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who is to succeed him. The church is the largest in the world,
and will hold about 75,000 people. It looks brand new inside, and
yet it was built before America was discovered. I was delighted
with Rome in general and would like to go
again. HOLTZ.
* * * * *
Foggia, Italy.
I want to thank you all for the
splendid greeting which came last night. I appreciate it more than
you can realize, and I know that the rest of the men will, too. 1
am going to make this letter short and snappy, for in just fifteen
minutes I have to drill--real infantry drill as the old buck
captain, and I look back on last year at school, when I was a toy
captain, with a smile. Even in the aviation, I tell you, we have
drill. I spent three days in Naples at Christmas time and just
returned yesterday from Rome, where I enjoyed myself in great
style looking over the old ruins; the Coliseum, Forum, Quo Vadis,
Vatican, St. Peter's and scores of historic things.
I have finished the tests for
Italian aviators and aero club, and for R. M. A. in the U. S. A.
and am waiting for my commission, tho thru a recent change most of
the men who were the best in the ground school were cheated from
first to second lieutenant. Hope it may straighten out. I enjoy
flying, and can say that I have had my share of thrills. Have only
been able to go about 15,000 feet in these Farman machines, but
guess those of us who are there are slated for France, or perhaps
stay near for Sia machines which make 120 miles per hour.
Well, the old number one of the
front rank is back after an hour of calisthenics and double-time
drill. My macaroni stomach has about caved away. Well, here's best
regards and wishes for a successful year. HOLTZ.
NORMAN CURTICE--Ex.19
December 26.
Today the ground is covered with
about an inch of snow, and wowy! but it does look kind of dreary.
But somehow or other there is a sort of "Christmasy" feeling in
the air and it feels fine. Of course I'll miss being home a great,
great deal, but as long as it can't be, why, it can't and that's
all there is to be said or done I guess. Anyway, we'll have a few
extras on the table that day, and as long as we don't believe in
George Santy Clause nobody will be foolish enough to hang up his
sock and get it full of snow or something. Winter days are merely
a question of killing time, and there is no harder work in the
world. However, we have all become quite proficient at it, and a
winter day can now be made to pass as quickly as a summer week, so
you see we really are quite proficient. (Censored.)
Well, now, this has been a day!
Just had supper and arriving at the popote (mess table) found a
letter from mother and another from Uncle John, so that makes the
family mail complete, and all in one day. This is the first time,
I believe, it has ever happened. You all told me some news, but
left "the rest" to another, and it was so funny. So awfully glad
that you have that service flag out, for if it doesn't mean
anything to you it does to me, also I notice you speak of
souvenirs, and may say I haven't collected any because they are so
common. Did start to save a piece of a German shell that plopped
in the ground a few feet away, but decided to wait and see if
I
104
couldn't catch one in the soft part of the leg or some place
and make it really exciting. Of course the whole country-side is
littered with boche soldiers' equipment, and after the attack it
seemed as if helmets, guns and scarcer articles grew on trees. I
did buy a pair of wonderful field glasses for $10 that some
spoiler had taken off a German officer, and now find they are
worth anywhere from $100 to $175 in the states. Ought to make a
special trip over to sell them because they are universal focus
with Ziess (or something) lens.
I don't understand where you get
the idea I was suffering, because I decidedly am not. I'm rather a
human sort of an animal, and when old George Northwind pays a
visit I look out for myself. I guess maybe you have been reading a
lot of war stories or something.
My mail addressed to 21 Rue Ray,
-----, usually finds its way out here eventually, and I'll
probably have Christmas packages streaming in until next July. I'm
on my own staff and legging hard for a dinky little commission, so
I can be a second "looty" and wear a few of the trappings.
NORMAN.
Merry Christmas! And may this be
the last time I have to write it and am not able to shout it right
in your face! Be that as it may, it has been absolutely pleasant
and wonderful and I can only say I have enjoyed the day thoroly.
Listen, here is how I spent the Xmas of 1917:
1 arose at the swell hour of 10
A. M., and altho my sock wasn't hung by the fireplace ('cause
there isn't any), and was lying in a wad on the floor without
"Santy's" prosperity and only full of holes, I shaved and had a
bowl of hot coffee preparatory to dinner, and here is what we poor
American soldiers had for Xmas dinner:
S'awfil!
A. Hors d'ouvre (fish sausage,
etc.)
B. Turkey and peas (lots of
it).
C. Salad (real lettuce).
D. Cheese, confiture, fruit cake,
candy, petit gatean, nuts, fruit, red and white wine, champagne
and coffee. Cigars and cigarettes and much talk about what we
would be having at home.
105
By all the rights of normal men
we should have ended the day by going immediately to bed, but not
so! Over we tramped to the Y. M. C. A. to play Santa Claus, and I
don't know when I have ever had such pleasure. All the children of
the town were invited to the Y. M. C. A. to get presents, and we
were told there were about seventy-five in town. Well, there were
about 275! But, thanks to foresight, there were enough presents
to go around, or at least I think so, for I, being one of the
"Santas," almost lost life and limb in a howling bedlam about two
minutes after the thing started! I had an armful of presents which
I started to distribute in an orderly way, but after seeing one
little chap appear for about the 'steenth" time (good old American
fashion which I know so well myself), I decided about the only way
to do would be to drop the whole mess and leave it to the survival
of the fittest. I did. There was one rather touching incident. An
old lady held out her hand for some little toy boats I had (which
were about the size of my little finger), and not seeing any
children with her said, "Pour les enfants"? "Mon," she said, with
one of those sad smiles that makes you feel like a dummy, "Pour
Moi." Well now, what in thunder she's going to do with that little
boat is a mystery to me, but I gave it to her, and she could have
had a dozen more if she had asked for them.
