Somewhere in France October 15, 1918.

This letter provides a lot of information about a soldier's life and displays many conventions common to WWI letters. Roy mentions that he can't find out where his brother is due to restrictions on what they can say in their letters. He isn't seeing much action--only the "effects," which he won't or cannot describe, but he is experiencing the extraordinary amount of mud soldiers had to deal with throughout the war. It is unclear whether he's softening his descriptions for Stella's sake or for the censor's--probably a combination of both.

My Dear Friend:

I think I started my last letter 'Somewhere in France' so I should have started this one 'Somewhere else in France,' as I have moved since then, but we are now located and are all very busy instead of loafing around as we did for a while, and believe me the time passes much quicker when one has something to do.

I received your letter of September 3rd a few days ago so you see it takes quite a long time for our mail to reach us. I have not yet received any word from home, but had a letter two days ago from a brother of mine who is also over here. He could not tell me just where he is nor can I tell him where I am but I am hoping that I may be lucky enough to meet him.

I met an old friend with whom I worked at Claysburg several days ago. He and I enlisted and left at the same time, and maybe we were not glad to see each other. We spent several evenings together talking things over both past and future. He says he intends to stay over here for a while after the war, but I do not like it quite as well as that. Some of the boys are figuring on being home in a few months but I have an idea we will be doing well to be home for July 4th '19.

We are located in the Zone of Advance but are not close enough to see much of the real thing, only some of the effects. Of course, we can hear quite a bit and see some of the fireworks at night but that is about all. In my driving I sometimes see the effects of shell fire or aerial bombs but that is about all.

I think this is the worst place for rain that I ever saw. It rains almost every day and talk about mud! It's fierce and no sidewalks about camp either. One thing I must say about France. They have good roads. We built our Camp and barracks ourselves. Built the barracks out in a field so we get the benefit of the mud. There surely is no use saving it. It's plenty.

We haven't any 'Y' nearer than about a mile so we usually spend our evenings lying about our barracks writing letters or sometimes playing cards. Then too, we have some great arguments once in a while. Mostly about the war or the states or home cities. Each fellow, you know, stands up for his home state or town and so it goes. Souvenir hunting, too, is quite popular. I am now writing on a board that one of the boys got out of a Boche airship that was brought down and hauled in here. Several weeks ago there was one Huns came flying across here and they opened fire on him with anti air craft guns and chased him back home.

Was sorry to hear of Elizabeth's illness and hope she is quite well again. Poor Mrs Shaffer has had her share of ill luck. The jolly bunch she had about her last summer is all broken up. The young men in the states may be getting scarce but I think before another year there will be many happy reunions over there. You should worry about what Mr Nycum said. I haven't a doubt but what many boys will come home in a new manhood but not in the way Mr Nycum thinks, perhaps. Though I have not the least doubt but what there will be quite a few less lady school-teachers, see? Ha, Ha! Miss Felix was right and the women deserve a good share of the credit for those very ideas of which you spoke.

I must write my brother tonight, too so I had better close. But don't you worry about that scribbling of which you spoke. I like to decipher such scribbling and the longer the better.
With best regards,

Most sincerely,
Roy D.
Sgt. Roy J. Diehl 281st Aero Squadron Amer Ex Forces France #764480