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*.
[dried flower]
American Expeditionary
Forces in France.
May 12 1918
My Dear Mother.
This is Mothers Day so I am sending my mother my Love and best wishes hoping you are well and enjoying good health This leaves your boy in the best of health. We have had a few days of rainy weather, it is all cleared up again and looks as tho’ it will be nice summer time again. I do not think it will be very ,ong before I am back on dear old Grape St from all reports the Germans are on their last drive and are losing a great number of men and important positions after they have gone their limite they will ask for epace. It will sound good to have the Commander say “Homeward Bound” then we will have peace on earth again
The submarines are a failure as far as starving France and England. Austria is all in. The Kaiser has got to do something or get off the pot as the people of Germany are sick of his promises.
We are still in the same place, a few have been sent away to schools of instructions. I am still a “village cio: all I lack is the big tin star. We will have a ball game this afternoon, the french people do not understand the game very well, but the kids are plating catch on every corner. This place is about as large as “Nedrow” only the buildings are of stone and concrete and just about as lively. The “town cryer” was around with this drum the other day. he would beat his drum then shout ^out^ about something. I found out late that all the children were to be vaccinated. I thought at first something terrible had happened. There are a few Belgians here and they speak English.
I am making slow progress with my French lessons. They are as clear as Mud.
If I only had a few of my Uncles ^and Aunts^ addresses in England I might have a chance to visit them before I starte back to America.
We had an idea that we would find France in ruins and full of cripples but have not found it as. There are a few wounded on trains and they do not look bad mostly leg and arm wounds and not serious.
Everybody is gardening, the potatoes are up through the ground, and onions are about two feet high. Lettuce and cabbage are way up out of the ground and ready to eat.
The Y.M.C.A. is an important place these days. They have plays and picture shows every night. Some evenings are for the French people only and they sure do enjoy it.
Coling and Cashman are both in the best of health and still in the Hsqu’s Co. Corkman is also an M.P.
Your boy is getting fat. I weighed yesterday and I weighed 75 1/2 kilograms with only my uniform on (1 kilo= about 1 1/5 lbs)
We are expecting more mail every day tell all my friends it is impossible for me to write to them all at this time, but will do so as soon as possible. Give them my best wishes for me.
Cheer up my Dear Wife; put your feet on the stove and tell stories. I suppose you have both cast your first vote (dry) How did the election come out? let me know as soon as you can.
I understand Hamilton is filled up again with “rookies” like myself. This letter is to you on “Mothers Day” with a sons Love. Give my life a Husbands, true love. I will close with all my love to you both.
________________
Your Son.
Pvt. W J. Bean
Headquarters Co
59th Arty C.A.C.
American Expeditionary Forces
France
via New York
Censored
[?] Snyder
1st Lieut
59th [?]