George Rehn letter to Dad - November 24, 1918
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[American Y.M.C.A. letterhead][November 24, 1918] Dear Dad! No doubt you and the bunch are somewhat worried as to my health and welfare. Well let this letter put you at eaze as I am in the best of health and am as ever enjoying my experience as a Marine. I sent you all a letter on about the 14th of November and I am in doubt as to whether it reached you not as we were at the time making arrangements to move to another town, and am led to believe it was lost in the confusion. We landed in Brest on about the 7th of November after a pleasant trip across the pond which lasted thirteen days. After a week in Brest we passed through St. Briuc to Tours staying there over night, after which we went to St Aignon and Noyan,
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[page 2] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] billeting there over night and leaving the next day for Chateau our present home. We had some time traveling De Luxe in French Railway Coaches. They are nothing but an old box car into which we are packed 40 strong. We had a hell of a time singing eating and trying to sleep, but very few complained at traveling in that style. My present home is in an attic in the home of a good old French woman who cannot do enough for us. She claims to have been driven from her home in [Chateau Thierry] by the Germans. There are sixteen of us billeted at her home. Our billet has a tile floor and is very cold at night, but we are given straws. upon which we spread our rain coats and have three blankets with which to cover up with. That and the
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[page 3] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] fact that we sleep in our clothes keeps us comfortably warm. We drink, wash and shave in ice water. Our chow is good, very good, weve got a cook now who is a wonder. He is some biscuit baker and pan cake maker. Our drilling goes on just as it did when the Germans were still at it. We have our daily gas drills hand grenading and French drilling over some of the most wonderful country I ever saw. Uncle Sam has not let up any in his effort to make the world a safe place to live in. I wish you could see some of the grapes over here, why there seems to be no end to them whatever. One thing I noticed in particular and that is that none
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[page 4] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] of the vines are more than two feet high. Wine is very cheap and plentiful one can buy a quart for 2 Francs and some has some kick to it. There are about ten varieties of wine to be had. This happens to be Saturday night and I believe every man in the Regiment is crowded into the Y.M.C.A. Had a dandy show here Thursday night given by a bunch of Army men who travel from village to village and entertain the men at the different Y. huts. One can buy a Hot cup of chocolate at the Y. for ten cents (50 centimes) which does a lot to warm us up and keep us in good spirits. Dont forget to Boost the Y. back home as they do everything within their power to make France a good place for the Yanks to live in.
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[page 5] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] Tomorrow is going to be a big day in camp, and that is nothing but Payday, and dont forget their is no lid in France on Sunday. We expect quite a feed on Thanksgiving Day which is soon and will be forgotten by the time this letter reaches you. I expect to be home shortly (6 months Ha! Ha!) and when I do dont forget to tell me about some of those famous doughnuts. I hope this letter finds you all in the best of health and spirits. May I add a few words for Mother who I know will understand that this letter is for Dad, it being known as Dad
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[page 6] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] I am enclosing a phamplet which was used on Mothers Day which I believe was away back in May, and was quite a success. Everything is done here by candle light at night and I have never seen anything but same. Ive seen my first Mistletoe that is the manner in which it grows. It grows away up in the trees and looks a good deal like a huge birds nest from the distance. And aeroplanes, well they are as common as sparrows back home I have so much to write about that it will be impossib to send it all in any one letter so I will save some for the
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[page 7] [American Y.M.C.A. letterhead] time. Heres hoping you had a good Thanksgiving and will have a Merry Christmans I close as ever Lovingly George. The best of health to Man Marie, Elsie Kate, George and Norman. Write and write Damm Soon Address Pvt Geo. H. Rehn 1st Raining Battallion 1st Training Regiment A.P.O. 727 A.E.F. U.S. Marines France c/o Company B. Ha! Ha! Ha. [sensors signature]
Details
| Title | George Rehn letter to Dad - November 24, 1918 |
| Creator | Rehn, George |
| Source | Rehn, George. Letter to Dad. 24 November 1918. George H. Rehn Collection. 1982.279. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | George Rehn sent this letter to his Dad while in France on November 24, 1918. Rehn described his trip to France, billeting in a French woman's home, shows at the camp Y.M.C.A., and other general activities. George Rehn was part of the 63rd Guard Unit, 13th Marine Regiment. Rehn served in France from November 1918 to July 1919 as part of Company B, 9th SEP Battalion. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; United States. Marine Corps--1910-1920.; Thanksgiving; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Y.M.C.A.Soldiers-Billeting |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; United States. Marine Corps. Regiment, 13th |
| Site Accession Number | 1982.279 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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. |
| Date Original | November 24, 1918 |
| Language | English |