George J. Maguolo Letter No. 70 - n.d.
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[cover page] LETTER N0 70 [sketch] A three Day Leave or The bright spots in a soldier’s life by – Yours Truly.
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And it happened this way—[sketch of a soldier] On [February] 20 luck was with me, and the skipper granted me - a furlough of 3 days exclusive travel. I left most like a canary let out of his cage! Oh! Boy. the sweetness of freedom! [page 1]
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[sketch of a map of France] MAP of TRAVELS - Route of Furlough ([February] 20-25) 35th [Division] probable return. [page 2]
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I finally got enough nerve to go in an see the skipper a few weeks ago in regards to a special leave. He was good enough to file the application so when a bunch of map material was to be sent to the 35th [Division] [Headquarters] at Commercy – I was slated to go and convoy them. At first the idea was to make the trip to Toul in a side car (motorcycle) but at the last moment a broken spring was discovered – luckly, for I may have had a misfortune. this placed me in another courier truck (1 ton white) together with a Buck convoying some material to Coblenz. So the 20th of [February] finds me in a truck speeding – through the mud and rain towards Neuf Chateau – the first lap of the 162 kilo. journey. I felt happier that I did for months! We were soon down in. [page 3]
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the valley and traveling north-east. the buck and I scrapped yawns – the injustice of the armies and how S.O.L we are, etc. – the usual line, which invariably terminates with “Cest le guerre” and never again. . . . . No use to ask anybody whe he is going home! It only makes him mad. But this is a topic of letters on another variety. I shall continue my ideal soldier letter. You probably have seen so many movies of “Over here” that road scenes would be superflious, there is the neverending lines of trucks in both directions. Ocassionally a French Peasant with a wagon moving at a rate which would make you think he didn’t care when he got there. then there are artillery troops on the move - happy if they are moving west but gloom if it be east. In many places the. [page 4]
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roads are being mended. germans & Austrians are numerous – but there is a goodly number of [American] negro “engineers” also. they are interrupted often as you may imagine by the heavy traffic. In many places its as hard to cross the once quiet roads as 6th & Washington. We reached Neuf Chateau in 2 ½ hours – a distance of 68 kilos – at noon and put up for something eat. Being a good sized town with a fine Y.M.C.A. & Red Cross one does not beg for a hand out in a mess kit. For a franc one can get a sandwich – doughnut & coffee. Its a motley gang in the Y’s! Men traveling in every direction from all branches snatching a bite before hitting the roads again. Upon learning that the “Y” commissary was open I beat it to the warehouse and through . [page 5]
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the assistance of a buddy successful in getting 4 tins of candy and a box of cigars! (thats what a soldier can buy in a real town) Passing through Colombey – la – belle we found the 28th [Division] [sketch of Division patch] billited there and for several villages beyond. – You probably know how all the staples – sheds barns, etc. are taken over for mens billets. the rolling kitchen backed up to a big cow barn – voila – kitchen & mess hall! great stuff this eating ones mess off a pile of manure for want of a seat! We passed a girls boarding school and the classes were taking a walk. You can always tell a French class because all the girls are dressed alike. At least there hats are the same. (the boys have a uniform) then a medic from Belgium ask for a lift to Toul. [page 6]
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Soon we pass the big aviation fields and belts of barb wire and we near Toul. The town is nearly round a kilo. in diameter with a double wall around it. But surrounding the village are thousands of barracks so taking it all together it is a large place. the narrow gauge ammunition railroads run everywhere – including the streets of Toul. the town itself of course is crowded with khaki even though a pass is required to get in. there are soldier – traffic cops, military police and in fact everything to be found in a modern American city. (Toul is 104 kilos. from Langres) we reached Co. “M” of the 29th Engineers located here just in time for evening mess. [page 7]
