Guide to the Keyton Family Collection (RG 256): Coblenz Letters, 1919-1920
Folder 256-20-0701-001-011
Transcriptions and Links to Scanned Original Letters (in PDF) for folder 256-20-0731-001-011: July 1919-March 1920, Arthur Keyton to his parents, John and Ida Keyton. 14 items.
Biographical Note: John Arthur Keyton of Dothan, AL and Joyce Williams of Norwich, CT married in 1917 before he shipped off to World War I. In 1919, his unit became part of the US Third Army (Army of Occupation of the German Rhineland) headquartered at Coblenz ("Coblence" in French). Joyce joined Arthur in Late Summer, 1919. The couple was stationed in Sinzig, Germany then relocated to Coblenz when Arthur was reassigned to the 6th Field Artillery and the American forces were reduced in number. They returned to the US in Late Summer 1920.
Table of Contents
256-20-0731-001-011-001 July 19, 1919 Coblentz, Germany Arthur to "My Dear 'Little Mother' and Dad"
256-20-0731-001-011-002 Nov 22, 1919 Coblenz, Germany Arthur to "My Dear Mother and Dad"
256-20-0731-001-011-003 Nov 22, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dearest Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-004 Nov 24, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear 'Little Mother' and Father"
256-20-0731-001-011-005 Nov 30, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "My Dear Mother and Dad"
256-20-0731-001-011-006 Dec 10, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-007 Dec 10, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "My Dear 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-008 Dec 20, 1919 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Mother and Dad"
256-20-0731-001-011-009 Jan 2, 1920 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-010 Jan 6, 1920 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-011 Jan 11, 1920 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-012 Jan 18, 1920 Sinzig, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and 'Little Mother'"
256-20-0731-001-011-013 Feb 7, 1920 Coblenz, Germany Arthur to "Dear Father and Mother"
256-20-0731-001-011-014 Mar 30, 1920 Coblenz, Germany Arthur to "Dear 'Little Mother'"
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-001
Coblentz, Germany
July 27, '19
My Dear "Little Mother" and Dad,
It seems as if you cant get a letter from me so I will cable you tomorrow to let you know I am well and alive.
I can't understand what the trouble is for I get Joyces letter and yours too, and Joyce seems to get the most of mine.
I haven't had a letter from her in about two weeks but I guess she is alright or I would get a cable.
I am at present in a hospital for duty. Evacuation hosp. 27, Coblentz Germany, and will be here for at least three more months.
[page 2]
I have cabled Joyce to come on over if she can get passports and we will at least have the satisfaction of seeing each other every day then, even if I can't see you all.
I am disgusted, for I want to come home, but I reckon everything is for the best, so I will try to keep my mouth shut and just work.
I am getting on fine and like Germany better every day.
The people are good to us and in the main are very meek and humble so that we don't have any trouble at all with them.
Dad, I am glad you took a trip and I am happy that the Republic people have at last recognized your
[page 3]
good work.
Listen Dad, tell me something of what you have done with the business in the two years you have been working it, wont you.
Do you really think you will move to Birmingham? I hope you do, for I think the change will be a good thing.
Mother, if you dont take good care of yourself I will certainly spank you when I get home.
Listen Dad 鈥� you know Mr. Carroll at Cottonwood dont you? well please make it convenient to see him and tell him that I wrote you that I believed they were going to keep Charlie over here for they need field clerks in some
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of these hospitals. I will explain why I request this when I see you again.
We are working to get a permanent lodge established over here and an Eastern star chapter started.
I have attended lodge meetings in Coblentz and it does a fellow good to go, for that is the nearest like church we are able to get, apparently, and I get pretty hungry to hear a good sermon occasionally.
I think one of yours, Dad, would be just about what I need. something forceful and strong. nothing but "straight goods" and no beating around the bush "lolly-pop" stuff.
I had quite an examination to get in this lodge, for it was Rhode Island
[page 5]
work and I took mine in Maryland, but I got by with colors still flying.
I wish I could have you all over here with me, and Dad, if you do move to Birmingham you and Mother take a while off and run over here and I will show you the battlefields and training areas where our men trained and fought. Cant you do that? It wouldn't take long and you both would enjoy the trip immensely.
If you will come I will meet you in Brest France and pilot you around and bring you to Germany with me.
I can speak German now alright but I couldn't make heads or
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tails out of French.
