April 26, 2010
Improvements
Since the next letter is not until May 5th, I thought I'd use the time to improve my little blog. You may have noticed that I added an introductory paragraph as well as some photos along the side. Soon I'll add some bios to go along with the pictures, as well as an explanation of the overall project, if possible. Enjoy!
April 21, 2010
Park Field, Tenn. Sunday Eve 4/21/18
This letter doesn't say much beyond "I'm still in Tennessee" but does reflect the impatience soldiers felt to get over there and their conviction that the U.S. had a "job to do."
Dear Miss Custer:
Again I must ask your pardon for not answering sooner but my only plea is lack of time. To tell the truth it is quite an effort for me to start writing a letter. I do like to receive letters but am a poor hand at answering. Therein is a weakness. One of many weaknesses. Ha Ha! But since I started this evening I have written three. One to Dad and Mother, one to an old chum who enlisted with me and one to an old schoolmate who is now in France and has been for six or seven months and from whom I had a letter a few days ago. Also, he is where I hope to be before long. Some say we are to leave here some day this week but I will not believe anything any more until we are ordered to pack up. Rumors have had us leaving here for over a month and we are still here.I suppose you are having fine weather up there by now. Week before last the weather was very cool here but now the days are hot and we have rain nearly every night. several nights the wind almost blew our tents down. The rain came in over, blew in the doorway and the water came in and rain all over the floor.A new squadron came in here about a week ago and I found a former Claysburg boy with them and we were glad to see each other you can bet. One of my tent-mates was out for a walk in the country this afternoon and brought back a bunch of roses and snow-balls.Some of the boys are having fun around here now. it is about 9:30 and it seems some are sleepy and some are not, and those who are not get to cutting up capers and make too much noise for the others to sleep, consequently every now and then a hobnailed shoe goes flying through the air and bang! it goes against the side of the side of a tent. There is always some fun at bed time. Only a couple evenings ago I was coming down the company street and one fellow came out of a tent on the jump and two or three shoes followed him. One just missed hitting me. Lots of fun in camp. I was intending to go to Church at the 'Y' tonight, but stuck to my tent and wrote letters. I was in Memphis two weeks ago today. For a few hours only, but what I saw of the city looks good. I am going to send you a picture I had taken there if you care to have it.I suppose if they keep on Uncle Sammy will soon have all the boys working for him, anyway it seems he is getting his share from Claysburg and from over around my home. Every time I hear from home some more old acquaintance is going, it seems, and from what the young Claysburger in the 65th told me, there are not very many young single within the draft age at Claysburg any more. Well "Uncle" needs them now as he has a job on hand that must be done and must be done right and the harder we work the sooner it will be over. I hear that Ethel's friend has gone, Ken, I mean.My fingers are getting sore wrom writing and perhaps you are tired reading this scribbling so I'll close. Next time I get in letter-writing mood I'll write your letter first and perhaps you will be able to read it more readily. Ha Ha!
Most Sincerely,
Roy D.
Dear Miss Custer:
Again I must ask your pardon for not answering sooner but my only plea is lack of time. To tell the truth it is quite an effort for me to start writing a letter. I do like to receive letters but am a poor hand at answering. Therein is a weakness. One of many weaknesses. Ha Ha! But since I started this evening I have written three. One to Dad and Mother, one to an old chum who enlisted with me and one to an old schoolmate who is now in France and has been for six or seven months and from whom I had a letter a few days ago. Also, he is where I hope to be before long. Some say we are to leave here some day this week but I will not believe anything any more until we are ordered to pack up. Rumors have had us leaving here for over a month and we are still here.I suppose you are having fine weather up there by now. Week before last the weather was very cool here but now the days are hot and we have rain nearly every night. several nights the wind almost blew our tents down. The rain came in over, blew in the doorway and the water came in and rain all over the floor.A new squadron came in here about a week ago and I found a former Claysburg boy with them and we were glad to see each other you can bet. One of my tent-mates was out for a walk in the country this afternoon and brought back a bunch of roses and snow-balls.Some of the boys are having fun around here now. it is about 9:30 and it seems some are sleepy and some are not, and those who are not get to cutting up capers and make too much noise for the others to sleep, consequently every now and then a hobnailed shoe goes flying through the air and bang! it goes against the side of the side of a tent. There is always some fun at bed time. Only a couple evenings ago I was coming down the company street and one fellow came out of a tent on the jump and two or three shoes followed him. One just missed hitting me. Lots of fun in camp. I was intending to go to Church at the 'Y' tonight, but stuck to my tent and wrote letters. I was in Memphis two weeks ago today. For a few hours only, but what I saw of the city looks good. I am going to send you a picture I had taken there if you care to have it.I suppose if they keep on Uncle Sammy will soon have all the boys working for him, anyway it seems he is getting his share from Claysburg and from over around my home. Every time I hear from home some more old acquaintance is going, it seems, and from what the young Claysburger in the 65th told me, there are not very many young single within the draft age at Claysburg any more. Well "Uncle" needs them now as he has a job on hand that must be done and must be done right and the harder we work the sooner it will be over. I hear that Ethel's friend has gone, Ken, I mean.My fingers are getting sore wrom writing and perhaps you are tired reading this scribbling so I'll close. Next time I get in letter-writing mood I'll write your letter first and perhaps you will be able to read it more readily. Ha Ha!
