The Letters of Roy J. Diehl (Jay Roy Diehl)

From 1917-1919, Roy J. Diehl, a railroad worker from Pennsylvania, wrote a series of letters to Stella Custer, his future wife, while he was enlisted in the 281st Aero Squadron. Most published letter collections consist of letters penned by men of education, rank, or fame. Roy J. Diehl was neither highly educated, highly ranked, nor famous, but his letters provide an interesting and valuable look at the life of an ordinary enlisted man, untainted by the notion that he may be writing to a wide audience or that anything beyond his relationship with Stella, his future betrothed, rests on what he says. Still, his letters display the usual characteristics of war-time correspondence; Sergeant Diehl omits potentially sensitive information about activities in his Squadron, treats probably disgusting or horrific situations with a certain amount of nonchalance, speaks in cliches of patriotism, and continually thinks of movement and distance.

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.
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