Dr. Chaudron is up here. a Lieut. Colonel now, but I guess he will be going home before very long, as all reserve corps men will have to be out of the service by the last of September.
Mother, I am obliged for sending me the details of the big fight but you neglected to tell me that Willard was knocked down 6 times in the first round and lost 5 teeth in the "ruckus." and I too am glad he lost.
I am still keenly interested in boxing over here and I just recently beat the best heavy-weight in the 3rd Division by making
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him quit in the first round.
I haven't any scars or false teeth as souvenirs and I have fought about 50 times over here. some of the best men in the ring too, and I haven't been licked yet.
I fought a light-heavy who fought for the A.E.F. Championship over here 鈥� a 4 round go in which I bested him on points 鈥� that was one of my best fights 鈥� but my C.O. now wont let me fight 鈥� for I got here and found three ex-professional fighters and tried to get a fight but the C.O. said no officers were going to box if he knew it or they would get in trouble.
I haven't got much to do, but I
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mange somehow to fill up my time visiting around among my friends, for there are two other fellows here who have been with me over a year.
Well, I am going to quit for tonight, but please write me a nice long letter telling me all the news and plan for this trip over here.
With a world of love and a million kisses I am as ever
your devoted son
Arthur
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-002
[Coblenz, Germany] Nov. 22, 1919
My Dear Mother and Dad,
Perhaps you wonder if I'm paralyzed or sick or dead, but I assure you that I am all to the velvet so far as those things go, thank the Lord, but I have been so busy getting acquainted with my wife that I have had a lapse of memory or something.
Time seems to pass as "old Bill" used to say "like ships in the night," for I hardly realize its morning before its dusk and morning quickly follows the dusk.
I am as well and strong as a young ox, eat thrice daily and between meals, sleep like the proverbial "log" and have a clear conscience 鈥� maybe because it dead 鈥� anyhow I enjoy
[page 2]
living more than I ever have, I believe.
The girl and I are trying to save every shekel we can to get started with when we are able to put enough away to keep off wolves and creditors for at least a year.
We sent $300.00 to the bank last month, and unless we have some bad luck I think we will be able to deposit about $125 a month while we are over here.
Joyce has about $300 in travelers checks which we are holding for emergency use and we try to live as economically as possible.
Sometimes I wonder whether I have really reached mans estate, for I feel so incapable of doing the things I have got to do and so unworthy of the work that feel is before me.
I sometimes wish I had spent a few years more in preparation for life, for I am just awakening to what life really is, and I feel that unless we bring every faculty to bear upon our tasks, however humble they be, that
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we will have not justified our existence or the ends for which our Creator intended us.
There is so much to be done, such a small time to do it in and such great obstacles to overcome that we need every sense well trained, to bring to the tasks efficient hands and minds.
I was very much interested in and impressed by two books which I read at some length last summer, one on anthropology the other on sociology, and I think the purposes of life were more clearly presented to me by having studied those two wonderful books.
I have seen a book advertised which although patronized by big men is a fraud, the book "Brain Power," for brain power in the sane human being is originally equal but we acquire the use of it through "application" 鈥� the secret is, some apply, the majority doesn鈥檛.
Sometimes we have to humble ourselves before another who has applied harder than we and that fact is what makes me say that I wish I had more preparation, for in order to excel
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we must be excellent.
Joyce is as fat as can be considering her disposition, but I am gradually getting her house-broke again, subdued in heart and humble 鈥� for I am tired of being hen-pecked like she used to say she was going to hen-peck me 鈥� tired of it without any of it.
Mother you asked me how I liked my "colonel" I will in turn ask you a question 鈥� Have you any conception of how the devil likes "Holy Water"?
I received a big bunch of papers tonight and am anxious to bury myself in them to find out what Dothanites are thinking and doing.
Papa, I know you love us both better than you do your health or life so I fully forgive you for not writing often, but I sure am tickled when I get a letter from that big, fine Dad of mine. is the hint strong enough!
With much love dear ones, to you, and my kindest regards to our friends, I am, as ever,
Your affectionate son,
John Arthur.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-003
Sinzig, Germany
Nov. 22nd, 1919
Dearest Father and "Little Mother,"
Today we received your sweet letter of Oct. 27th and two nice bunches of papers and we surely were glad to get them.