Most Sincerely,
Roy D.
April 12, 2010
Park Field, Tenn. March 31, 1918 Easter Sunday.
Roy Diehl's patriotism and desire to be a part of the action show up in this letter written before the 281st made it over to France. Roy also mentions Daylight Saving time, which was adopted by the US in 1918 for a short period of time. One can only imagine how different the world felt now that wars and time were global and not just the business of one country or region.
Dear Miss Custer:
This evening I want to answer your enjoyable letter received last Tuesday. I am usually slow in answering, as you know, but when one is kept as busy as we are kept one has not much time for letter-writing, but just the same I think of you often even if I do not write so often. I use the 'y' paper and envelopes for the reason that we have poor accommodations for keeping or carrying such things and 'Y' paper is always to be had for the getting. I told you I expected to leave here soon and so I did, but I think it must have been a false-alarm We were given almost the full overseas equipment several weeks ago and the Lieutenant told us we would be shipped across soon but we are still here and I believe we shall be here for several weeks. Of course we do not know when we might be shipped away. We may go one of these days on short notice. I am beginning to get anxious to get into the "book works." Every one is anxious to see the end of it of course but it seems it is going to last for some time. It is a work cut out for "Uncle Sammy" and the harder everyone works the sooner it will be over. That is the way I look at it anyway. And I know when all these boys get back home again there will be some joyous times.I heard a few days ago that one of the boys who enlisted with me is now on his way to France and the other is in Texas. How did you spend your Easter Sunday? I hardly knew it was Easter, for I worked today but went to church at the 'Y' this evening.How is the new time going to suit you? We are now getting out at 4:45 AM, but tomorrow morning it will be an hour earlier so we boys will have to sleep two rows at a time, I guess.I cannot seem to think of much to write this evening and as it is almost time for "taps," I'll close and promise to write sooner and more the next time.
Most sincerely,
Roy D
281st Aero Sqd'n, Memphis, Tenn.
Dear Miss Custer:
This evening I want to answer your enjoyable letter received last Tuesday. I am usually slow in answering, as you know, but when one is kept as busy as we are kept one has not much time for letter-writing, but just the same I think of you often even if I do not write so often. I use the 'y' paper and envelopes for the reason that we have poor accommodations for keeping or carrying such things and 'Y' paper is always to be had for the getting. I told you I expected to leave here soon and so I did, but I think it must have been a false-alarm We were given almost the full overseas equipment several weeks ago and the Lieutenant told us we would be shipped across soon but we are still here and I believe we shall be here for several weeks. Of course we do not know when we might be shipped away. We may go one of these days on short notice. I am beginning to get anxious to get into the "book works." Every one is anxious to see the end of it of course but it seems it is going to last for some time. It is a work cut out for "Uncle Sammy" and the harder everyone works the sooner it will be over. That is the way I look at it anyway. And I know when all these boys get back home again there will be some joyous times.I heard a few days ago that one of the boys who enlisted with me is now on his way to France and the other is in Texas. How did you spend your Easter Sunday? I hardly knew it was Easter, for I worked today but went to church at the 'Y' this evening.How is the new time going to suit you? We are now getting out at 4:45 AM, but tomorrow morning it will be an hour earlier so we boys will have to sleep two rows at a time, I guess.I cannot seem to think of much to write this evening and as it is almost time for "taps," I'll close and promise to write sooner and more the next time.
Most sincerely,
Roy D
281st Aero Sqd'n, Memphis, Tenn.
Claysburg, PA November 18, 1917
In his very first letter to Stella, Roy seems unsure of himself, saying that he isn't sure she'll be happy to hear from him and that he's a "very poor letter writer." He is very polite, beginning with "Miss Custer" and ending with "May I expect a reply?"
