Owen "Glen" Tudor letter to his mother- June 12, 1918
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June 12, 1918 My Dear Mother, I am going to start this letter now for interesting things happen from time to time and I can write them down as they happen and have them ready for the weekly "blue envelope." I am now busily engaged in eating cinnamon rolls which the boys who are K. P. (kitchen police) have brought in. Those scoundrels always cook up something extra which we "regular guys" hear nothing of. Being from our orginazation we eat well today. We just played a good joke on one of the boys. We fixed up a dummy on one of the fellows bunks - just leaving the
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[page 2] boots tick out at the foot of the blankets. This fellow always sleeps with his head covered up anyhow so this just played into our hands. When one of the fellows came in with some cinnamon rolls he wanted to wake him up to give him one & yanked on his boots. He certainly got a laugh when both pulled out in his hands. The fellows are laughing at it yet. We have got it rigged up again so when the fellow comes in he will think someone is in his bed. I am now studying the French book Rachel gave me and find 2 very good altho I am just beginning. I would certainly like to be able to talk French well when I come back. However, it can not be done without mixing and talking to the French themselves for
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[page 3] I believe that is the only way to get a good pronunciation. That is what I find the hardest. Did I tell you about the entertainment I went to the YMCA a few nights ago? It was given by 2 French women and two Frenchmen. One of the Frenchwomen played the piano - the other, a girl of about 22, sang very nicely. She sang several songs in French and then sang three songs in English. They were the popular songs "They'll never believe me ; and "The litle Gray Home in the West, " and the other "sing me to sleep." Her accent was very quaint. The men played violin & cello and were very good. We have moving pictures here every now and then.
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[page 4] [June 13, 1918] I have studied some more in my little French book & I find it more & more fascinating as I go along. There are 13 lessons in the book & I am starting out by taking half a lesson at a time. In this way I can get it thoroughly as I go along. I have allotted from 6:45 to 7:30 in the evening as my study hour. I mentioned kitchen police. Well, I just found out that I am on for tomorrow. Corporals' do not usually do this kind of duty, but are doing it here lately because there are so few privates. We expect to leave here in a few days and join our regiment that is now in France. I sure have been all over France. At that I have done practically no sight seeing. When this war is over & we
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[page 5] start home I am going to start a very active campaign of souvenier buying. I will try to make them practical, but make no promises. It is useless to start collecting now for I have no place to keep or carry the things. I am just wondering now how I will be able to carry things even after the war is over, when I have my barracks bag full of clothes & very little room in my pack. I am sure I can make room, but I will have trouble no doubt with the breakable things. I will have to be very careful. [June 14, 1918] I am still perusing my French grammer & altho Je ne parle pas Francais boquet yet I have picked
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[page 6] up quite a little since I started the book. It is the best I have seen yet in the way of a French book. In fact the further I go the more I thank Rachel. Every now & then I turn to the little notation which she put on it and laugh "boquet." Well, every thing is going fine & dandy with me. It has been raining this morning. We are well provided with boots & raincoats so are not worried. I was on K. P. yesterday and had quite a time. Ate several nice roastbeef sandwitches & some steaks between meals - had plenty of milk in my coffee & was very mischievous in general. We are all anticipation now as to what we are going to do. We will see no action for some little time - that is certain. We would like to get one crack at the dutch before it is over. Write when you can. Your loving son, Glen.
Details
| Title | Owen "Glen" Tudor letter to his mother- June 12, 1918 |
| Creator | Tudor, Owen Glen |
| Source | Tudor, Owen Glen. Letter to his mother. 12 June 1918. Westover, John G., Collection, 1910-1946. C3733. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this June 12, 1918, letter to his mother, Owen "Glen" Tudor discussed pranking fellow soldiers, learning French, Y.M.C.A. entertainment, and purchasing souvenirs. Tudor, a Maplewood, Missouri, native, served in the 128th Field Artillery in the 35th Division during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Division, 35th; Soldiers--Recreation; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Y.M.C.A. |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C3733 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | June 12, 1918 |
| Language | English |