Arthur is writing you all too and even if we do say the same things it will give you the fun of receiving and opening two letters instead of one. The miscurses [?] of the second line above this one is due to the sudden move of your
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2
little boy so I know you will pardon it.
Well Thanksgiving is nearly here and Arthur and I surely feel than we have more to be thankful for this year than any year so far for each year seems to find us better off in every way and we are so thankful to God for all the blessings we have received.
We have been in Sinzig a month to-day and we surely have enjoyed it out here. It is a very small place, no society and as a result we are able to live a very quiet life and save a bit of money. Just think by the
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3.
time you all get these letters it will nearly be Xmas. I don't know whether we will be able to get a turkey or not but we aren't worrying about that, a chicken will go mighty nice.
Poor Bess surely has had a time, please give her my love and tell her I said I hoped she would soon be feeling all right.
At present we haven't any snow as we had a hard rain which not only washed it all away but made walking miserable.
I am working on my spread I started when I was home, crocheting it. When I was in Coblenz I started studying music
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but of course had to give it up when we moved. Well Arthur is melting the sealing wax and waiting for me to finish this so I can have this letter sealed so with heaps of love to you both and hugs, kisses and prayers I am
Your loving daughter,
Joyce.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-004
Sinzig, Germany
Nov. 24th, 1919.
Dear "Little Mother" and Father,
I suppose you are real busy getting your turkey ready for Thanksgiving, you surely would have to have a big one if your kiddies were going to have dinner with you, we surely would love too.
We are not going to be able to get a turkey but we will have chicken if nothing happens.
It has been warmer here to-day and the snow is all gone
[page 2]
at present and we surely are glad of it.
I have had a terrible cold but am feeling O.K. again, you see my dear good hubby takes such good care of me I can't stay sick long.
Arthur is sitting here at the table to my left, buried in a book as usual, and he says to give you all his best love.
I had such a nice letter from Miss Annie Colein, in Jessup, she seems so interested in Arthur and I. One surely enjoys a letter from home over here.
Our dog is growing like a week and he is so cute. I know Father that you are awfully anxious for me to come home bringing "Jack." Really
[page 3]
he is unusually beautiful.
Arthur had a letter from Dr. Ross, "Rossie's" husband, you know they are in Mobile, he said he was back in civil life and getting along fine.
A great many of the Army wives are coming over now, when we came there were only about three others ahead of us.
We are just crazy about this little town of Sinzig and we would love to stay here all the time we are in Germany. Here we can live comparatively cheap, and do not have to do any society but just enjoy our little home and try and put a lot of ones away so you will have to give us a
[page 4]
whole lot of [illegible] for when we get home Father.
By the way, I can get a good diamond here for $250, don't you want to send me a money order so I can get it over here, you know Xmas is almost here.
Well I will close for to-day so with lots of love, hugs, kisses and prayers from Arthur and I to you both, I am
Your loving daughter,
Joyce.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-005
Sinzig, Germany, Nov. 30, '19
My Dear Mother and Dad,
Today is Sunday and an exceptionally pretty day for the Rhineland, with the sun trying his best to warm up the whole world with his cheery smile and the winds quieted and the day reminds me of the spring days at home.
Well, thanksgiving day is come and gone again, and I had more to be thankful for this past year than any other year of my life, because it is the last year I have lived and from the
[page 2]
summit of its end I was able to review the whole of my life and so to give thanks for things I had forgotten before.
For our Thanksgiving noon we went to the Y.M.C.A. here and had dinner with all the men in the company.
From the place cards you can see what the days programme was and what a gorgeously filling dinner we had.
A real spirit of thanksgiving was present and especially did we gorge ourselves, thus attesting to the fact that though our sentiments might have been unspoken our actions denoted our grateful spirits.
I ate so much turkey etc. that I almost had to have crutches to walk home
[page3]
with and my stomach stuck out like C.C. Bush's stomach a few years back.
I came home in a drowsy good humor and loafed about waiting for our own little family dinner, for which the girl served us up a fine baked turkey with chestnut stuffing, chicken salad with the best of Mayonnaise on it, gravy, the thick, good kind, cake, gelatin with fruit and nut-meats in it, pie, doughnuts, apples, pears and grapes 鈥� and of course potatoes, beets and best of all, cranberry sauce 鈥� um! um! um! I sure did gorge myself right.
