While this letter is longer than many of the previous letters, it doesn't contain wildly exciting details about life in the barracks close to the front. Instead, Roy talks about home and the entertainment he's been enjoying thanks to the "Y." He no longer seems excited to be in France but rather wishes he were at home to see autumn and is optimistic about being able to go home soon.
My Dear Friend:
Your very welcome letter of September 30th was just received and I want to say that it found me quite well and very busy. I suppose the weather over there is real autumn like. Here, I do not know what to call it but it is cool nights and mornings and rains every day, it seems. And they say we can expect wet weather for several months more. For my part I do not care for the rain. I would much rather see cold weather.
What do you think of the peace outlook? Looks very good, does it not? I think you need not worry about Howard's enlisting for you know General Pershing said some time ago, Heaven, Hell or Hoboken by Christmas! for us. Pardon the expression but I feel that he almost knew what he was talking about.
How did you and Professor Nysum make out? I hope he did not take your girls away from you? I do not blame you a bit for not wanting to make the change from the girls to boys. I always did like the girls. Ha, Ha!
I sure would like to have been around the Sunday your brother prom to take you out for chestnuts. I would have offered my services, at least. And I am good at climbing trees, too. Sunday, of course, is not a proper day for going chestnut hunting but I am quite used to Sunday working. Haven't missed a Sunday since I arrived in France. But if I ever get back to the States I am going to take a vacation. Every day will be Sunday for a while. Ha, Ha!
I am going to enclose a couple souvenirs which I hope you receive. Neither one amounts to anything, but they will have come from France, anyway. I have had two letters from my brother over here and am expecting another now. I do not know where he is nor does he know just where I am but we write anyway.
I told you about the air raid we had, did I not? We have had none since that night, but did have one alarm which must have been a false one. There may have been some Boches up but nothing was dropped.
Several of the boys are giving us a little music, playing a mandolin and a guitar. It sounds real good, too. It is not often we have music of any kind. Since we have been here at this place though we have had several good short shows. Given by the Y' entertainment committee. They were held in one of the Aeroplane Hangars. Margaret Mayo and Elizabeth Brice and several others were the attraction one night. They got hold of an old piano somewhere and it was a real show. For a stage they used an auto trailer and they used a big truck which had a big body on it. So you see it was some show but it was good. When I was in the states it was hard for me to write letters, for it seemed there was nothing to write but I thought that when I got over here there would be lots to write about but I find little difference. Of what I am seeing I can talk better at short range, see? And I am hoping that time is not more than six or eight months distant. I'll close for this time
As always Most sincerely,
Roy D
Sgt Roy J Diehl 281st Aero Squadron Amer Ex Forces France
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