Dear Miss Custer:
I may be presuming too much in thinking you might perhaps be pleased to hear from me and of Claysburg, but I sincerely [hope] you will, at least, not be offended. I should have asked your permission to write but I did not get back from my trip last Sunday evening as I expected to do. In time to say "Good-bye and may I write." I did get back before the train left but you folks had already gone to the station. Ethel told me I should write and I wanted to do so all last week but I am a very poor letter writer as you will learn after reading this and so did not get started until this evening.Today was a dry Sunday after spending the last so pleasantly. All the folks at the house were away this afternoon except Sylvia, Mr. Gardner I and I slept until time to start on my trip. How is your friend, Miss Marian? Give her my best regards and I hope I may see you both soon again.William tells me he enjoyed the music immensely. I too must thank you. May I expect a reply?
Roy Diehl
Dear Miss Custer:
I may be presuming too much in thinking you might perhaps be pleased to hear from me and of Claysburg, but I sincerely [hope] you will, at least, not be offended. I should have asked your permission to write but I did not get back from my trip last Sunday evening as I expected to do. In time to say "Good-bye and may I write." I did get back before the train left but you folks had already gone to the station. Ethel told me I should write and I wanted to do so all last week but I am a very poor letter writer as you will learn after reading this and so did not get started until this evening.Today was a dry Sunday after spending the last so pleasantly. All the folks at the house were away this afternoon except Sylvia, Mr. Gardner I and I slept until time to start on my trip. How is your friend, Miss Marian? Give her my best regards and I hope I may see you both soon again.William tells me he enjoyed the music immensely. I too must thank you. May I expect a reply?
Roy Diehl
Before I begin...
...I must share with you the history of this project.
A little more than a year ago, I needed something to tag using xml. While visiting my parents, I mentioned the project to them. My dad disappeared upstairs for a while and returned with a box full of letters written by my great-grandfather and carefully preserved by my great-grandmother, my grandmother, my father, and now, me. What began as a small project for a digital humanities class turned into a capstone project (master's thesis alternative), which I have only just completed.
Upon completing my project, however, I felt unsatisfied. My original vision included a website displaying all of the letters, transcriptions, and annotations I'd worked so hard on for months. I even wrote code for that website, but lack the know-how to get that code on the web. So, all I ended up with was a paper...a 60-page paper, but nonetheless a paper...that will be saved by the school library and made available to anyone who cares to search the master's theses there (which, if you are aware, is almost nobody).
My dissatisfaction led to a late-night trying-to-fall-asleep-but-thinking-too-much resolution: I would make the letters available in the only way I know how, which is via blog. I may not be an expert in xml, but I have been known to blog frequently (too frequently, some might say).
What follows this post is each letter in that box my Dad brought down from my parents' guest room closet, posted on the date on which it was originally written, excepting the first two which I will post together in order to catch up to the date of the upcoming letter. Alone, each letter is interesting. Together, they tell a story of separation and of budding friendship between a Pennsylvania railroad worker and a pretty schoolteacher.
-Katherine Shelor
A little more than a year ago, I needed something to tag using xml. While visiting my parents, I mentioned the project to them. My dad disappeared upstairs for a while and returned with a box full of letters written by my great-grandfather and carefully preserved by my great-grandmother, my grandmother, my father, and now, me. What began as a small project for a digital humanities class turned into a capstone project (master's thesis alternative), which I have only just completed.
Upon completing my project, however, I felt unsatisfied. My original vision included a website displaying all of the letters, transcriptions, and annotations I'd worked so hard on for months. I even wrote code for that website, but lack the know-how to get that code on the web. So, all I ended up with was a paper...a 60-page paper, but nonetheless a paper...that will be saved by the school library and made available to anyone who cares to search the master's theses there (which, if you are aware, is almost nobody).
My dissatisfaction led to a late-night trying-to-fall-asleep-but-thinking-too-much resolution: I would make the letters available in the only way I know how, which is via blog. I may not be an expert in xml, but I have been known to blog frequently (too frequently, some might say).
What follows this post is each letter in that box my Dad brought down from my parents' guest room closet, posted on the date on which it was originally written, excepting the first two which I will post together in order to catch up to the date of the upcoming letter. Alone, each letter is interesting. Together, they tell a story of separation and of budding friendship between a Pennsylvania railroad worker and a pretty schoolteacher.
-Katherine Shelor
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