Sidney Towner Phelan letter to Val - September 4, 1917
Transcript
[September] 4, 1917 Dear Val, We have been through some hell - shells, gas and living conditions. Work as long as you can stand then get a few hours sleep on the floor of a dugout. Eat semi occasionally, dope yourself with strong coffee and keep going on the nervous stimulation afforded by the danger. That has been my life for two weeks. Thrills enough for a couple of lifetimes. Sights you cant imagine and smells the same. Our section has been very lucky. With the worst post in France we have not lost a man or had one wounded. We have been through a big attack and handled the wounded well. Ten of our cars have been damaged by shell fire (three while I was on the seat or on my face beside them). I have had some pretty close shaves. Had three shells throw gravel and rocks on me and my helmet and some skin knocked off my head (no wound just a little rock popped me).
Transcript
The U. S. Army has again taken us over. They offer us enlistment for the duration of the war as privates. I will resign as every man in our section will and as the chief of our service down. I don’t know what I will go in but aviation looks best. I doubt if I can get in on account of my eyes. Rex is back in Paris. He didn't get along with our French lieutenant. They had several arguments and Rex finally cussed him out and called him a son of a ( you can supply the rest.) Luckily Rex didn't hit him. Rex is all right though as he has a letter from our section chief supporting him. The lieut. is a friend of a general though and he gave Rex his papers to Paris. Rex's departure was more like a triumph than anything else. The Lafayette Esquadrille are camped here. I forgot to say that we are on repos now. They are some bunch of fellows. Val, the thing to get into is aviation. I mean that. Its the best in every way. Under the changed conditions of service I would not advise ambulance work. Towner.
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to Val - September 4, 1917 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to Val. 4 September 1917. Sidney Towner Phelan Papers, 1899-1960. A1209. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Sidney Towner Phelan, a St. Louis native, wrote a letter to Val while serving as a volunteer ambulance driver in France. In this letter, Phelan wrote about the rigors of his living conditions and his experiences on the front lines. He also explained that the U.S. Army had taken over his unit and made everyone Privates. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; World War, 1914-1918--Medical care; United States. Army. Ambulance Company No. 5; Gas;World War, 1914-1918--Chemical warfare |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Lafayette Esquidrilles |
| Site Accession Number | A1209 |
| 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 | September 4, 1917 |
| Language | English |