We had two friends to dinner with us, a Captain and his wife, and the Captain ate so much it made him
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sick 鈥� but never a hair did I turn except dreaming; I had two million dreams that night, but all were good 鈥� having to do with a mountain of gelatin with rivers of whipped cream coursing down its side and I was there with a gravy spoon lapping up the good stuff.
I hope that thanksgiving day will ever be a day of as much real gratitude and feasting as it was this time with your children.
We are both fine just now and I sure hope you are both as well as you can be.
With much love to you both and a great wish to see you I am
Your affectionate son
Arthur
[Attachment: program for Thanksgiving Day, 11th Provisional Guard Co. stationed at Sinzig, November 27th 1919, 4 pages]
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-006
Dec. 10, 1919
Sinzig, Germany.
Dear Father and "Little Mother,"
It has been snowing here again for a change and it is very cold, we can stand it all right. however, for we have been having very fine weather, then too, we are not worrying for our fuel supply had recently been replenished.
Yesterday Arthur and I spent the day in Coblenz. You see we have to get all or our foodstuffs from the American Sales Commissary consequently we have to toat home everything we eat. To-day my girl went out and hunted the town and brought back four eggs, a prize indeed for we haven't had one to eat in almost two months.
Just think it is going on four months since I landed at Brest and three months to-day Arthur and I arrived in Coblenz.
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2.
Four of us girls who came over together, and whose husbands went from Coblenz to Brest together to meet us wives, with our husbands had such a pleasant reunion at Dr. and Mrs. Woodland's house at a tea last Friday celebrating our happy meeting at Brest.
After this month Antwerp will be the port for American Troops.
Arthur has just come in with two good sweet letters from our dear "Little Mother" and it surely is a treat to get them.
It makes us happy to know you all are well and getting along O.K. How I wish Mother had decided to go to Alabam for the Winter for I know it is the best place for her especially. Mother who feels the cold so much.
I am getting her mail O.K. now and I surely am glad of it.
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P.S. Father they are selling diamonds here at $200 a karat and they are beauties too, so if you really intend getting me one it would be a lot better to let me buy it over here.
Joyce.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 22, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-007
[Prescript] Joyce weighs 140 I weigh 192 what do you think of that!
[Coblenz, Germany] Dec. 10, 1919
My Dear "Little Mother,"
I wish I could slip in on you tonight, with all your fussing around, etc. for there must be lots of fussing to be done, what with "Reverend" and Bess in the house a-mooning away like real lovers.
That marriage is so pitiful but humorous, for "Rev." has said so much about getting married and is so inhumanely ugly that I can't imaging him loving anybody in an open above-board sort of way.
I bet they are funny! Do they make love and coo around like Joyce and your son used to do, or do they look sulky and say
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nothing?
"Little Mother," I got your letter in which you told me how to do things, but I dont feel quite ready for that yet, I dont believe the time is quite ripe and until it is I want to work and save every cent I can so that I can one day be independent and every dollar to my credit in the bank brings me one step nearer independence.
If I can save $1500 I will try to borrow a thousand more and go to work.
Mother, I have written General Gorgas for a place with him on the Yellow fever commission, and I want the place very badly; I dont know what my chances are but if God is willing then I will bet the place.
Pray for me if you will, but pray with the feeling that we must and will cheerfully submit to disappointment if it is His will.
Dear Little Angel Mother, how often do I
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feel the dire need of your advice and counsel and encouragement.
My dear wife does as much as she can to be mother, father and wife to me, but no one can fill mothers place but her, and there are times when I sorely need you.
Can you not at times feel me trying to communicate with you? I seem to feel at times that you are with me and to hear your voice and I get great comfort and encouragement out of that fact.
I have written Dad a long letter in which I told him of my desires and plans and I will wait a little before I ask him for more help.
It isn't like it was before I knew what it was to make my own money and be the boss of my own financial affairs and it is hard for me to make up my mind to being dictated to even by my own Father again.
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I want to be able to use my own judgment and do things my own way, for that is my ideal just now.
Well, Little Mother o' mine, christmas is coming again, with its heart-aches and joys, its suffering and pleasures and I wonder if our spirits are attuned and dedicated to the spirit of the occasion, I hope and pray so.
