Letter dated from November 3rd, 1918

Transcription:
PAGE 1
“Somewhere in France
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Nov 3rd 1918

Dear Folks: –
Recd your letter of Oct 7th
last evening and sure was glad to hear from
you and to know that you are all well and
and enjoying yourselves you certainly must have
enjoyed yourself out in the woods at that
picnic as you very seldom have a chance
to attend anything like that. It sure must
seem strange to you folks to be alone. I think
that Lee certainly has things nice. the he has
done and I think that is much better than
waiting for his turn So father is making
good use of my clothes well that is what I
sent them home for. So Lee found out he was
not as big as he thought he was when he
come to get in a man’s size clothes. I
guess that is haveing some opinion
of oneself isnt it. Those views you
were speaking about I got them back
as they changed their mind on leting go”

PAGE 2:

‘”2
through so I will bring this home to you
No I have never recd the Metamora paper
up to the presant writeing. You folks back in
the states dont seem to relize how far
it is across that pond and papers come 2nd
class mail unless you put them in a big
envelope. and send them as first class mail
So you had a letter from Fonda well
you are doing very well and I must say
you have got me cheated as I havent heard
from her for quit a little while before
I left the states. I had a letter from Mrs C.F.
and also one from Glenn and one from Lulu
yesterday in fact I recd seven the first
for about ten days. Oh yes mother we see
a lot of laughable thing here and we can
makes the people understand what we want
with out much trouble. So people though
that Frank and I were lucky in melting
will they were not any more surprised
to hear of it than we were to meet.
I have been experting a letter from
him any day now.”

PAGE 3
“3
I recd a letter from Ida some time ago
which contained a snapshot of you father and
her and I must say that they were
very good. So you think father is foging
up things around there with his pipe
Well I still have the pipe that he gave
me for Christmas last year and smoke it
every day. WEll I have a job to do yet
this morning and that is to shave
and I guess the quicker I start the
sooner I will get done with it if the
sun comes out this after noon I want
to have my picture taken over here
+ was thinking that I have had my
picture taken more since I have been
in the service than (she) seven had
in my life before. I hear is not very
many fellows left around the old town
any more is there. From the letter you
folks write that Spanish flue must be
killing off quit a few around the states”

PAGE 4
“Glenn’s letter said that they were duing
of some in Rockford. well folks I guess I
will close for this time hoping I
heard from you soon From your Son
James

Corpl James H. Stivers
Hdg Co. 72nd Arty C.A.R.
American Exped Forces

O.K.
Lieut U.S.A.”