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there were two big events scheduled for that eve in Toul. the [Knights of Columbus] show at the opera house and a dance. And of course the gang insisted that I go – and did I? Oh. Boy! the show which was acted by hospital casuals was [ms illegible: 1 wd]. I hope you get to see the division shows when they get back – the 35th for instance. I enjoyed it immensely! to innumerate details would become lengthy. there were many parodies on modern songs such as - “there are styles that show the waist line there are styles that show the knee there are styles that show the disposition there are styles for personality. there are styles that have a tender meaning that only eyes of soldier boy’s can see But the style that Eve wore in the garden Is the style that appeals to me, etc. [page 8]
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and much more bunk, which could not get by on civilian stages. We beat it back to caserne to the gym where the dance was to be held and Oh man what a crowd was there! the 23rd Engineers band (57 pieces) for an orchestra. About 70 girls, all in uniform excepting a dozen or so French Milles. there was Red Cross nurses in white with the white veils – Army nurses in blue with the blue veils - YMCA girls in gray – Red Cross aids in blue uniform – Telephone girls in blue uniform – ambulance drivers in khaki – British braces in khaki - and American girls in cits – some gang. Officers & men of part of the 23rd and 29th Engineers. Refreshments! Some time I’ll say I had. It was part of the silver lining of the clouds that accumulated [page 9]
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for the last couple of months. But the Coblenz courier & I had reserved a room uptown together so we had to get off the streets by 1030 P.M. Oh! man what a wonderful soft bed it was! So we slept in the feathers and with no reveille it was 800 AM before we came to earth again. good things were certainly coming our way. In the morning we washed in porcelain and had a peach of a breakfast at the “Y”. two eggs – jam & chocolate. After a stroll about town and a departing glimpse at my favorite cathedral. We returned to Co ”M” where the skipper ordered a Dodge to take us to the station. You can imagine what a turmoil there is in these stations. With barracks built all over the place – temporary hospitals. [page 10]
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Red Cross comfort stations etc. outside and endless red tape inside these stations must be considerable a change from the original quiet peaceful French Stations. the courier got in his freight car with the little stove pipe sticking out of the door and waved me a farewell. there he must remain with a “gat” on his hip. Until the car finally reaches Coblenz – (which may take a week) I caught the Strausberg Paris Express (a former german train) to Commercey. It is certainly a peach of a train and now carries a dinner. Of course the area it passes through north of Toul is pretty well shot to h—l. Lots of line plants – & stone quarry. Old gum inplacements – barb wire and cities of barracks – [page 11]
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at Commercey I got a truck to Lueuville where I knew Mare was located. Lueuville proved to be a pile of stoves like most villages up there . there are some good houses of course. . . . . . then a kilo. walk to a camp (located on the map #70b). You can bet I was craining my neck to see somebody I knew. In the mean time – continued to splash along in the mud. the mud we eat & sleep in. You don’t know what mud is until you live in this section of France! On the road were strings of horses led by men from the 7th [Division] [sketch of division patch] (later I found that they were the horses used by the 128th. Ray’s outfit. [page 12]
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Shortly after I ran in to a bunch wearing the [sketch of division patch] 35th [Division] and entered the camp of the 138th [Infantry] It proved to be a mud hole with stone barracks – not half so bad as some weve seen. they originally housed horses. but after thorough cleaning and straw bunks – makes a pretty good billet for the men. I was soon directed to Co. K and inquired for Mare at the orderly room. (He happened to be out drilling this platoon). So I found his bunk and made myself to home. the men had divided the room into stalls with their shelter halfs (tents) and bunked on straw. Shortly after a gang bust in among whom was a robust round face who seemed to recognize me fully a minute before I could get him. [page 13]
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Yes it was Mare and we fell on each others necks – Perhaps it was the mustache. Maybe the hair cut. But he certainly is changed - looking better than I ever saw him. So we spent a good while scrapping yarns. Later I met Levitt a chap from school now with the machine gun. We messed together – beans as usual. the old rolling kitchen was on the corner of a large shack – the wheels removed and idle against the wall. Chow lines are much the same in every camp but it gave me much pleasure to know that this one was from St. Louis & Missouri (Don’t suppose we have more than 4 guys from the same town). . . . . . And here I noticed that Mare certainly has acquired an ability to get around and accomplish his purpose – [page 14]
