John H. Thacher letter to Pards - February 11, 1919
Transcript
1st Bn. 129 F.A. SALMAGNE, FRANCE. [February] 11th, 1919. Dear Pards:- If this pale and sickly Corena [ms illegible: 1 wd] will hold out – which it hasn’t – and won’t – I will write you a line or two to try and pass the buck back to you on the letter – writing game. Item one. The “Stars” are still coming regularly. I don’t believe I have missed a one except a few in late October when we moved up to Verdun and also some of the Sunday papers. Item 2. The chocolate came also with perfect regularity and are munched greedily – the moment they arrive. Item 3. The cigarettes come all right too. They are a little thin from the fatigues of [ms illegible: 1 wd] and long travel, but are very welcome. Your letters too. I think have all come I think, except one or two – and are greatly appreciated. The “excerpt” chain, has, I think given out now and I miss it. I think I have answered about all of them except perhaps one or two – It was some job, but a pleasant one. I went on my leave down to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo and Menton. It was rather disappointing after the long months I had looked forward to it. Hotels boarded up, no theaters to speak of. The gaming rooms at Monte Carlo closed to officers and all of us treated about like convicts. You have to stand up all right in the trains and you can’t get sugar
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
and still have to have bread tickets for bread. About the best time I had on the trip was a day stolen in Paris where I saw Jim Guinotte – had a room only two doors away from him in the same hotel. He is looking well, and is just the same capable and efficient Jim that we knew years ago, in the office. Knows everywhere to go, (that one ought to go), & how to do everything & where to do it. We went around the city together – Notre Dame, St. Gervais – which was bombed by the big Bertha, the shows that were open – which were few - & the bet stores to buy things and just what to pay. We spent all Sunday [February] 3, together & had a good time. I think he is pretty tired of Paris and the French and would be glad to get home. He has seen quite a good part of the country and I believe has gotten a great deal out of his experience over here. I came back and found that the regiment and Brigade had moved from Verdun down to the small towns in the neighborhood of Bar-le-Due and Commercy
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
We are in cold-storage billets in this little [ms illegible: 1 wd] town, where we pile overcoats & clickers on top of our blankets and the ice freezes on tooth-brushes and breaks the crockery [ms illegible: 1 wd]. We think we are going home but one can never tell in the Army. We turned in our pieces and caissons and horses at Verdun and then we had them all issued back to us again. Last week we drove our pieces through snow & blizzard for 40 miles to turn them in again and today we
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
sent the horses through the snow over the hills to be turned in and then were ordered to take them back again and have them sharp-shoed ready to “move” the regiment at once. We turn in our harness and got it back again. We turn in ration carts and get ‘em back again. We march ‘em up the hill and we marched ‘em down again. So it has always been – and so it is that I can not say how soon I will be likely to see my chicks and
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
my pards again. All of which is not by way of complaint or criticism (you remember the P.S. in the letter from the Jew boy Jake. “They was shot this morning for complaining!”) but merely to show what the ways of the Army are and ever will be world without end. We are all interested observers of the lid-lifting on the 35th Division in the news papers. I think there will be more of it. I have always believed that there is a God in Israel. We are of course just marking time. Went out with the Major and the Mayor of the village – wild boar – hunting. Saw two, real old [ms illegible: 1 wd]. Also three deer but didn’t get a shot on any of them. “In Wildest France!” Had some wild-boar meat, however, shot by some of the natives. We are all well, except for colds – no influenza – little sickness of any kind. I hope Mrs [ms illegible: 1 wd] is better. My best regards to Mrs Vineyard. Yours doubtfully John Thacher Capt F.A. Command John Thacher Capt F.A.
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
Capt John Thacher 129 F.A. American Ex. Forces Officers mail. Messrs. Rozzelle, Vineyard Kansas City, [Missouri] 927 N.Y. Life Bldg U.S.A.
Description
Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Details
| Title | John H. Thacher letter to Pards - February 11, 1919 |
| Creator | Thacher, John H. |
| Source | Thacher, John H. Letter to Pards. 11 February 1919. John H. Thacher Papers. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri. |
| Description | Letter from John H. Thacher to his law partners at Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher & Boys. He thanked them for the newspapers and chocolate as well as described his recent leave to France. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division. |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | February 11, 1919 |
| Language | English |