George J. Maguolo letter to Sister - December 13, 1918
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Langres France December 13, [1918] [small sketch of soldier] Dear Sister – Your letter of [November] 6th reached me a few days ago. Glad to know everything at home is OK. It begins to look as though we will have a pretty tough winter as there are no proposals of leaving before spring. this life is becoming monotinous and were it not for the occasional pipe dreams we have, dont know now how we’d exist. My latest is a trip to Italy which I mentioned in Louis’s letter a few days ago. Have heard nothing as yet but live in hopes of seeing some of our relatives before returning. Our present location is different, from any that I have yet seen. We are billeted in a Fortress along with some French. It is located upon a high hill together with a small town, and surrounded by an emense wall. It was once a Roman camp and the old moats
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[page 2] and draw bridges have been carefully restored. (Look for its location on the map I sent dad). But – it is nothing short of prison life. We have our plant here in a barracks and live within the walls. Some of the company have been detailed to germany & Luxemburg but nothing has been said to Simpson, Herbert & I. We hardly envy them for the long weary marches this winter will be pretty severe. there is but one desire from any one you can meet – and that is “we want to go home.” As for a raise in rank there is not a change. You are unable to understand this Army business and I could say nothing of it – but just wait until we get home, and I can tell you a few things. About four weeks before the Armistice I was given opportunity to take an examination for a commission. I probably passed
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[page 3] all right but the Armistice cut out all further raises. So it’s just a case of hard luck. – If your blankets are left in the rain and you sleep in a damp bunk – its a case of hard luck – if you stumble & lose your dinner – it’s a case of hard luck. If some one steals your toilet articles – or puts his muddy feet all over your bed – Its a case of hard luck. If the guy next to you comes in drunk v - all over the floor and snores hard enough to keep you awake most of the night – it is all hard luck. Nothing to do about it just patiently endure. Oh! Wont it be a blessed day when we may shake the shackles of this Army and think for ourselves? I hope you received my Xmas coupon. Perhaps it came too late but never mind. I have a good standing with a bout 6 French families. A wealthy Parisienne, the
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wife of a French Colonel (who is director or a large Champagne Firm) is my “Morraine” (adopted mother) She has been very good to me while in the hospitals, so I suppose she will remember me during the holidays. We naturally cannot have much for Xmas here this year. Unless I can get a couple days off with some of my French friends. By the way have you heard from ”Madeline” in Blois? A recent letter from her states she has written you. Am inclosing a card of coins. Dont know if it will get by the Belgian coin is a german “iron” piece circulated there by the germans after they had robbed the Belgian treasuries. The rest are common coins we use every day. the paper money which is about the size of the card is very poor and runs in 10-20-5-100 + etc. The 5 franc & 1 franc notes are about
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[page 5] ¼ the size of the card - . All gold money has been taken out of circulation during the war. The sheet of cartoons was made by one of our men formerly a cartoonist with the New York Times. It shows the branches of some of our work. the first you may recognize as yours truly. Herbert & Simpson are in the department doing the work shown in 3. At present of course I am in charge so do not do much of any of this. These represent the construction of relief models with the study of visibility for observation. Inclosed is a bit of [ms illegible: 2 wds] I picked up in the village Best wishes for a bright new year. Your brother [Corporal] [George] Maguolo Co. “A” 29th [Engineers] A. P. O. #714 [censor’s signature]
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Sister - December 13, 1918 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Louis. 13 December 1918. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote a letter to his sister on December 13, 1918 while in France. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company A and served in France until 1919. In this letter Maguolo wrote that his company would be in France until the spring and that some members of his company had been detailed to Germany and Luxembourg. He also stated that even though he passed the 2nd Lt. exam he didn’t obtain a commission due to the Armistice. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918 |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Students Army Training Corp (S.A.T.C.) |
| 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 | December 13, 1918 |
| Language | English |