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During the evening I met Capt. John Nevel and spent a few hours with the officers of 2nd Battalion explaining some of the map work and intelligence work at [General Headquarters]. (Refreshed with a little Cherry Brandy). Later I met Glenn Parish! To think that back in 1906 we were pushing wooden locomotives around the yard! Tall as ever. So that night Mare insisted that I accept his palatial bunk (some straw on a door) while he sleeps on the floor between two of his buddies. And reville found me in bed the next morning! Strange bugles hold no terrors for us. After a concrete breakfast (over- boiled rice) and creosote Mare & I beat it for the roads towards Cersance – au Bois – the billeting place for the 128th. This is Washington’s Birthday. [page 15]
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trucks were somewhat scarce that day so we roamed the freight yards in hopes of catching a freight in that direction. german rolling stock (part of the forfiture of the Armistice) is plentiful. After a short wait I managed to wisper in the frog – engineers car and he consented to slow down while passing a certain pile of rocks which used to be Cersance–au-Bois. We drug along in a dutch coal car – passing old camouflaged roads - ammunition dumps – gun implacements etc. Finally we rounded a corner the train slowed down and there the Engineer waved to a miserable clump of stone houses (stables I should say) So we jumped off discended the hill and were directed to battery D. In a little old shack was a front window plastered with [page 16]
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cartoons and “The latest Dope” which could not be mistaken for Ray L.! We entered a large room comfortably furnished with chicken netting bunks before an open fireplace. In one corner was a field telephone outfit and an old familiar face sat before it. gray – a freshman at Washington [University]. Shortly after – Ray who had been out at inspection - comes in with all his junk on his back. I’ll say we were glad to see each other! We two [Corporals] with my [Sergeant] brother looking on! He too has changed but not in the same way as Mare. He is thinner and a scranny mustache hardly improves his appearance. His tale was mostly of hardluck as I had expected. the box of cigars & two tins of candy helped cheer things a bit. The map (#70-X) will give you an idea of the relative locations. [page 17]
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I almost forgot to tell you Mare’s out fit had pancakes for breakfast Washington’s birthday! In the afternoon we hopped a “Metz Special” to Commerce the Headquarters of the 35th. there isn’t much of interest there except the freak destruction of shelled & bombed houses. (Of which you have probably seen many pictures). the town was extremely crowded and the six or so [Y.M.C.A.] canteens billeted in once residences or halls were easily located by the long waiting lines of men leading to them. Some of them must have been 3 blocks long. (A cup of hot chocolate is free so we got in line.) A big boxing bout was scheduled in the eve so we went to a little “Cinema” (picture show) and among the frog pictures was “Charlie Chaplin”! to think I have been in so many places over [page 18]
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here with out seeing our famous comedian and then find him in a village most shot to h—l! And so we hiked back to Mare’s camp through the mud for catching trains at night is bad business. the three of us bunked together and drew for places – mine fulling is a bombing plane cover which wasn’t bad sleeping at all. (Needless to say we were “tellen em” half the night.) the next day I was supposed to go with Capt. Moll & his gang but I slept too late – and was contented just the same to go with Mare & Ray. He had planned to go to St. [Mihiel]. (The focus of the famous drive) We caught a semi-passenger in the yards after a long wait but finally reached Sanyeigny a miserable mud hole. [page 19]
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We very nearly succeeded in begging some stake from the railroad engineers mess when our train pulled out so we beat it. there is a detachment of the 29th [Engineers] at [St. Mihiel] (as well as Banzancy Toul- Neuf Chateau – Langres Choumont Coblenz- Paris) so I trusted to getting something to eat there. It was an interesting trip (as you can see from the map.) in which we saw but the American & german trenches. (or what is left of them for the germans prisoners are beginning to collect all the scatterd junk – take down barbed wire and fill trenches. [St. Mihiel] must have been a pretty town but it is certainly knocked for a row-now. When we reached the position marked on the map the tracks of which have been torn up by shell fire many times, we met a number of german locomotives coming into France. [page 20]