I wish you, dearest of mothers, all the pleasure, none of the sorrow, all the joy, none of the sadness, all the happiness, none of the misery of the most blessed life, and I pray that this Christmas may only serve as a gateway to many another christmas which will be happier than its predecessor, and may the New Year bring to you your dearest ambitions abundantly fulfilled 鈥� with love and kisses as the most fitting offering I am as ever 鈥�
Your devoted son 鈥�
Joyce senders love and kisses.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-008
Sinzig Germany
Dec. 20, 1919
Dear Mother and Dad,
We received the Xmas box O.K. and I can never tell you how much we appreciate it, and since Joyce has already spoken for herself I will say that you could not have gotten me anything I would have really and sincerely appreciated more than I do my Masonic pin, for anything Masonic attracts me more than anything else.
The little booklet too, I have enjoyed tremendously, for it seems like a letter from a long lost friend to sit down and read that book.
I appreciate is so much that would not wear the pin on my old uniform but waited till a new one was made up, and you cant imagine how fine that little pin looks under the lapel of my left hand breast pocket.
Joyce has been sewing around here since she got that beautiful thimble so much that I have to keep my eyes skinned to keep her from sewing me up in something by mistake.
She is getting fatter than ever; she weighed 145 this afternoon, and her face is as round as the full moon. I never saw anyone improve like she has since she's
[page 2]
been with me this time, and she eats so much I have to help her away from the table.
She has a splendid color in her cheeks and I am as glad as I can be to see her improving so, it speaks well for her husbands care.
We are both really in splendid condition, and just as well as can be, for which I am very thankful.
How I would like to be able to walk in on you all some night when you are at supper and just sit down in my old place and see the two dear faces look at me in surprise.
The other day there was an accident outside the house I live in. A captain ran over an old German with a big Locomobile and killed him.
The Cap. got a young german to help him get the old man into the back seat of the car while he came for me to give first aid.
I went running up there and saw a big crowd of the curious gathered round the car and the dead german slumped over on the shoulder of the young man, who sat there serenely unconscious of the burden he was so solicitously supporting. I looked at the old man and said "he is dead" in German, whereupon the young german immediately threw off the dead one and tried to get out, exclaiming for the whole wide world to hear "Doch! Hoch die Lieber, mein Gott mein Gott in Himmel!" meaning "there! High love, my God, my God in Heaven"! and I started laughing and
[page 3]
would have laughed, I believe, if someone had been threatening to run over me.
I took the old man up to my infirmary and sewed his head and face up and made him presentable for burial and one of my two medical dept. men was worse scared of the body and his part of threading the needles than the young german was of supporting him.
After I finished with the old man I sent my man down into the dark cellar for coal, and he almost cried over going and then came up with about a third of a bucket of coal, and to hear him coming, or rather falling, up the cellar steps one would have thought the devil himself were after the boy.
There are lots of funny things if we see them. I will quit for this time, for I know you must be tired of this letter, since it contains no news.
I have no idea when we will be coming home, and I am not anxious to come till spring, for the voyage would most likely be rough just now.
If you all hear of anything that would be of advantage to me to know please let me know as soon as possible.
With much love to you both and regards to our friends,
Your son
The "fat lady" (Joyce) sends her love.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-009
Sinzig, Germany
Jan. 2, 1920
Dear Father and Little Mother,
Arthur is out on a call and I am alone so I guess I will write you a little about our Xmas. First of all I shall have to ask you to please pardon this pencil but my pen is broken and rather than postpone this letter I feel sure pencil will be acceptable.
Of course we didn't give any gifts as we are trying to save all we can as long as we are here so when we get back to the States we can get out of the Service and start real living.
We even promised each other we wouldn't buy any thing for each other that was expensive just exchange gifts which I did but Arthur bought me a dozen small spoons, 陆 doz. knives & forks, and a cake and pie knive. Of course you know one can
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2.
buy all those kind of things so much cheaper over here than they can in the States. They have some of the handsomest silver services over here that I have ever seen.
Well to go back to Xmas, we were not able to get a turkey Xmas although they had them in some parts of the Area as they didn't arrive from Antwerp until late Wed. and we couldn't go up on that day. Nevertheless we had a good chicken and all that goes with it including plum pudding. One of the Y.M.C.A. ladies here sent me one for Xmas, wasn't that sweet of her?
Xmas evening we went up to the "Y" to a buffet supper after which they had Santa Claus and their tree and Arthur was Santa.
