Possible Breakthru on a Photograph (because of Herb's letter home)

The Spanish Flu is some serious stuff... Herb is a little cavalier about it.

Ruth Parker is Herb's cousin, born 1915, and had a tragic life. I should write up her story, though she married, she died at 25 years old. I wish I had that photograph! (Or do I? This photo was sent to me by my cousin Chuck who is a descendant of Ida Lee.)

Either of those little girls could be roughly 3 years old, couldn't they? And I think the woman second from the right is Herb's Mom, Nellie Jane. So if the older girl seated is Olive Lee, (born 1904) and maybe the other child is Margaret, (born 1911) then maybe the woman standing next to the man is Ruth's mother, Edith Cornell. Hmm. I will need to ask my cousin Chuck. BUT, OMG, I think I figured it out. What a triumph!

October 31 (1918)

Dearest Mother,
I had your and Dad’s letters of October 6th and 13th to day – rather good time. Two days ago we received fourth class mail and lo and behold! What should arrive but that package you ordered for me from Wanamaker’s – last May. I think it was. There was in it some carbolic soap, a tooth brush, a tube of toothpaste, a half-pound of hard candy and this paper on which I am writing. That let’s Wanamaker’s out, of course, but I hardly think the experiment worth repeating. The war may be over before I could receive another package, at that rate.

I think I’ve already told you that I won’t be able to get a requisition for any winter clothing. These are all being refused on the ground that such things are supplied by the Q.M. on the Red Cross. As a matter of fact, we’re issued four pairs of heavy socks though they are by no means so good as home made ones. However, I’ve bought a sheepskin coat from one of the boys who wanted to dispose of it, so I don’t believe I shall freeze.

There is, of course, plenty of Spanish grippe over here but so far I’ve escaped all but that touch of it I had while on leave. At present I’m in my usual good health and, you may believe that I’m taking all possible precautions to stay so.

Since my last letter we’ve made two short moves and, at present, I’m living in what was once the Station Agent’s house in a small town on a jerkwater road. It’s a very comfortable place, too, dry – I’m on the second floor and good and warm thanks to a comfortable stove.

I continue to get magazines that Dad sends me pretty regularly. They come in handy, too. I was awfully glad to get that picture of you all – I mean the one taken when you were at Aunt Ida’s. You must have been looking straight at the sun because you do look cross. Ruth is as fat as a button, isn’t she?

It was very fortunate that I told you how I met Ken Lavin, wasn’t it. I can imagine that his mother was greatly relieved to hear he was all right. I know nothing of Herb Blake these days. In fact, the only time I ever saw him was when I first came up to the front.

I haven’t heard from Tom in some time now so I’m hoping that he really has gone back to the U.S.
The last letter I had from Karolyn was written while she was on the train going down to Bridgeport to take up her work there so I am waiting to hear from her to see how she likes it.

With best love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Herb

Can we Identify Karolyn?

I had hoped the additional information of having Karolyn's brother's name would help me find her in the Census. But I don't know where she is born or where she and Herb met. It seems she had easy enough access to visit with Herb's mother Nellie Jane, so I assume she did not travel from Brooklyn to Troy, but I don't know. My sense is that she met Nellie Jane at Charles and Grace's wedding. We know she lived/served in Bridgeport, CT as a nurse during WWI.

What other hints do we have?

I assume she is Herb's age or maybe a bit younger.

I don't know her heritage - is she Irish? German? Here is a search in NY state for women named Karolyn. Only 8 of them. But which county? And no brother Ed for any of them. And some were very young in 1915, so Karolyn can't be Herb's Karolyn. I guess I should explore Connecticut and New Jersey, too.

September 1, 1918

Dearest Mother,

I haven’t much news for you. The week has been very uneventful – rather more so than usual. We’re still staying along in rest billets and taking things easy. Tomorrow, however, four of us go on permission. We’ll have seven days in the leave area clear, not counting the days going and coming, probably twelve or thirteen days altogether.

I had a letter from Charlie and Grace this week written while they were taking a vacation in Waterford, Connecticut. Chas mentioned the fact that he expects to be called pretty soon. I doubt very much if they’ll take him, however he said he had several letters from me about the time he wrote that was August 6^th. I’m glad of it because I was so afraid he had an idea that I’ve been neglecting him.

I also had a letter from Karolyn this week. Her brother Ed is in a machine gun company and was then expecting to lave very shortly. Unfortunately there were none of your letter in this week’s mail. Usually there are if there is any mail at all. I’ve been expecting a letter from Tom, too.

You know, that package you ordered me through Wanamaker’s never came through. There’s another chap in the Section who was supposed to receive one from them, but he never got one either.