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they certainly were dandy looking machines. the old Royal german Coat of Arms had a big cross slapped across it. with a U.S. & number beneath. One of the german Engineers got off wishing to buy a “Speigel” (looking glass) – but we so much as told him to go to h-! Further up the line in a row of freight were a gang of returning german & Austrian prisoners of war. Right away they want to negotiate for tobacco offering “souveniers.” the colonial French guards allowed us to argue with them. I took one guys hat and a bunch of buttons. But the thing I was after I could not find. the “hussar” insignia [sketch of insignia]. We met some of our fellows, got a bite at the canteen and wondered out in the no man’s land. [page 21]
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We visited the Cathedral wich is certainly good. I admired the organ woodwork which is a beautiful piece of carving. the germans swiped all the pipes and other metal around it. there we caught a truck to Commercey. I bummed some grub at Base Hospital #91 where Mare knew the mess Sergeant. At the station we parted company I catching the Naney Express to Toul and Ray & Mare a freight back to Camp. Lets hope we get to meet soon again in the states. I stayed in a hotel at Toul overnight and since there was no commerce the following day. I caught an ambulance out on the Metz rail - sight seeing [page 22]
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Stayed with the 29th (“M” Company) in the straw next night. Pulled out in a Dodge the 25th to Langres the following Morning. So I’m back in the fort again after 5 days of liberty! It has cheered me up considerably and now I hope for a move soon again. It me be any of the following – (1 week) 1. Courier to Coblenz-germany (6 weeks) 2. Pan Sketcher on truck train – Sedan (3 weeks) 3. Leave to Venice Italy (2 weeks) 4. If not Venice – Nice France. (4 month) 5. Educational furlough – Paris One of the above must happen and you shall soon hear which. Notice that nothing has been said about going home! It could not possibly be – before June and we will be extremely lucky if then. A discharge over here also begins to look doubtful. [page 23]
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You realize of course that I am carrying this spasm around with me, and scribble at any opportunity. Don’t get worried about the ink or paper - they were once german used at their [General Headquarters] at Ifice I believe. Just this evening the 28th [Division] [sketch of division patch] put in a dandy show. It was certainly good and with the wonderful costumes could get by on any of our stages. Hope you can see one sometime. (mailed Louis a rifle (Boche) today) also received 3 letters from home, including dad’s.) But best of all – I have taken a dozen or so pictures on the trip the first since I’ve been over here. Am hoping that they will turn out O.K. and I shall send you prints. [page 24]
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So here the story endeth. Pardon the scribble for if I didn’t I could never write. Futhermore there awaits 28 unanswered letters. And mail is now coming pretty regular. With best wishes for you all Sincerely George T. Maguolo P. S. Please have Louis acknowledge receipt of packages – by mailing just a card with the No of package [George Maguolo] [page 25]
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo Letter No. 70 - n.d. |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter No. 70. n.d. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote this letter while in France. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company A and served in France until 1919. In this illustrated letter titled, "A Three Day Leave or the bright lights in a soldier’s life by yours truly", Maguolo described a furlough he recently took in great detail. The highlight of his trip was the several days he spent with his brother, America. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--War work --Y.M.C.A.; World War, 1914-1918--War work --Knights of Columbus; World War, 1914-1918--War work --African Americans; United States. Army. Division, 35th; United States. Army. Division, 28th |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Women |
| Site Accession Number | A0969 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| 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. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | n.d. |
| Language | English |