Back Online

Quite obviously, I was not able to post when I promised. Now, however, I have a functioning computer with a USB port, and have been able to catch up.

A few comments about the previous letters:

1) Stars and Stripes, which Roy mentions, is a military newspaper which was founded during the Civil War and is still operational today.

2) Roy mentions creating a picture frame out of a French spad propeller. Such things were done quite often with found objects, particularly, I imagine, when soldiers were just waiting around for orders and didn't have much to do. I wish I knew what has become of the picture frame or if Roy ever finished it... Quite apart from being valuable, Trench Art is just plain interesting.

3) Note that Roy finally received the picture he asked Stella for nearly a year earlier. Nowadays they'd already be fb friends and he would have albums and albums to look through. Imagine waiting so long for just one photo...

March 23, 1919

This letter has an interesting combination of patriotism and self-consciousness. Roy doesn't want the Germans shown any pity and wishes the League of Nations would quit squabbling over terms. Yet, at the same time, Roy recognizes that his criticism largely comes from a strong desire to just go home.

My Dear Friend:

Took a notion to write a letter or two this evening but do not know how many I will get written. I owe four or five letters but am quite sure I shall not get that many written, anyway.

I want to thank you for the North Americans you sent me. Those two were the first real newspapers I read since last August and I sure did read them all through. One had a very good editorial in it and I agree with the man who wrote it. I say get the peace terms made up and bring the Huns to their knees and then discuss the League of Nations. Everyday the Hun gets the more confident he feels and he fakes up such excuses as needing food in order to get the best possible terms from the Allies. I say make them get to work and earn their living and perhaps the fighting and squabbling among themselves will stop. They will soon begin to think the Yanks will be foolish enough to feed the world and the Huns and Bolsheviks free of charge. It looks so to me. I may be all wrong for there are far wiser men than I working to solve such things. You see we boys over here have lots of time to think about such things and of course blame everybody and everything for not getting us home. One thing I believe: that is there are going to be some queer political views when the whole A.E.F. gets home.

A bunch of us were out taking pictures this afternoon and if they turn out good there should be some great pictures. I'll see how they are and if any good will send you one or two. I am hoping they will be good for we were all togged up for some of them and were in some old trenches.

For the past week the weather here has been a little better. The mud was beginning to dry up, but this evening it is raining again. I suppose winter in the States is about over and you should soon be having nice warm weather.

Well, I hope I may soon be able to enjoy some of it with you. I had some hopes that I might be home by May thirtieth and I sure was hoping that you had the right notion when you said you thought I would be home some time in May, and I still hope that you were right but it begins to look doubtful. If there no signs of going home soon I shall make it July Fourth and hope to be home by then.

I cannot think of much to write. There is little or nothing doing around here. I am still driving but have very little to do, so I have not been getting around very much lately. I am hoping that we soon make a move one way or another. For as long as we stay over here we might better be moving about a little. Things get monotonous if we are at one place any length of time, especially a place like this. Briey is only a little town and no place to go, really. No Y.M.C.A. within fifteen miles. No other troops anyways near any more except some Colored Engineer companies.

Think I would better close. Stop this gloomy letter. Ha. Ha! In my spare time I am doing a little work on a picture frame which I am going to send you if you wish to have it--and if I think it is worth sending. Ha. Ha! I am cutting it out of a French spad propellor.

Well, it is almost time for 'lights out' and I see I shall get no more letters written tonight. I'll close this one though.

Most Sincerely,

Roy D.

Sgt Roy J Diehl

281st Aero Sqdn Amer E.F. France

France, March 10, 1919

Two things make this letter particularly interesting. first is the use of pseudonym "pushing up daisies" to mean "dead"--very in keeping with soldiers' general avoidance of directly describing unpleasant thoughts or experiences. Second is Roy's reference to the French women some of the "boys" were bringing back to the States and his avowal that he certainly doesn't see the appeal. One imagines that he hopes to comfort Stella and reassure her of his interest.

My Dear Friend:

Perhaps by the time you receive this letter you will have begun to think that I have forgotten you, started home; or, perhaps you will be thinking I am 'pushing up daisies.' Well certainly I am not pushing up daisies yet, for I am still very much alive. I haven't started home, sorry to say, nor have I forgotten you. I hardly know what kind of an excuse to offer for not writing but I will say that I started four or five letters and finished none of them simply because I was too disgusted with things to write letters. I could have written letters but I know you would not have enjoyed reading it. Not that I feel you are going to enjoy this letter but I will at least try to make it as pleasant as possible.

For one thing: I know I am not getting all of my mail. I got your letter of February 16th and also, I got the picture about two weeks ago, and I surely thank you for it. And you say you are sorry it is so unworthy of the wait. Well, I am not, though it was hard to wait for it. But then it was like you said of coming home, all the more appreciated when we do get it. Ha. Ha!

I have not yet received the papers you mailed nor the conclusion of that story, but have not yet lost hope. Anyway I want to thank you for them now and hope to still receive them. I have now several articles I want you to have, but since the mail seems so uncertain I hate to take a chance. I may send them later. If I do, I will be sure to tell you. If I do not send them I will bring them with me when I come home. If I ever do get home again. Ha. Ha! It surely does not look like getting home for some time, anyway.

Puzzle: What are you girls going to do when there are so many French girls coming home? I believe I could answer that better if I were able to speak to you personally. One thing I know. No one needs worry about me bringing any French girl back to the States, and I do not think much of any ones taste in bringing one back. They have got to be a whole lot nicer than any I have yet seen, before I bring any back. I prefer a girl to whom I can talk or who can talk to me for I am a poor conversationalist. Ha. Ha!

Sorry to hear of Elizabeths illness again but hope she is fully recovered by this time. I am glad to know you received the 'Stars and Stripes.' I sent you three, I think. But we cannot seem to get any up here. We have no Y.M.C.A. anymore. Haven't had any since we came to Briey. I sent you several copies of 'Le Mirrors' which I thought you might perhaps be interested in. Am also going to put several cards in with this letter. I sent some cards home some time ago but I do not think they ever received them for they said nothing about them.

I hope your visit to Claysburg was as enjoyable as the one I remember but wish I could have been there to help entertain you. The rest of the boys in my barracks are talking about a 'hobnail barrage' this evening so I had better close before they start it. When such a thing is pulled off the best thing one can do is get his hands on as many hobnail shoes as he can and get into it. They throw shoes, boots, stools, wash pans and anything they can get hold of. The last one we had we knocked out all the lights, broke up the stove, knocked down the stove pipe and did all sorts of damage! It was fun while it lasted but the next morning there was some scrambling to get our shoes and get out to Reville. You see we must have some sort of amusement sometimes. Ha. Ha!

I'll close. Most Sincerely Yours,

Roy Sgt Roy J. Diehl

281st Aero Sqdn Amer E.F. France