George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - January 11, 1919
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January 11, [1919] Dear Folks - Again I find myself writing having nothing else to do. this is Sunday afternoon and the snow is softly falling outside. I am in an unusually good mood, hence the letter. this morning I went to St. Martins for a change instead of the Cathedral. they have a beautiful high mass with good music. I was much impressed with the altar-boys who were dressed in the usual red gown with a lace apron and a red cape with a white trimming. On their heads they had red skull caps. The costume reminded me of the painting of San Carlo Borriommio which hangs above the main altar of the Italian church in St. Louis. And they conduct themselves in a very orderly way.
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[page 2] (How different from our church at home!) But best of all - it is the change in atmosphere which I enjoy best. From the mud and foul mouths, to a congregation of refined people. and some are dressed with the usual good French taste (probably with the profits of American sales). I have enclosed a card of the Church. the Belfry lantern is very interesting but one cannot say much for the rest of it. Yesterday was a “red letter” day. I was put in charge of a mess hall gang which is an easy detail. (We now alternate fatique work one day and map relief the next). this gave me a few hours between meals to myself in which time I read over “Baedikers Nothern Italy” in contemplation of the much
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[page 3] wished for furlough. Who should walk in but Glenn Phelps (1st Lieut) in the Air Service. Naturally I was very glad to see him. He has had such an unusual career that I shall start at the beginning. Phelps was in my class at school and heard from Lieut. Maenner who was an instructor in panoramic sketching at Fort Omaha about the same time I did ([October] 1917) Probably you remember Maenner stating that he needed an assistant and was quite sure there was something in for me, if I would come out. But no, the 419th Engineers looked promising to me so I went to Camp Devens. (Oh! how I have payed for that ignorance of this Army’s methods). At any rate the bunch who went to Omaha received a silver bar
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[page 4] after three months, Phelps among them. He was qualified as an artillery observer from captive balloons. He came over about the same time I did and thrown into the lines of the Argonne. Of course the history of his 6 mo. stay at the front is a separate story but yesterday he came to Langers – all the way from Vittel which is over 100 klms from here. He had been in the hospitals there for a month & a half. Under his fur coat was Croix de guerre with a gold star and D. S. C. (Distinguished service cross. On his arm was a divisional mark of 1st Army Corps and three service stripes. (1 silver & 2 gold). He wore the single wing of an observer and of course the same [ms illegible: 1 wd] with the gold bar.
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[page 5] And he is up for the (English) Victoria Cross! But the one honor he seems to cherish is the All American record of Balloon jumps. i.e. deserts in a parachute. He has been forced to jump 7 times. three when his balloon was set a fire by incendary bombs – twice by shrapnel fire and once by breaking from its mooring cable. He has operated on the St. Mihiel and Chateau Thierry Fronts. You probably know that the observer is the eyes of the Artillery – he is connected by telephone with the gunners & corrects their aim. In the evening I went down to the R.R. station to see him off. We take the “Cumaillere” (eug railway) which takes us up to the fort from the valley below
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[page 6] (See inclosed card of same). At the station we sat in a 1st cl. compartment for the last words before he left for Vittel. (there were a number of pretty Red Cross girls there also so I guess he had good company back). – But isn’t that an unusual career! He now has a month to roam to Nice – Monte Carlo, Marsailles - Touloue – Bordeaux- & Paris before returning to the states the lucky guy. There is nothing else new except perhaps that I’ve received a letter from the Chief Engineers Office stating that I passed the exam for a commision of 2nd Lieut but due to orders with the Armistice such was not granted. As I understand I am now a
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[page 7] so called 3rd Lieutenant which does not alter my rank of corporal but permits me to wear a silver stripe on the sleeve. Just out of luck, as usual, the order was sent [November] 8th but did not reach [General Headquarters] until after the 11th which was just enough too late to be S.O.L. Forgot to tell of how he saw Ray Lieukuhler. He met gray on the road (gray is a Freshman from [Washington University]) who told him he knew were Ray was. The battery were close by and had been active all night, so the fellows were trying to snatch a little sleep during the morning. In a bunch curled up in their blankets behind the guns was Ray mud from head to foot as usual, with his tin dirty pulled over his eyes - sawing wood.
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[page 8] After some little difficulty waking him up they recognized each other. glenn said he looked pretty tired and much in need of sleep as well as a hair cut shave & wash. But poor Ray is quite disgusted I know. Isn’t it strange that glenn should have been directing the guns Ray operated, and we should have been making the visibility studies & maps that glenn used? Actually he remembered specific charts in the Chateau – Thierry drive. And as for going home, we are not allowed to talk about it anymore so – Goodbye – Sincerley [George] Maguolo Co. “A” 29th [Engineers.] [censor’s signature]
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[newspaper clipping] What U. S. Papers Say The Returning Soldiers
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - January 11, 1919 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Folks. 11 January 1919. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote a letter to his parents on January 11, 1919 while in France. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company A and served in France until 1919. In this letter Maguolo compared his actual daily life with the daily life of soldiers that was being portrayed in American newspapers. Maguolo also described a chance encounter he had with one of his peers from Washington University, Glenn Phelps, who was a 1st Lt. in the Air Service. This letter was written on American Y.M.C.A. letterhead. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--Propaganda; World War, 1914-1918--War work --Red Cross |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| 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 | January 11, 1919 |
| Language | English |