James E. Henschel letter to Mr. and Mrs. Leopold H. Henschel - January 20, 1918
Transcript
January 20/1918 - Dear Father and Mother - My "weekly" is due, and by the good graces of the powers that be, there is plenty of time to write it. The last three days have been full of wonderful weather - just cool enough to put life in one. Save that I still lack the power of speech, my health is excellent again, so that I am enjoying the pleasant days to the fullest. Quite the reverse of usual conditions - there is so much of which I should write that I hardly know just where to begin. Perhaps I should tell first of a package from Uncle Albert and Aunt Marguerite. It seems that everyone remembered me this Christmas in especially beautiful and thoughtful ways. This box contained cookies and candy, all of which we enjoyed immensely. Folks were certainly mighty fine
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to me. Here in order comes remembrance from Iola - (Doesn't sound quite dignified - Iola - but "Mrs. Russell" is stranger still). She sent me a pair of beautifully knitted "knee-lets" for want of a better name. My half-joking suggestion has certainly brought results - and most useful results, too. Iola's were long, so that I can wear them over my clothes, thereby rendering them doubly serviceable. Hence if a call comes in the night or early morning - I wear the pair from [Kansas City]; if during the day, the pair from Massachusetts - for "knee-lets" have proven too warm to be worn when not on convoy. I'm immensely obliged to those who knitted them for me. Coburn Herndon received a most interesting letter from an old Plattsburg boss - H.R. Nay - who is in aviation. He is in England and told of his experiences at the school there. As he was a Kappa Sig at Missouri while I was there - of course his letter was exceedingly interesting to me. Did I mention that sometime ago I received a letter from Lucile Rockwell.
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By way of coincidence - she accidentally met this boy on a train from Chicago to New York when he was leaving the States. Unless I am mistaken he was to dinner with me at home on one occasion - although I doubt whether you would remember him. In his letter he says that "on the morrow he will spin and do a loop for the first time if he feels right". Imagine that being written a few years ago! certainly envy his chances. A new word has developed in camp or better - a new use for an old word. Issue - an "issue" constitutes a distribution of things from home. If a package of good things to eat comes to a boy - he announces "an issue". This can include anything from candy to knitted goods or tobacco. By common consent - anyone has the national rights - by virtue or existing, I suppose - of claiming an "issue" from anyone at any time.
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It's really peculiar. For example if one of us is hungry, the proposition is very simple; he merely approaches some one who is known to have a "box" still alive - remarks that "he would like an issue". Whereupon party no. 2. immediately drops whatever he may be doing and proceeds to dig forth whatever he may own. Expressions of gratitude may or may not be forthcoming. The system is quite unique - and very efficient. Time certainly flys. It is now time to eat and I have not told nearly all the I want to tell. Will write soon again. With love, your son - Ned. (Have been thinking that perhaps it might be more satisfactory for Dad to have issued a duplicate of the money order instead of stopping payment - for it would take so long to reach Paris and return to the States. I do not need the money particularly but there are so many chances for things to slip up without his knowing it)
Details
| Title | James E. Henschel letter to Mr. and Mrs. Leopold H. Henschel - January 20, 1918 |
| Creator | Henschel, James E. |
| Source | Henschel, James E. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Leopold H. Henschel. 20 January 1918. James Edward Henschel Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.51. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated January 20, 1918, Henschel wrote his father concerning the money order he received possibly being lost. Additionally, Henschel noted that he received many wonderful things for Christmas from people back home. |
| Subject LCSH | American Field Service; Missouri. National Guard; United States. Army. Motor Transport Corps; Christmas; Kappa Sigma Fraternity; University of Missouri |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | 1996.51 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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 | January 20, 1918 |
| Language | English |