Will, Grace, and World War One

Excerpts from August 17, 1918: My Dear Grace - Record your letter written July 26th and Gertrude's enclosed, I just felt that I would get a letter to- day, Pat received one from Ethel, and oh Grace what a difference, she talks about being with Walt. Thirlby and that Grace Thirlby does not speak to hear and etc. You don't know how glad dear, I am that you are not that kind, I just feel so happy I have such confidence in you, I told Pat, I would be just crazy if you wrote any thing like that to me But I know I will never get a letter of that kind, I have learned to know and like Pat. more than, I ever tho't I could like a fellow, he certainly thinks every thing of "Bussy" and Robert, I went in the other morning and he was writing home crying just like a kid, I says what's the matter "old top", Oh, he says when I think of the "kids" it just breaks me all up, but he soon was all right Funny world isn't it, He has kids to cry a...

Excerpts from August 23, 1918: My Dear Grace, Well how are things top day. "Is there trouble any where"? is the old car still in the garage?... Have been having a little trouble again with our boss, have made arrangements to be transferred to another Div. but it will not change my location, just give me full charge of locale warehouse as it was I was under another fellow to a certain extent. It certainly has been ' hot ' here for a few days, I tho't it got hot in T.C. but id doesn't you have cold weather there on your hotest days along side of what we have had for a couple of days... Every thing going along over here all O.K. Rec;d a letter from harry the other day the first I have had for a long time, Pat is getting all the mail now days, for a while I had him beat, but now he is getting all of the mail... In your last letter, Dear you still speak of razor blades + etc, I get every thing that I need here much cheaper than it can be bought in...

Will sent grace this edition of The Stars and Stripes .

Excerpts from August 14, 1918: My Dear Grace - Just Rec'd letters written July 12 and 16th must be some time in between this bunch and the last as I have not had a letter for at least 10 days untill these two, I left my pen down at the office so will have to use pencil... Well I am D-- glad you have put the car in the barn if you had of done that about the first thing, we would still have a car and also some money... I can see where you have had quite a little trouble you can never take a car to one garage and then go to an other, and get any service if you let them know you have been to an other garage first, It makes them sore before you tart to get any thing done I always handed out a little dope, makeing them think tthey were the only ones that were takeing care of the car out side of my self, &Etc, Those guys in the garages all have a chip on their shoulders waiting for some one to start something, I am awful sorry I did not sell the car, but ...

Will sent this European edition of the August 11, 1918, New York Herald home to Grace.

This issue of the military newspaper The Stars and Stripes appeared on August 9, 1918. Will mailed it home to Grace shortly after.

Excerpts from August 9, 1918: Somewhere in France Same Place My Dear Grace - Well darling I have so much to tell you I don't now where to start in, The last few days have been very full of surprised for both Pat and I, I heard that some of the Camp Austin Boys were going thro' so yesterday, I looked over a bunch of them and shore enough I saw Frank Tompkins, I do not think you knew him, but I did very well, for the last few years he has been Ast. Mgr. of the Griswold Hotel in Detroit... Well day before yesterday, a gentleman Pat and I met one evening, invited us up to dinner last night, after had had talked with M-- Winslow the lady I told you about, You see it was like this this town is quite low down, that is the business section and at night Pat and I quite often go up on the hill, were all the beautiful homes are to get a little good air, and get away from the noise    One night we stopped, in Front of the most beautiful place up there and was viewing th...