World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, American
We are now taking our physical examinations. Mine has been perfectly
normal; they found nothing wrong with my heart, and a special
examination of my lungs (by request) showed nothing abnormal, though I
have still a little bronchial cough. It looks as though we were to have
a few days of rain. I can stand it for sleep. Just received my two
hundred francs, and I feel rich. I am going to deposit it, as I have a
hundred francs left from last month. I am pleased with the financial
outlook. At the end of the war I’ll have enough money to travel, or get
married, or finish “Tech.” If the war lasts long enough I may have
enough for all three. If anything happens to me my life insurance pays
for Robert’s education, but there is no particular reason why anything
should happen to me. I am not counting on it.
Say, I have so many clothes that they are becoming positively a burden.
When we enter the U. S. Army in two or three weeks we will be provided
with a complete outfit of U. S. Regulars uniform. When we have our
brevet we get a complete leather uniform. My khaki uniform has not been
washed since the beginning and is all covered with grease spots and
“tacky” looking, but it is comfortable, and I saved two hundred francs
by waiting. The sweater you knitted for me is doing good service—so
light and neat inside a coat. It is very handy. That picture of Robert’s
is mighty good. Tell him to write to me. I just received my pictures.
Printing is very expensive here, and the work is not very satisfactory.
I hesitate to let them develop my pictures. Our time is filled now all
right. I must sleep some more. That is one of the great requisites in
aviation.
You might send me things to eat now and then. Dates, figs, candied
fruits, fruit cake, candied pineapple, fig newtons, and salted nuts.
They come through pretty well in about a month or so, and keep well. It
is best to sew cloth around the package before putting on the outside
cover. It’s pretty nice to receive packages.
Your son,
DINSMORE.
_Personnel Dep., Aviation Section, A. E. F.,
45 Ave. Montaigne, Paris, September 19._
DEAR FAMILY:
The above heading is the official address of the U. S. Aviation Section,
and the one which you must use from now on. Yesterday I got a flock of
letters—three of mother’s, one of father’s, one of Robert’s, two or
three others, and a bunch of the “_Tech_” magazines. The “_Tech_” has
more news of vital interest than any paper I see over here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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