Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, October 15, 2020.
All letters in the William James Bean collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
April- 1918
My Dear Mother
Your letter received on the other side of the Atlantic.
I am not Somewheres in France and I am in the best of health and to my surprise I was not the least sick (sea). I hope you are enjoying good health. do not worry to much as it will only make you sick.
I guess the people to home will change their minds about us ^never^ leaving America.
Our trip was uneventful, we did not get any stormy weather. The first two days were bright and clear.
The next few days were overcast and misty, with some ^cold^ winds, which piled up mountains of water.
I was on the decks continuously from seven A.M. to 6 P.M. except for dinner hour.
You “old home flags” took your son safely across overseas.
The port at which we landed was in its best for looks. as it was just sundown and the sun sire did show it up in fine shape, of course it would look good anyway on account of not seeing “old Mother earth” in a long time, I see fish jumping in and out of the watter as tho they were having a hurdle race.
I will be able to tell a few tails when I get home again
I was surprised when I landed here to see the strange looking people- what is to say they wear large wooden shoes, from kids 3 years old to men and women.
And most men and boys wear apron looking thing (black)
The grass is green and the trees are all leaved. I see large Market gardens all growing and some vegetables ready to eat. peas cabbage onions etc. (but not like my garden of last summer)
There were also Magnolia trees in blossom and side hills that looked as tho’ they might have been lawns were all planted.
It must have been wash day here as every place you would look you could see snowy white clothes on bushes and lines. We could see women washing clothes down on their knees on stone or with a brush beside a pool of water on the ground floor.
The roads here are just as you used to describe the roads of the “Old Country” to me
All buildings are put up of stone of concrete and look very ancient and strong not much like the frame houses in Syracuse.
I wrote to my Wife this morning I wish you would write her when
you receive this letter.
Give all the brothers and sisters my Love. Give Happy my best wishes and tell him I often think of his hand out to me at the depot.
Remember me to Bill West and Timmy Harold will have some experience when he gets started.
The weather is summer like and it feels good to walk around with out overcoats. I bet the natives laughed to see us in heavy clothes when the children some of them barefooted
I will close Mother for this time hoping to hear from you soon as possible.
Your Loving Son.
Will
address as follows
Pvt W J. Bean
Headquarters Co
59th Art’y C.A.C.
via N.Y. France.
P.S. If you please write to Mabel and tell her what I wrote to you.