Will, Grace, and World War One

Excerpts from letters mailed together and dated October 27 and 28, 1918 My Dear Grace – Well darling, the mail came at last, yesterday I got three letters from you and one from Dorthy and one from Florence with the pictures, My I think the pictures are just fine… But the one I liked most was the one of you and Count, Oh I think that is just great, I wouldn’t part with the for any thing Florence had it marked “Somebody’s Pals” and they are I know both are as true as steel, that is some picture, and I am so glad you had it taken for me. Do you suppose old Count will know me when I get home?... My mail had been sent to W. E. Foote, but I guess it is straightened out now so we will have no more trouble My I have been so busy lately Grace, I don’t know which way to turn, our work is increasing very fast and I hope I get the other job pretty quick, as I am still all in, My cold is a lot better, than when I wrote the other day. I used the cold compresses on my throat, for t...

Will sent this copy of a letter regarding problems with his mail home to Grace at the end of October 1918.

Excerpts from October 18, 1918 My Dear Grace – Well dearie it has been two weeks to-day and no letter I just figure they have my mail balled up with some other Foote a I have had mail for a N. A Foote from Mass. But perhaps I will get a letter to-night or to-morrow I have changed my mind, or the boys all have and I am enclosing a Christmas package Coupon, while I would rather have the letter, that I spoke about, perhaps you will have something you will want to send me, the only thing I can think of now, is a nice big piece of that fig cake you make and I know that would all be dried up by the time I got it, or you might send a “banana pie,” any thing dear will be fine, just to know you put it in the box for me… Rec’d a nice long letter from Bert Goffer a few days ago, he says there is lots of Spanish Fleu in the U.S., he lost one of his best friends, a room mate. Now dearie I don’t know what to send you for Xmas, I know of lots of things I would like to send, b...

Excerpts from October 16, 1918 My Dear Grace – Well little girl I have not heard from you for nearly two weeks, what is the matter, Pat is getting letters from Ethel and she has spoken about you so I know you are well, so that is all that realy matters, I know the letters will come sometime, just got on the wrong boat or something, I no doubt will get five or six when I do get them. Am on the last six months to-day Dearie my I am glad, for when my year is up I can come home if I want to, and I rather think I will want to, the way I feel to-day… I have been given another Sec. to help me in my work over here as it is growing very fast as you noticed in the report I sent you this monthw ill be larger than last by quite a few 1000 Fcs. This fellow is kind’a of a wise guy, but I guess he will get in line, If he don’t I’ll just kick hom out and they will send me another he has been with me about four days and I think he is doing better every day so no doubt we will get o...

This envelope, postmarked October 15, 1918, survived without its letter from Will to Grace.

I believe this card, from a Private L.P. Heiges to Will Foote and someone named Hastings, is postmarked October 13, 1918.

The October 11, 1918, edition of The Stars and Stripes was preserved with Will and Grace's collection.

Will and Grace preserved this YMCA price list for the Fall of 1918.

Grace preserved the October 4, 1918, edition of The Stars and Stripes .

Excerpts from October 5, 1918 My Dear Grace - Well your letters made a quick trip this time received them to-day written Sept 8-10-13... Why dearie, I love you so that, when you tell me you cry and are not as brave as you were + etc, I don't know what to do, I don't understand it, It would be different if I were in danger, But I am just as safe here as at home, and the swimming is all over with, so don't worry about that, and I will praise not to could any more, if ou see something my my letters you don't like, It is because I have a different point of view over here, but you must always feel that I love you, and nothing else matters... Lots of love dear, don't worry, there are Thousands and thousands that have something to worry about, but you haven't Yours Will

Excerpts from October 4, 1918 My Dear Grace I am a little at sea in regard to where to send my letters, Det. or T. City, the last letter I received you were not yet sure sure when you would go to Det... Things are going along just the same over her,e more work every Month, I am getting supplies better now, after my trip to Paris I will enclose a copy of the business I have done for the last four Months, also the business done in April, just before I came to this base, you will see that it has encreased by leaps and bounds and when you figure that one man was taking care of it in April, and I am still handling it alone, with the help of one of the girls part of the time you can see that I am not loafing on the job. I order thease goods from different parts of France, in car lots, put them in the warehouse, check every thing, see that they are billed to me properly, at the right price + etc, then I send them out to the different camps by our Truck or a U.S trucks go with the ...

Excerpts from October 3, 1918 My Dear Grace - I guest this has been the longest, I have gone with out writeing to you, I think I wrote last Sunday just a week, altho I might of written Tuesday. But I have seen so busy this week, and the time has gone so fast, I do not know where the week has gone too, I think this is the hardest week of work I have put in, I have been so tired at night, I just can't do a thing I got to bed and get up in the A. M. feeling fine and anxious to get at it again. In a way it is nice to be so busy as I don't have time to think of home and you My wish was when I came over to be busy and I certainly have my wish. I have a new warehouse now but have not had time to get moved into it. While I will be sorry to move away from Pat. I will be glad to move away from Lucas, as he certainly has got the swell head right, of corse he does not have any thing to - do with me now, as I am directly under Mr Polk. the Div. Sec. and he is a Prince, I like hi...