W. Downing. 317 Mobile Laundry Unit. Remagen Germany. A.E.F. My Dear Mother,- I sure was a happy man when I got that swell long letter from you; and am sure going to prove my appreciaton to you mother. I hope this letter finds you all in good health, and enjoying life. I sure hope dad is feeling better, and able to enjoy life this summer. I thank him very much for the little watch he put in your letter mother and I sure wish I could (Page 2) 2 have been at home to help him celebrate his 50th birthday, and hope my Dad celebrates many more. My birthday passed while we were on the road travaling [sic] to Cablery. We had "cream puffs and chicken" or "Hard Tack and Bully Beef" Ask Claude if he knows what that is." Believe me I sure am well familiar with it myself. That is what we have lived on, most of our time. I must tell you what I have been doing since we left Chateauroux France. We were ordered to go to Cablery Germany, to see part to Evac. Hospital for duty. While on our trips we saw many great sights, which I never will forget. We stayed over night at Toul France, and believe me we ate everything we could get our hands on (Page 3) (3) It sure was an interesting sight. When we entered to the city of Metz, "which the French had taken over" we saw where the Americans had prepared to take the City. Metz is quite a large place, and well fortified, has a large stone wall around the city which makes it [illegible text] very peculiar. We got into Cablery about 10:30 P.M. Germany is sure a different country from that of France. I like it myself much better as it is more advanced and the citizens are much nicer. It makes you think you are back in the states. Cablery is sure an swell place. They have a large Y.M.C.A. their [sic] and everything going in good shapes and a German orchestra which plays every afternoon and evening for the soldiers. (Page 4) Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date II 4 The Red Cross sure deserves the name "a soldiers [sic] best friend," as they sure treat a soldier grand, [illegible text] especially. After we hit the mess like twice, we then slept on the floor as they did not have room to accomodate us with beds. When the twice [illegible text] for us to wear, the next morning we took a "side door [illegible text]" for Cablery Germany. While on our trip from Toul to Metz the city where the Germans takes [sic] over the trains, we saw where the Americans had driven the Germans back, and the citizens along the railroad all [illegible text] (Page 5) Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date III. 5 Cablery is a great leave place for the A.E.F., as there is[sic] many historical sights to be seen. The Rhein R. is a great sight. Also the Mossel [sic] R. The city is like a big V shape [illegible text] the Rhine + Mossel rivers. When we arrived at Cableny no body seemed to [illegible text] where evacuation hospital #21 was, so we all hurry around the Red Cross near the station. After we got [illegible text] general orders we was marched down to a place where we had moveing [sic] everybody to sleep with "ha ha" Ged Old that night. I itched for a week after that. The next morning we saw (Page 6) 6 west of the city, went to the Y.M.C.A. for dinner and in the afternoon took a trip down to the ex Kaisers [sic] Castle on the bank of the Rhine R. That sure was a wonderful trip. Did you get the cards and the letter I wrote you while in the castle? I sent you some picture's [sic] of the Rhein River and the places I saw while there, I hope tou got them mother. That night we was [sic] ordered to go to Neau-Chateau as our hospital was there. We all hated to leave Cableny as we sure was [sic] having a wonderful time. Going to Neau-Chateau we went over the same route that we [illegible text] in [illegible text] as it is just below Toul France. The Evac. Hospital #21 was situated in a place called Death Valley and it sure suited its (Page 7) Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date 7 name, "ha ha". We stayed there eight days and worked every day. As it happened our [illegible text] "of 28 men" worked on the night shift. I have been the laundry machinist since we first started at Chateux, so I had it safe as I had no trouble only our night putting in a [illegible text] shaft too the washers. Our duties was [sic] not required there, so as luck would have it the command [illegible text] of the laundry sent us back to Cableny. We spent another night at Toul as our train did not leave there for Cableny until 9:30 A.M. and we spent about 12 hrs. there as we got in Toul (Page 8) 8 about nine that evening. I have spent many nights in a [illegible text] "ha ha". When we arrived in Cableny we stayed there until the 24th of March, and was finally sent down here at Remagen Germany. Remagen is on the bank of the Rhine R. 50 kls. from Cableny. It is a small place, but sure is beautiful. The [illegible text] here sure is quite differnt from that of France, as it is cooler, air much [illegible text] and higher up in alt. We are sleeping in a German house, which they turned over to the Americans. We have no beds, only the floor and our blankets to sleep on, but we sure have same fun, most every night we have a [illegible text] of [illegible text] nails, or anything we [illegible text] our hands on "ha ha". (Page 9) I. (9) Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date The Rainbow Division has its mess [illegible text] so part of them are here. We do each have to leave the place for our meals on that acccount. We have "cream puffs and chicken" [illegible text] since we came here, While we have been here we have been setting up a Mobile Outfit which is placed now, right near the river handy, to water it consists of 4 [illegible text] or wagons which have the laundry machinery in it for power we have a Case Tractor. We have not had any [illegible text] with that kind of an outfit as we have always (Page 10) 10 has a stationary laudry to run. I sure will be glad when I can get home and get this laundry business out of my system. "ha ha" Tell Mildred to send Claude Adams [sic] address to me as I sure would love to here [illegible text], and you see I [illegible text] really the first letter. I hope he is in good health and having a good time. I will write Mildred real sson as I owe my dear little sister a letter I am quite sure. I hope [illegible text] luck and would love to see there. Mother I sure would love to run the farm, if there was that good thing to happen as having me to run. "ha ha" I an quite sure I could [illegible text] (Page 11) VI. 11 Knights of Columbus OVERSEAS SERVICE ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES A.P.O Date it a success. I do not think mother, that the farm dad is figuring on getting would be a paying proposition if I knew anything about farming prop [sic] Mother I must close as I think this is lengthy enough. I hope all the dear ones at home luck and happiness to see you all someday. Goodby [sic] for this time. Your Son, Pvt. E. W. Downing. use address as I have at at the head of letter. (Page 12) W.W.I.70.47