The principal amusement lately is reading the war news. We manage to get the papers fairly regularly and they certainly read well. The British and French are progressing right along. I’m hoping for a good all American demonstration before the winter just to show Ludendorf [sic] what he can expect next spring. I think there are enough Yanks here to do it very nicely.

Your affectionate son,

Herb.

Mail caught up and Herb has some news from home

Harry and his bad fortune. It would be interesting if I could learn more about Harry from another source. I wish I had my great grandmother's letters to Herb.

Bunco - is that a dice game? I have a friend who really enjoys it. Wait, but a Google search suggests that bunco is "a swindle or confidence trick."

I wonder why Karolyn had to leave nursing or X-rays in Bridgeport. Hmmm.

We learned lots about Thomas M. Nial here - thanks to my cousin Chuck.

April 10th (1918)
Dear Mother,

I’m well up on news now because the mail man brought a sack full today. I got eight – three from you and five from Karolyn. However, no packages, but now that we’ve gotten our back letters I have some hope.

I was frightfully sorry to hear about Harry’s bad fortune. He certainly has tough luck, poor kid. I do hope that it won’t discourage him. At any rate, he isn’t to blame. I seem to remember that Bob Enfield of whom you spoke though I haven’t seen him since I was in High School. I’d like to have the scoundrel who works that bunco game by the collar. The postal authorities ought to camp on his trail. Still that doesn’t help matters any for us. However, that much bad luck can’t last forever, and it does seem as if Harry has had enough for a while. I hope so.

Karolyn writes that she is in the Arsenal office though of course you probably know that. I’m glad she has something to do because she took it pretty hard that she had to leave Bridgeport.

Have you ever heard how badly Tom was hurt? I certainly hope that his recovery won’t leave him crippled in any way. Remember me to his mother when you see her, and ask her for his address for me. I’ll write him from here.

I am looking forward to a letter from you with account of Chas’s visit. What ever did persuade him to take a vacation?

I’m glad you sent me some papers. Nothing could be more acceptable. Any sort of English reading material is priceless here.

Things here are just as usual. There has been lots of rain and wind but my hip boots are a good protection. Every week we get a hot shower bath and that’s a great comfort. The food is uniformly good – much better than we used to get in the States. The great battle is still going on somewhere west of us. I hope it will be the last. So far I think the Germans have won nothing to compensate for their great losses of men. It certainly looks as if they were staking everything on one last play. The French are grave but confident. Paris pays little attention to the shells which continue to drop in the city.

There’s no telling when I’ll ever be able to go on leave. At any rate I shan’t be allowed in Paris so I won’t see Mr. Rankin’s friend.

Love to all,
Herbert

Mail is catching up

I still have no idea who this Tom guy is, but apparently he got hurt.

And what is happening to Karolyn? And does she have a brother Edwin?

Watervliet is a town near Troy, NY.

I believe Herb is in Bouvancourt, Marne, France. He'll be here for about two months.

March 25 (1918)
Dear Mother,

I had another letter from you and Dad today making some some [sic] six or seven so far. That isn’t so bad – but they arrive in the most curious sequence. This one today is date [sic] March 3rd but I never received the one before that telling me about Tom’s beng hurt. I suppose that will arrive in a week or so. Now, of course, I don’t know where he is because the last I knew he was in England and I presume he’s there yet. I do hope his injury wont cripple him in any way. I'd like to go see him but I'm afraid it’s hardly possible. There’s no telling how long we may be here at the front – it depends. I suppose on how active things are. If we go back to rest billets I’ll perhaps get a week’s leave but it isn’t permitted a soldier to leave France.

I also had a letter from Karolyn today written from Watervliet about a week before yours so I know about that. I for one am not sorry about it at all. In fact, from what I saw of it when I was in the States, I thought it pretty bad business all around. I’ll wager her mother is glad, since Edwin goes with the next contingent.

Everything here is so-so. Last week there was a lot to do for a couple of days. The Germans got busy with a lot of gas and caught a number of “XXX” napping. Most of the activity seems to be on the British front. From the papers things must be pretty hot there.

Of course we have lots of noise at night. There are several French batteries near as and [sic] they surely do make the night hideous. The Germans keep their end up, too, but they haven’t got a line on anything near us. About every afternoon a few ? planes come over and take a crack at the French observation balloons [sic]. So far I haven’t seen one of them hit in spite of the shells bursting all around them. Id like too [sic] though, dam [sic] them.

Remember me to Mrs. Nial + let me know how Tom gets along.

Love to all,
Herb

Cablegram

Dang - who is Karolyn? I mean, clearly his mother has some sort of relationship with her. Some day I will have to see if I can find something with nurses named Karolyn at Bridgeport in 1917.

