One Letter

Lloyd Botimer wrote this letter from the battlefield in France to his future mother and father-in-law on January 14, 1919.  The actual images of the letter appear below this transcription.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Worden,

Received twenty-five letters today and among them were a couple from  you. I am getting all kinds of mail now. The dates range all the way from the middle of August up till December 23. Whenever I get any mail I take off by myself somewhere and "dream" I guess. It seemed mighty good to get some again though.

I suppose you have some pretty snappy weather at home now. It isn't so very cold here. It hardly ever freezes and we don't have much snow, but it rains nearly every day.

The war is over and I got through without loosing any arms or legs. If I can get through the rest without loosing my head I'll be all right. Frankly, I don't like France not after seeing America at least. When I first saw the country it put me in mind of a fairyland. That is viewed from a rattling, banging, 10 ton box car. After I got up near the front I found out though that it wasn't any fairyland. We have seen some hardships, but I expect that is all in the game in Uncle Sam's army. I feel thankful that I wasn't called on to go over the top and privations are all that we are called on to bear. Though I was in the trenches it wasn't so horrible as it is in open warfare.

You would laugh if you could see me writing this letter. I am sitting on my blankets with my feet curled up in them (shoes off of course). I have a little gas lamp and all the boys are around eating nuts. They are making awful racket - so much that I can hardly collect my thoughts. One rumor is that our mail is held up in New York and we are going home right away and the other is that we will parade in Kansas City next July. Don't draw any hasty conclusions from such definite information.

Conditions here aren't too bad. Though we are staying in a barn and sometimes we don't have a fire we sleep warm under three army blankets. We get plenty to eat. Have gotten used to army chuck now and somehow we manage to drag along from day though we are impatiently waiting till Black Jack says 25th divison you can go home now. I'm so wondering if Dorothy's school is closed yet. I like to have her home especially when there is so much sickness in the cities. That influenza must have been a terrible thing over there. We have heard a lots about it but didn't realize till I got that bunch of letters today. I hope by this time it is checked and you have nothing to worry about but town gossip.

This war scattered Mr. Worden's S.S. class pretty nearly all over the earth didn't it? I wonder where they all are. Have never seen anyone. I knew in France except those that came over in the same division. I understand the 85th has gone home, so I suppose you have some if yours boys home. We have a Y. here and Sundays come regular again once a week. Have a splendid man for a chaplin.

I must quit now. Wishing you all the best of health and plenty of good cheer I am

Very sincerely,

Lloyd