The following are letters sent by Pvt. William J. Kearney of Battery A, 323rd Field Artillery Regiment, 83rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces, to his mother, Mrs. P.J. Kearney of Lyndora.

The letters are shown here largely as written, with misspellings, misplaced punctuation, etc.:

W.J. Kearney

Nat. A. 323 FA

AEF Somewhere in France July 31, ’18

Dear Parents: —

It has been quiet a while since I’ve heard from home or anywhere else and all the mail I have received up to date has been all old, some over a month and some not so old. I have not yet received any direct from home. That is saying that you received my card with (arrived safe) on.

We are having some weather over here it seems like it was 200 in the shade. We were out on a long hike today, we started in the morning and didn’t come back until evening we had to cook our own meals, each one of us. Had their own amount which consists of sugar, coffee, flour, potatoes, onions, salt and beacon. We had to build our own fires, two of us cooked at the same fire. We had first fried our beacon then the potatoes with a little grease from the beacon and sliced onions, and then came the flap jacks. We used up the remaining grease for them and made a pretty good job of it next we made our coffee with one spoon full of coffee and half a cup of water we used our mess kits for our cooking Florence knows what they are like. The mess kit is built something like a frying pan so we did all the frying on them and made the coffee in our cups.

It was a very tiresome trip and I am very tired tonight. (excuse the blots for I just filled my pen and something went wrong with it) notice the difference in the ink.

This is a very religious place you can go out for a walk and travel about a half mile and you will see a crucifix about every half mile along any road you will see either that or a little statue of the Blessed Mother.

The people here all go to mass on Sunday’s and holiday wearing all black, excepting the wimon. They wear just a little piece of white lace on their heads. And the men and the boys all wear black dresses something like a priest. But they all have a little store and only sell small articles of no value and all kinds of wines and whiskey and other drinks and they are not very soft. The whiskey is not what you would call whiskey back in the States. But some of the boys said it very much like but as good. Now don’t get it into your head that I’ve been drinking because it never bothers me. But this is a swell place for a fellow who likes it and doesn’t care where he is at.

Well how is everybody at home anyway. Is Pa still working and does he still scold Gerite for being late with his lunch if so he aught to be in the Army where you’r dinner is always ready on time and if you are there you will out of luck. But we are always there on time when it comes to eating for there is no better fun in the Army than eating.

How is Flossy and Ed Shetter getting along and also Gertie with her beau I am sending with this letter a little silk handkerchief which I hope reaches you O.K. and will if the censor doesn’t take it out, so let me know if you receive it or not. This letter leaves me in the best of Health which I hope reaches you all the same will write more in a few days so write often.

Your loving son,

Bill K.

———

Jahrajeld Germany

On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force

Jan. 11, 1919

My Dear Parents and Sisters: —

to let you know that I am well and happy and I hope this letter finds you all the same.

Today is Saturday and it is just like spring. we haven’t been ...over here except on Christmas when we had about six inches of snow and it only lasted two days or so. Our ... group has made a wonderful hit.

The 322nd and the 324 to play for us and they were good but the old 323rd got a little on them both. One of these songs which made a big hit was as follows —

“Mother take down your service flag your son is in the SOS

He is SOL but what he—

He is safer than the rest He’s awful....drinking ale that is what they say

So mother haul in your service flag, your son’s in the SOS.”

This song is song by the air of-“Where do we go from here boys.”

The SOS boys are way back and never near the front. I don’t know what they do but the song hit them just right.

I received four letters today but there were none from home so I am looking for one soon. Well we are entitled to a service stripe which is worn four inches from the cuff. It was made of gold brade.

I was reading an old Butler Eagle and run across a little which I had writtern up on the front. I was quiet surprised How did it ever get in there.

How is Mary E. And her Papa give Ed my best and what is he doing now is he still living where they did before. What is Flo doing and is Gertie still boss of the house. If she is, I will soon relieve her for we haven’t much longer to stay over here. The latest dope we got is that we are going to leave the place on the 20th of this month. Gee but I hope it is so for I am tired of this country and their money first it was shilling then it was franks and now it is marks, the worst of the lot and I hope and trust that the next will be two bits or Jitneys. It is pretty hard(to crossed out)for a fellow to try and write in this house for Jim McCool is back at his old role telling stories and believe me he is great at it.

Yesterday was candy day and we got a few pieces, just enough to make you mad. But there was enough tobacco and cigarettes because only about half of the section smokes but they all still eat candy funny isn’t it. Say Flo, how is Mr. Shetter? Does he still call at 27 Bessemer and is Sam still alive Gertie did you ever hear from him if he is over here anywhere just you let me know where he is and I will bring him back wont that be nice of me Ha Ha.

Well, Pa how are you and all the rest of the force. Is Mr. Harry Cumberland still with you and also Mr. King and how is Ma. I want you and Gertie to make me one of those good old lemon pies for someday in February or March 29. Well I hope to hear from you soon and a lot to see you. I will write soon again. Your ever loving son Bill.

Editor’s Note: The 23-year-old artilleryman returned to Butler County where he had a long career as a machinist at Armco. A widower, William J. Kearney died Dec. 21, 1977, at age 82.