We were so happy to have the
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privilege of being together that that only was the greatest Xmas present in the world.
We thought of you all at home and wondered what you were doing.
This week we have had 6 letters and a bundle of papers each from Ala. and Conn. What a picnic we had too, opening those letters and discussing the home news.
Your kiddies are getting along as well as ever any two kids could, eating about 5 times a day and as happy as "dead pigs in the sunshine" as Arthur puts it.
Well Mother and Father I hope this will be the happiest and most prosperous year of your lives and that we may live to celebrate a good many more to-gether, with heaps of love from Arthur and I and hugs and kisses and prayers, I am,
Your loving daughter, Joyce
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-010
Sinzig, Germany
Jan. 6, 1919 1920
Dear Father and "Little Mother,"
It is very cold here after a warm spell which caused a great deal of damage as the ice and snow in the Alps and in this part of Germany melted and caused the Rhine river and the Moselle and Ahr rivers to rise so high that the whole country has been flooded.
In Coblenz the wat Rhine was so high that there was four feet of water in the cellars of the handsome residences along the river. We are very fortunate out here in "little Sinzig" for we are not near enough to the Rhine to suffer.
It is the highest the Rhine has been in years, it is receding now however and as it is cold again I guess all the excitement is over.
You said in one of your letters, Little Mother, that you thought that Bonnie was going to be married this winter, who in this world is the silly little boy. I only
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hope she will marry a real man who will be able to take good care of her then perhaps she will enjoy settling down.
She is such a cute little rascal.
So Oscar is going to Birm[ingham] for the Winter I know you all will miss him especially dear old grandmother.
You spoke about the delicious butter you were still getting out to Mrs. Hoster's well if you don't want us to tickle you good when we get home you sure better be quiet about that good butter. We get very good butter here but it is unsalted.
There is one thing we long for more than anything else and that is oysters and I want so shrimp and lobster. Oh! for some good seafood. That have a great deal of it in some parts of France but not up around this part of the world where we are living.
I want to tell you before I forget it we received the books you sent and we surely
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3.
have enjoyed them. We never did get a chance to start our classes for we have been expecting to be moved at anytime and we have put it off and now we hear we will probably move back to Coblenz by the end of the month.
We just dread to move back there for we can live so much cheaper out here and we can do just what we like. I am the only American lady in cilv civilian clothes here, there is one French wife and one little bride from London and [illegible] Y.M.C.A. workers but they are in uniform.
When I go out promenading the people stare at me as though I were a curiosity of rare specimen.
It is four months yesterday since I landed at Brest, it doesn't seem possible.
I made some doughnuts yesterday and some boiled custard to-day. I do not do my own cooking as I have a good cook but I make a few goodies for my darling
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4.
for he loves good things to eat so much.
I had a Xmas card from Mrs. Grant this week and a letter from Ella Lee Darly from Birm. and she is moving to Ohio the first of the year.
Arthur is sitting beside me reading as usual, bless his precious heart he enjoy his books so much.
Well I guess I will kiss you both "good night" for this time, so with heaps of love from Arthur and I, I am
Your little bother girl,
Joyce.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-011
Sinzig, Germany
Jan. 11th, 1920
Dear Father and "Little Mother,"
Day before yesterday we received a big bundle of papers from home and we surely did enjoy them.
It is raining here to-day and the wind is just blowing a gale.
I have been here four months already it doesn't seem possible.
We have been wondering what you have all have been doing this afternoon. I suppose you have been taking you nap Father and "Little Mother you have been writing to your kiddies."
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2.
Dr. Collins one of Arthur's friends was here today. His wife came over with me.
Arthur was talking to his Commanding Officer not long ago about the what the chances were for getting home and he told him men were not eligible to go home until they had been here two years so that will bring us home this summer.
Then is the time we will have a good old fryed chicken, waffles, and a few other goodies Mother makes.
Whipped cream and sea-food
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3.
are what I crave more than meat.
We get sugar here from the American commissary, for nine cents a pound, rice eight cents, coffee twenty-four cents.
About the last of Feb. we are planning to go down in the Southern part of France for a week or two.
I don't believe we will get to England, I really don't think we can make it.
At last I have been able to get some eggs after a genuine famine. I am feeding Arthur
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cup custard and boiled custard and raw eggs. You know how he loves sweet things to eat.
Bless his dear old heart, he is so good and thoughtful of me and he seems so happy.
