Miss Florence Lockard
420 Aiken Ave.
EE Pittsburg, Penna
c/o Hom. Hosp.
 

 
My Dear Sister:-
It has been a long time since I have had a chance to write to you. We have been so busy that I have hardly had time to write to mother. I feel am sure tho that they always pass the news of my letters on to you.
So far as I am concerned, however, I have been luckier that most of the fellows and have received mail every time it was called out. We have been doing some traveling both by conveyances, such as trucks and boxcars, and by foot. Both ways are hard enough and for a while after landing we had a hard time of it. Things are getting better now since we are in with the French and under the direct care of Uncle Sam. We have traveled over a great part of this country and for a while were quartered near its largest city. I was there on mission for two days and in that time did some sight seeing. It is a wonderful place. Up where we are now it is all war and at times very noisy. The weather is fine and at present we're in tents in a large orchard which is part of the most beautiful estate you could imagine. This chateau was built in sixteen fifty-two and the park around it would make Aunt Sarah’s look like nothing at all. We camp under trees all the time or in barns and sheds. This makes camouflage for us and we need it because business in the air around here is very brisk. Both day and night. They fly so high above us that they look like bees in the sky. I am well and doing my work every day. Among the list of promotions read out my name was called to be a first class private. This doesn't mean anything only that I have been a good soldier and will get three more dollars a month. My work becomes more interesting every day and I have been to the Division Intelligence School for two ten-day terms studying airplane photographs and map-making. It is all new stuff and requires a lot of study. You don't know how queer it made me feel to get Ben's letter mailed here in France. It was too bad that Grace didn't get to see him before he sailed but then it won't be long now till we will be back and it will do us all good. Gibson wrote to me also and said that he would be over to see me as soon as he got his furlough. Marion Fisher's brother is in our Division but is traveling ahead of us and I haven't seen him yet. Only saw one fellow and that was Fratz Keller. He and I met in a small town some time ago, quite by chance and an hour or so later we ran into Humphries. Had some little reunion. I don't see Hump very often anymore. At that time he had a nice long letter from his sisters. Mother said in her last letter to me that they hadn't heard from you lately but were expecting you home on a vacation soon. Hope you have a good time and a good rest.
Please write often whether you hear from me or not. Love to you and to the rest from
 

 Your loving brother

Walter