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Greetings from Atlanta, GA!
Today seemed an appropriate day to say hello (hughhewitt.com pointed me your way not long ago) and to say thank you. Your service to the cause of freedom is too precious for words - just like the service of those who came before you.
Because of the letter you posted, I was struck (again) by how "real time" our world has become. As one who cares so much how you all are doing and is praying for the most successful outcome, being "in touch" is amazing, reassuring, and a little scary, but seems our duty, too.
Not quite two weeks ago, I cheered my LT JG sister through the Marine Corps Marathon - her first. I hustled around and managed to see her at miles 4, 9, 16, 21, 24 and just before the finish line - I was pooped, and I was only cheering!
Just to let you know, we're keeping the faith and cheering you all the whole way home.
To you and all who serve (and have served), best wishes and many thanks on this Veterans Day.
Posted by Lisa in Atlanta at November 11, 2004 08:52 PM
One look at the date & I began to weep...what a treasure you've shared with all of us. Thank you & your family for your service to this Nation.
I stood in prayer today at the 11th hour for all of you.
With gratitude that I can't express, and a special thank you to your wife & your children for sharing you with all of us--I've learned that when one serves, you all serve, and I'm in awe of Military families,
God speed soldier, come home safely, and thank you from this grateful American.
Posted by beckie at November 12, 2004 12:57 AM
My grandfather (another doughboy) is said to have arrived in France the day the Armistice was signed. And, yep, they were still shelling each other to the last.
Hang in there! You're doing the Lord's work!
Posted by Toby Petzold at November 12, 2004 06:17 AM
A belated happy Veterans'Day! We love you! God be with you always, just as He was with Grandpa.
Posted by bigsisevengreyerhawk at November 12, 2004 04:49 PM
I dont know if i had any ancestors in WW I but i did have a father and three ucnles in WW II but only one ucncle is left
Posted by blue eagle at November 13, 2004 02:23 AM
One of my treasures is a US printed history of The Great War printed in 1919, the year my father was born. It is mostly a collection of anecdotes interspersed with straightforward history.
Your grandfather's letter mentions the shelling the night before. One of the anecdotes from my book is of an American gun crew counting down the seconds to 11AM local time before firing "the last shot of the war."
I've often wondered who was killed or wounded by that shell, since it had to have landed and exploded after the war had ended.
Against that, it is interesting to read in the letter that, at the time, it was not known that the fighting would actually stop and that indeed it was over, over there.
Posted by oino sakai at November 13, 2004 02:56 AM
So glad to have my own computer now so I can read your site everyday. Glad to read your Veterans Day post and to see your grandfather's picture. I am so proud of you. Stay safe. Love you. Keep up the good work.
Posted by grannylu at November 14, 2004 01:40 AM
This spring a distant cousin gave my father my great grandfather's dogtags that he wore in WWI. No letters though. Gramps spoke only a few words in English and could not even write his own name.
Posted by Bullshark at November 14, 2004 10:58 AM
The US lost more troops in the last 11 hours of WWI than we have lost worldwide since 9/11...
Posted by DJ Elliott at November 11, 2006 03:52 PM
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*
Remembering All Our Vets
God Bless our Vets
One and All
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*
Posted by patty at November 11, 2006 11:39 PM
That is if I find out just how things turn out over here and I can get any dope on how soon I will be starting back to the U.S.A. So do not be alarmed if you get a message from over here.
Interesting, I always assumed that the slang word "dope", meaning "information" was a product of the 60's drug culture. Dope being a shorting of the word Dopamine. It surprising to find it used that long ago. I wonder what it originally meant.
Posted by Patrick (gryph) at November 13, 2006 05:59 PM
gryph,
I used to use dope as an indication of the sight accuracy of my rifle at the range, so I imagine (nothing more) that the term straight dope came from there. And from that the abbreviated form came into use.
Posted by Mike H. at November 13, 2007 05:02 AM
good post. thnx
Posted by Kir at November 30, 2007 12:56 AM
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I have not received any mail or had any chance to write any for about a week but the best of all is the war is over or just about so. The guns are on the q.t. now, thank God for that, and we hope and pray that they do not start again. We were almost blown of the map last night by shell fire but none of us were hurt but believe me we had some narrow escape. Though everything looks good today and we all expect to be home before many months. Unless the war starts up again in full blast, but we do not think it will start again for everything looks to be in our favor at present. The yanks sure have given the Huns a good whipping so I do not think they will be very anxious to start the ball to rolling again. And if they do the thing will not last very long so I hope to be back in the good old U.S.A. with my girl before so very long. Then I can tell you all about it. If possible I will send a message to you in the near future. That is if I find out just how things turn out over here and I can get any dope on how soon I will be starting back to the U.S.A. So do not be alarmed if you get a message from over here. But I would like if you will please let father and my grandparents know in case you do get a message from me. I have not had a chance to do much writing to any one for a few days, for we sure have been some busy over here. We are or have been cited by the general H.Q. of the A.E.F. for our work in the div. If possible to do so I will send you a copy of it soon. I am sending a German gas mask and a shoulder strap also a button off a Hun's coat. And I will send a helmet soon. In this letter I am sending a piece of paper gauze that the Huns must use in place of cotton for the wounded.
