Dan J. Murphy
France Dec. 7. 1918
Dear Sisters & Brother:
Had hoped to have some definite news by this time, but am still laying around the hospital, and don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or if I stay here for a month. They don’t tell us a thing.
Have hopes of finally getting back to the regiment, but they are in Germany now; so that may make a difference.
Have received no mail since being here and certainly would like to get some word from you; hope you are all well.
Am entirely well myself, and fit for duty, with the company, but it is harder to get out of these hospitals than it is to get in.
This hospital center is a few miles from the city of Nevers, about the center part of France. Have never been to the city as we can get no passes or enough money to go. Can only draw six dollars a month here, as my service record has not arrived from the company yet. That has kept me in tobacco so far, and can also get some grapes or nuts once in a while.
Now that the censorship is not so strict can tell you a few things you used to ask about. We landed at Brest on April 7, and our training was at Coupray, a little village between Chaumont and Langres about 100 miles south east of Paris. Left there on Decoration Day and were rushed up to the Marne River between Chateau-Thierry and Crezancy and relieved the French on June 2nd. The ‘Jerrys’ did not make much trouble for us until July 15th; was on the river bank that morning, and we did not have much trouble holding our position. Our artillery took the heart out of them before they got over the river.
We went over on their side on July 19 and were relieved by the French at Fismes on the Vesle River in the middle of August.
We then joined the rest of the U.S. Army and went to Haudelaincourt, a little village between Bar-leDuc and Nancy. I left the company there and went to school at Gondrecourt for a month. While there, the regiment went on the St. Michiel drive, but I got back in time for the Verdun drive, which started on Sept. 25th.
The 3rd Division was in reserve when the drive started, so we got the hard and thankless job of straightening out the line after the first rush.
We were a few miles north of Montfaucon when I was wounded on October 11; was trying to crawl up so I could get a shot at the machine gun but raised my shoulder one inch too high and a very efficient sniper used it for a target.
I expect you have sent the Christmas package by this time but think I have small chance of getting it. The mail service is fine while with your outfit, but if you are away from them you are out of luck.
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all; sorry I can’t be there but will see you by April anyway.
Your Brother, Dan.
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Dec. 29, 1918
Dear Sisters and Brother;
I certainly did expect to have some news by this time, but I am still in the hospital and do not know any more than I did a month ago. My Division is still in Germany.\, and no men have been returned to the army of occupation; so don’t know if I will ever get back or not.
Had a quiet Christmas with a turkey dinner and a Red Cross package. Have not received any mail; so have given up hope, although have written to the company clerk several times about it. Would give anything if I could get some news from you all.
Things are about the same here, including the weather, which continues to be very wet. Had a little snow on Christmas Day, but it lasted only a few minutes.
Am perfectly well, and am waiting as patiently as possible to get away from here.
Better continue to write me at the old address, as I believe there is more chance of getting it there than here.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Your brother, Sgt. D.J. Murphy
Ward 35 – B.H. 131
A.P.O. 780 A.E.F.
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Dec. 29, 1918
Dear Sisters and Brother:
I certainly did expect to have some good news by this time, but I am still in the hospital and do not know any more than I did a month ago. My Division is still in Germany, and no men have been returned to the army of occupation; so don’t know if I will ever get back or not.
Had a quiet Christmas with turkey and a Red Cross package. Have not received any mail; so have given up hope, although have written to the company clerk several times about it. Would give anything if I could get some news from you all.
Things are about the same here, including the weather, which continues to be very wet. Had a little snow on Christmas Day, but it lasted only a few minutes.
Am perfectly well, and am waiting as patiently as possible to get away from here.
Better continue to write me at the old address, as I believe there is more chance of getting it there than here.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas, Best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Your brother,
Sgt. D.J. Murphy
Ward 35 – B.H. 131
A.P.O. 780 A.E.F.