Indeed I kiss him for you real often, only wish you were here to get a few real ones.
Well I will close for to-night so with heaps of love from Arthur and I, I am
Your loving daughter,
Joyce.
P.S. Give our love to our friends and to poor Bess. I hope she is better by now.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-012
Jan. 18, 1920
Sinzig, Germany.
Dear Father and "Little Mother,"
Yesterday was a bright and sun-shiny day the first we have had in a long time.
About a week ago I wrote you or the flood we were having in and around Coblenz, which at the time I was writing was about over, since then there has been another, much worse than the first one, but at present it has reached its height as the Rhine and Moselle are slowly receding.
They have so much rain in the Rhineland during the Winter. the
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Rhine is higher now that it has been in 136 years, and the first flood we had was the highest it had been since 1886.
We are very fortunate out here, the only way it affected us is cov cutting off telephone communication which of course isn't any thing compared to what the people in and around Coblenz suffered.
Your two kiddies are getting on as fine as silk, Arthur says tell you he is eating enough for two average sized humans.
A day or so ago we had a
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nice bunch of papers from Dothan and we surely did enjoy them.
What are you doing with yourselves these days? Last year you had your "Yankee daughter" to bother you, didn't you Father?
This month has gone so quickly I declare the time just flies now that we are to-gether and have such a happy little home.
God surely has blessed us and we are so thankful for it all.
At last we are able to get eggs after going without them
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for ages.
Arthur is rather busy now trying to get the men interested in athletics and in that way help them to keep well and strong.
Well I really haven't any very exciting news, all I can say is we are well and happy which means all the world to us.
With heaps of love from your kiddos,
Arthur and Joyce
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 23, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-013
[Coblenz, Germany] Feb. 7, 1920
Dear Father and Mother,
We are in Coblenz as Arthur has been assigned to the 6th Field Artillery here, have been real busy moving for the last few days and haven't had time to write.
All the men at Sinzig came into Coblenz so that is why we had to move.
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We surely dreaded to leave there as we were so comfortably situated and living is much cheaper in the country than it is in the city.
All of our friends however seem so glad to have us back here again.
To-day we shall know just what kind of a billet or home we are going to get as Arthur is to see the billeting officer this afternoon.
You can't imagine just how happy we will be to get back in
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3.
a little home again.
After one has had a home they surely dread to give it up. I am more anxious each time.
Arthur is just a[s] fine as silk, eats almost all the time and sleeps like a log so you don't need to worry any about him.
He gets kind of out of my control at times but generally speaking his is one precious old hubby.
It is real cold here again, just like real winter.
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Our last mail from home came about three weeks ago and we are beginning to look for more.
Please pardon pencil but it is all I have, with heaps of love to you both from Arthur and I, hugs and kisses, too, I am
Your loving daughter,
Joyce.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 24, 2023]
Item 256-20-0731-001-011-014
Coblenz, German
March 30, 1920.
Dear "Little Mother,"
This is not a real newsy letter as there really isn't much to write about.
Yesterday was a perfectly gorgeous day and to-day is delightful too. I received a nice long letter from Mrs. Grant and I surely did enjoy it. I haven't heard from her for such a long time.
There are a few things I want to get you to send me "Little Mother" as I can't get them
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here. My stockings are all heavy and I can't wear them with slippers and I haven't anot a pair of silk stocking so if you will I wish you would send me a pair of black and one pair of white. Then I need some kind of a dress shirt waist to wear without a coat, a washable silk or a cotton it doesn't make any difference so long as it has long sleeves and it is able is thick enough so I won't have to wear my best corset-
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3.
covers every time I wear it.
We can manage to get nearly everything we need to wear but stockings. The waists they have here are all too thin or else too expensive.
When I can I had no idea I should be here so long consequently I haven't so much to wear.
To-morrow we are going to have lunch with Arthur's commanding officer Col. & Mrs. Margetts and then go up to the horse-show Arthur's
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outfit is giving at which I am to be the hostess at the tea following. Don't you think there is some g class to your children.
General Allen is to be our guest too. I was talking to him last week when we had our gymkhana.
Well I will close for to-day, with heaps of love to you and Father from Arthur and I,
I am
Your loving daughter,
Joyce.
P.S. Arthur said to tell you to charge these things to the Junior Keyton families' account.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 27, 2023]
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