Well, today is the day after, and
since writing the last I've been to a show at the Y. M. C. A.
which wound up Christmas day. Madame Cobina Johnson, the divorced
wife of Owen Johnson, the writer, was the entertainer, and she was
fine. A wonderful voice and a good ability to entertain made
things a success. After the program she sat and played songs for
us, and I guess about 100 stayed and we all sang. Somebody asked
her to play an old song, and I think she played "My Old Kentucky
Home" or something like that, and when she finished I noticed she
was crying like a baby. Between gurgles she explained that she
couldn't stand the expression on the boys' faces as they sang this
old song. Gee, I didn't have any idea we were so pathetic looking,
and in fact was enjoying everything immensely! People will have us
feeling sorry for ourselves if they don't look out. American
soldiers are something like the English, inasmuch as they will
overlook sentimentality with a hearty oath and continue with the
work at hand. From the type I have seen here I never doubt for a
moment that our troops will be as good, and I think better than
any army in the field today.
To go back a few days, I went to
Paris and there saw Gates, Bill Dawes, Frank Proudfit and
Jennings, whom I knew in college last year. He is with Les Putt
and was in on business. I was in the help out on the Christmas
entertainment with John Mott, who is Y. M. secretary. Gates is
going into the tank service, or at least has applied for a
transfer. This is quite a change from his present job, and I
admire him a great deal for it, and is, in fact, my choice of the
worth-while things to do. Personally, I shall sit tight here for a
little while and see just what's going to become of me. I am a
believer in sitting tight for a reasonable amount of time, but
must admit my patience has been tried quite a little by this
inactivity. But within a week something is going to happen and I
will be moved from my "home town" to another, I think (censored),
and things are hard to get in the States, that conservation of
food being felt. I believe it is a good thing for the nation, as
it is good training for anyone to pinch a bit.
Received a package of cigars from
dad, mailed September 27--only three months ago tomorrow.
C'est tout.
|
NORMAN.
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
Lt. N. B. Curtice,
M. T. D., A. E. F.
Convois Auto
Par B. C. M.
|
Well, you see that another Sunday
has slipped round and it has been a busy, unevent-
106
full week as far as I am concerned. I have given
lectures, greasing and cleaning exercises, convoy work and in all
the time speeds away. Of course, the school will be finished this
week or the first of next week, and I am curious to see just what
will become of us. I must tell you here that I am not content
teaching school so far away from everything, and, furthermore, I
believe I have risen as far in this particular service as is
possible for one as young as I am.
You know each day one learns to
love and appreciate more our country, and as these words are
highly inadequate and "sobby" sounding, you may not understand
just how they are meant, but be sure that behind them there is all
the feeling in the world. I am sure that the only way to reach the
full appreciation is to don your Uncle Sam's uniform and leave his
country in his service. Certainly I wish that I was more of the
literary turn and handier with the pen to express exactly what I
mean and feel. I'm afraid I must tire you with these "patriotic
deflections," but, dang it, when I'm working for something or
someone I've got a right to do all the talkin' I want to. You
know, the army is giving service stripes now for every six months
spent in the war zone, and I've got the right to wear one, and of
course in June, on goes my second. It has been a long time, hasn't
it? Oh, well, everything has an end, though, and what is two or
three years out of so many? Rien!
LIEUT. GEORGE W. IRWIN, '17
Have been here two months so far
and our outfit has been moved six times. The last move we hiked
over fifty miles and were just getting settled when fifty of our
officers were ordered here to school. I'm willing to bet that it's
the coldest place in the world. Practically all our work is
outside, and it snows all the time, too, so you know how I'd like
to be warming my feet in front of the old Delt fireplace most of
the day.
Have met a few Delts around the
country, in fact, there is one here with me now from Cornell. Have
an Alpha Delt and a Psi U with our company now, and we pulled off
a couple of Pan Hell dinners. The one Xmas eve almost proved
fatal, but we got out pretty lucky.
Was quite interested in the
Nebraska football team last fall, but even now don't know the
score of the Syracuse game. We get Paris editions of the New York
Herald, but they haven't been kind enough to publish the score of
the game.
Shorty McMullen and Ed Shoemaker
are with this division, but I haven't seen them since we got here.
Used to see them in New York often, but we've been separated since
we landed here. Ned Allision is here at this school, but haven't
seen much of him. I imagine our training will be over before so
very long. and then will move up ahead. I certainly hope it's warm
when we go, for Alaska would be warm compared with this place. Our
barrack is minus a floor, so that doesn't add to the warmth of the
place.
Perhaps you wonder why I don't
give you more definite dope on this place, but it's impossible
under the censorship. GEORGE.
Lt. George W. Irwin, Co. L, 167 Reg. A. E. F.
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Ted & Carole Miller
