George J. Maguolo letter to unknown recipient - March 2, 1919
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The “Truth” or the things I may not write of! [George Maguolo]
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“things of which I may not write! [newspaper clipping] Oklahoma Senator Confirms Brest Camp’s Reputation
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[newspaper clipping] American Soldiers Not All Yearning to Discard Khaki [caption] this article is beyond the propaganda stage! Certainly the individual who wrote it has a very small brain. Because he is contented to give up a soda fountain clerk job – every body else is contented with their present status! Logic! D-m 1 “Most American lads in the army have never before enjoyed etc. “Our bunch nearly had a riot on this! 2 If you only knew the French as I know them you could understand what stupidity & ignorance are at our heads!
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In reading 2 remember that Brest is at the coast - the outer edge of the A.E.F.! Hevens forbid that they publish what takes place in the interior!! the 3 article is quite disgusting! Can you now see what propaganda means? the U.S.A. criticized germany for beefing up her papers & controlling the press. What are we doing now! there will be the devil to pay when these men are again free! I still have hopes for the educational furlough – but so far nothing has been done for me. the same applies to the furlough to Italy. I was much interested in the scheme you have to contract with Shapleigh and sincerely hope it may be successful. But dont you think it would be wise to concentrate on the music boxes at a sacrifice to everything else? [page 4]
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[newspaper clipping] “Fierce Criticism of National Guard Demotions in House “[newspaper clipping] “Sense of Justice Shocked by Court Martial Sentences”
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[page 6] Ray’s letter is rather sarcastic. He laments his conditions – thinking his is the worst! Naturally he writes to me uncensored and can tell details. But he forgets that we are going on our 2nd year here while he had yet to finish his first. We being an older Regiment having profiled in past experiences – never without doubt living in better circumstances. Such as they are! the army is the same everywhere except for the fiction between “the Militia and Regular Army. He is with a Militia Regiment while I am in the Regular Army. Read p. 5 for the difference. to hope & pray we both may get out of this slavery as all that we may ask! In the inclosed “base bulls” you may read of a comment we
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[page 7] got for a burial ceremony. A short time ago a gang of us were detailed to perform as a firing squad at general McIndois funeral. at Bazoilles sur-Meuse. We pulled out at 330 Am in the morning on trucks to the destination in a blinding snow storm - singing and making merry in spite of the bad destination. there we were given a warm reception & marched ¾ of a mile in a terrible sleet & snow storm in the procession. Upon arrival to the grave in a field of wooden crosses, the casket was taken off the artillery caisson and temporarily lowered in the grave. Lots of high officials around - many nurses from a neighboring hospital & a band. Flowers galore! Only used for generals.
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[page 8] Got back late that night but just in time to see the Co. “H” show (also mentioned in the “Base Bull). next morning I was given charge of a detail to locate the grave with an instrument and camera man. It was a beastly cold day and several times the truck nearly run up a tree getting through the snow drifts. (we got a little hot rum on the road by the way.) the grave was so burried in snow we had to dig for it. It was a beautiful sight to see the pretty flowers preserved in the snow. After clearing off the grave, giving it a geometrical shape, we borrowed a cross from a doughboy’s grave (of which there are thousands!) and proceeded to decorate the generals final resting place.
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[page 9] We then photographed it and located the spot on the map. Outside of cussing the wop who was digging the grave next to us, for spilling dirt all over our snow white path around the general – all turned out O.K. We bummed some dinner outside the hospital & beat it for home. Passed a Sailor convoy of trucks bound for Alsace. - the show Co. “H” put on was certainly clever. they had girl make up’s which would make old Jule Eltinge look to his laurels. A sad circumstance took place. the company shared supper mess with us which was the usual “slum”. It had the disastrious affect of giving all the actors diarrhea. So it was one continued running between the acts! In fact some say they could see the look
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[page 10] of distress on their faces even before the curtain fell. – now to see generals, buck privates, Algerians a Frenchman in our stoop & squat toilets does not take much notice. BUT to see girls with their silken finery around their necks in our toilets! that was too much! there came near being a riot among those who did not know of the show. We had a good laugh over it next day. the photographer whom I had with me on the grave survey detail, was a member of the official party who worked from Ostenel Belgium - to Belfort. He has a wonderful [ms illegible: 1 wd] of photographs which he is going to duplicate for me back in the states.
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And today we were “de-louzed.” Do you know what it is delouzed? Well you take all your clothes and blankets down to the wash house - tie up every thing in the blankets and save only your soap & towel with which to take a bath. In the mean time all your worldly possessions are placed in a sterilizing outfit and subjected to live steam. You hang around dressed only in dog tags until the bundle returns. Yes you ought to see me now! We look like tramps most of the time but yea verily we are ”bums” now. the clothes shrink and wrinkled as if we found them at some salvage dump. Don’t you get the main idea? Why to kill all the cockroaches – cooties, mice and other animals. Yea – I had a few pet cooties with “service stripes” but they had to go cause I couldn’t afford to support their families.
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Certainy to take in odd work during such a contract must involve a loss of much time. to run a plant which produced the highest dividends on the capital involved is the 1st factor to success – no matter wether it be making music boxes or wash-boards! the artistic mania for special work can come later. Active work at the shop always arouses my interest and makes me long to come home immediately. But if you can get along without me I should very willingly spend from six months to a year in a European school – should this army grant me permission or discharge. So don’t worry about me for although I do grumble – conditions now are far better than during the war. Your sincere son George – [George] J. Maguolo [Corporal] Co. A. 29th [Engineers] APO - #741 A.E.F March 2 1919.
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And you wonder why I remain a buck Corporal? [dots across page] Lay the little flag aside and carefully read the naked truth which appears in the papers on special occasions. Do you wonder that I often get a lump in the throat? There will be the special cases of this democratic? Army which we can speak of only when I am again with you – free and disconnected from any bonds with this man’s army. Please mail this booklet “Truth” to Lushy Simpson’s folks. [George Maguolo] Please include this sheet also L.S.
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[newspaper clipping]
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[newspaper clipping]
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to unknown recipient - March 2, 1919 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to unknown recipient. 2 March 1919. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote this letter on March 2, 1919 while in France. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company A and served in France until 1919. In this letter "The Truth or the things I may not write of" Maguolo sent home commentary and newspaper clippings about the soldiers pensions, the conditions of camps, and the issue of soldiers not knowing when they would return home. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--Propaganda |
| 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 | March 2, 1919 |
| Language | English |