Sincerely, Joel C. Swisher

[This letter is from Jerre Hambleton, a friend of Joel’s from home, whom he mentioned in his letter of Jan. 8, 1918.]

From J.B.Hambleton
Battery E. 345 F.A.
A.E.F.
Bettemburg, Luxemburg

Dec. 6th 1918

Dear Miss Ella:-

When your fine birthday letter reached me I was at Dun, near Stenay on the Meuse or near it. I got fourteen letters and thirteen cards all at one time there. This Regiment is in the ninetieth division and so we are in the third army. We were in the Toul Sector near Nancy where the Armistice was signed and I guess would of been in action in a few days for we had all our equipment and had been waiting for the orders to go up and go to work for a long time. Since we were put in the Army of occupation we have been on the move all the time spending about one day at each stopping place. Our guns are the French 155 millimeter a little over six inch bore. The shell weighs about a hundred pounds. When we were near Bordeaux at Camp Hunt we had lots of target practice with them, but since then we haven’t used the guns at all. We stayed at Camp Hunt or Le Courneau the French name from July 25th till Oct. 8th. At the time we landed in France all the artillery ranges were occupied and the only thing we could do was to build one at this camp and that is the reason we stayed at one place so long. So far I haven’t met one person from Fulton and I guess I won’t see any of them now for the 79th division the Camp Meade boys I guess will be going back before long as they are not in this army. I have been looking for Joel in this section of the country but I guess we would hardly know each other if we should meet its been a good while since I have seen him. German souvenirs are plentiful all along the roads. Helmets, gas masks, rifles, and all sorts of trinkets the only trouble they are too heavy to carry and I only have a few little things. Well here’s wishing a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to both of you.

Jerre
Pvt. J.B.Hambleton
Battery E 345 F.A.
American E.F.