Sincerely, Joel C. Swisher

Dear Folks,

Your letter of Oct 3O reached me a couple days ago. This being Thanksgiving there is no work today, so I will write a few letters.

Today a year ago I was in the hospital, just about over the measles. I remember it very well, because they served turkey that day and as about half the fellows in the ward were unable to eat anything, so the rest of us had a good meal. I understand we are to have a good feed today, but of course, no turkey this time.

We are in camp about 12 miles west of Verdun. Have been in this section since the middle of Sept. Before that we were at Langres. That was the best part of France have been in yet. This part might have been alright before the war but from here north all the towns are deserted and of course, near the line they are more or less destroyed, those on the line being completely destroyed, and of those in territory held by the Germans some were badly hit, and some seemed to have escaped more or less. Grandpre was pretty well shot up and so was Montfaucon. Varannes which was a good sized town before was unfortunate enough to be 3 kilometers inside the German line and certainly showed the effects of war. For a while we were quartered in a chateau that had been used as a German headquarters. It was still in good condition. This building was of such size that 200 men did not more than half fill it. There were fireplaces in almost every room, also many mirrors, some 2×6 and some 6xl0 feet. The most of them unbroken. In the rooms I was in there was a French piano, still in very good condition.

We have not done very much work since the armistice was signed. Mostly repair work. Have also done a little drilling, The main question in our minds now, of course, is when we are going to start home. For a while it looked as tho we might be in the Army of Occupation, but I do not think there is much probability of that now. Of course, I would like to see Germany and the Rhine, but I don’t enjoy the idea of spending six or more months in this country yet.

In case I don’t see you in the meantime, I now send you my best wishes for Xmas & New Years,

Lovingly,
Joel

J. C. Swisher
Co. B. 25 Eng.

P.S. Dec 1.

Bar-sur-Aube. We moved down here yesterday. This place is 25 miles west of Chaumont. It is fully 75 miles from Souilly where we came from. We made the trip in trucks in 8 hours which is good time for a loaded truck. We came thru some mighty pretty country and neat towns and villages. It is certainly a relief to get back in a section where there is a civilian population and signs of life and civilization in general. We came thru Bar-le-Duc and St. Dizier, both good-sized towns, the latter being quite a manufacturing town. It had been raining for the past week but yesterday was clear and frosty, just right for the trip. We came in open trucks so spent most of the time taking in all the scenery we passed. Saw large quantities of mistletoe on the trees along the way.