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Mrs. T E Fortney Oct 21 1918

Dear mother & father and sis I will answer your last letter which I received sometime last week. but this is my first oppertunety [sic] to rite [sic] you. This leaves me fine and in good health and I shure [sic] hope by the time it reaches you it find [sic] you all the same. it dosnot [sic] take your letters so long to leave now as I get one every week ore [sic] so and the last one I got was only on the way about twenty days yet mother i [sic] have been in most of all the hard fighting but i [sic] have been exceedingly lucky i [sic] think and expect to go through all o.k.




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so dont [sic] worry about me for I will be home a little sooner maby [sic] from the looks of things than is expected.

i [sic] never knew the fellow you spoke of that was the first to fall in old co c. but just the same I am glad to know that the old Regt is [illegible text] here and the fight us. I wish you give me one of the boys address as I could drop them a line ore [sic] two to find out just how everything is. of course know we cannot all return but our boys that have fell always facing the enemey [sic] and that means whole lot to all of us. and misfires us with a New fighting courage and thought for revenge. i [sic] had letter from sis in tulsa they are fine and dandy, and also had a letter from brother J H Fortney

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of [illegible text] Cal he is fine and they are both enjoying good helth [sic]. also had one from brother W m they were all ok. well it like a refreshing rain to a flower to get such good cheerful letters from mother and father and sister Ima and all the rest good [illegible text] all of them i [sic] expect to [illegible text] the family circle again some sweet day and the letters in all about a freedom forward to over here. the way i [sic] rite [sic] i [sic] guess you think i [sic] am terribley [sic] homesick well not exactly we are more anxious to fight untill [sic] the gearmens [sic] is whiped [sic] then it be time to get homesick. yes i [sic] will soon be





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21 years old the 12 of dec if i [sic] live. but i [sic] dont [sic] feel a bit older than i [sic] did when i [sic] was 17. I guess i [sic] changed goodeal [sic] in looks and groth [sic] as it has bin [sic] two years sence [sic] i [sic] saw any of you. and you might say more for i [sic] was only there for 2 days i [sic] am glad you people are back to the old home and are nicely situated for the winter. i [sic] supose [sic] [illegible text] will soon be in service. so good by [sic] mother and father and sister Ima [sic] rite [sic] often Sgt Elner E Fortney a co. 1st. m.y. [illegible text] 1st. Div.

A E F France via New York.





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Sgt. Elmer E. Fortney
A. Co. 1st [illegible text]
1st Div. A.E.F.

AMERICAN Y.M.C.A.
SOLDIER'S MAIL

Mr. J. E. Fortney
Kirksville Mo.
410 So. 1st St.
U.S.A.

PASSED AS CENSORED
[illegible text]




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W.W.I.79.47