Western Union Cablegram
Received at 73NY RB 18
Winchester Jan 27 1918
EFM Oliver Lee 50
93 Sixth Ave Troy (NY)
ARRIVED ALL RIGHT ADDRESS AS FORMERLY GIVEN TELL KAROLYN
CHARLES LEE
410 PM

Patriotism and Peace in the Spring

I have already posted the next letter in sequence here, so this jumps a week.

Aww, I guess Herb is blinded by love and can't see that the Germans won't be giving up soon enough for he and Karolyn to be together....

Margaret is Herb's youngest sister. She's probably about 6 or 7 when he is writing this letter home.

Monday (August 27), 1917
Dear Mother,

I just came back from Bridgeport this morning. I had a wonderful good time, of course. Karolyn’s mother and father were down, too, which took up all her aunt’s accommodations so I stayed at a hotel Saturday night. But I had all my meals except breakfast Sunday morning at her aunt’s. They certainly were very nice to me. The weather was beautiful all the time – clear and not too warm. Bridgeport was full of sailors from the fleet stationed over at Port Jefferson Long Island – right across the Sound.

Karolyn is going in to the hospital Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. I’m awfully glad of it. She needs something to keep her good and busy until I come back. What she will do then depends on the circumstances. God knows I hope I won’t be gone long. Certainly the Allies are punishing the Germans badly. The situation looks pretty hopeful to me for a peace in the early spring.

By the way I forgot to tell you that at the last minute Saturday morning after inspection we were given weekend passes which explains my being in Bridgeport Saturday night. I was awfully glad because that way we had quite a little time together – and a very happy time. Karolyn was pretty brave. She cried a bit but not much. Anyway, she’s pretty patriotic and conscientious and she’s really glad, I think, that I volunteered. So am I and you, too, I know.

Love to all,
Herb

I got what you and Margaret sent me by her.

I’m afraid we’ll be going soon. I wish I didn’t have to tell you that but it is better that I tell you than that you should have to find it out by worrying because I don’t write. It takes a month to go over by way of Halifax. Then there one month of instruction on the other side. It won’t be so dangerous as you think.

Harry has been playing around with girls

Hahaha! I wish we had the letter from his mother describing what brother Harry was doing.

Sunday 1917 (8/19/1917)
Dear Mother,

Your Friday letter arrived today. We always have one mail delivery on Sunday.

It certainly was surprising to hear that Harry has been playing around with girls. I was glad to hear it, though. He ought to get out more often.

I had a regular surprise package from Karolyn today – a brown sweater and scarf to match that she knitted for me and a tobacco pouch. The sweater is a regular godsend. It’s pretty cold at 5:30 am these days. Her father is going to drive her down to Bridgeport this coming Saturday – the 25th. I’m going to try to get over to see her that Sunday. There is nothing definite yet but I’m inclined to think that Section 80 will be sent along with the section in which Allan Norton is. 80 is one of the oldest sections in camp now. Still you never can tell. At any rate I can’t drive yet – haven’t been given instructions so I’ll not see any actual service for quite a few months unless they transfer me to some sort of clerical work at some headquarters over there. If we are going I do wish they’d tell us.

The weather is ideal. Cool nights and warm clear days. Friday I was vaccinated for small pox so I am all through with having my arm jabbed and punctured unless the vaccination doesn’t take.

I got another pair of shoes this week – three pairs now.

Love to all,
Herbert

I believe this is a photo of Harry when he was young. He married, but never had any children. If not Harry, still a very handsome man.

Photographs

I believe I may have 3 of the photographs Herb mentions, though I can only put my hands on two at the moment. Interestingly, they are slightly different from one another - they have been colored or shaded, it seems. (Found the third photograph!)

I don't know who this Marine might be.

And still no more about this Karolyn!

Wednesday (August 15), 1917
Dear Mother,

I arrived back from NY this morning about 5:30 so I’m pretty sleepy especially as I put in the day on the sanitary police squad – cleaning up around the grounds.

I had a very fine visit with Charlie and Grace. I reached the house Monday night about ten and we had a fine talk then. In the morning I went over to the city with Charlie and went in to the office. Mr. Pomeroy was out of town on a vacation and Mr. Case was not in. Mr. Case has been away a lot lately which is probably the reason that you didn’t receive he check sooner. Went out to lunch with Mr. Friedman. Right after lunch I went back to Jersey. Bill what’s his name and Blanche were there for supper and stayed all night. You know the couple I mean. He went to Stevens and was a great boyhood friend of Charlie’s. I left about 1 o’clock and had to wait most 2 hours in Jersey City for the 2:20 to Allentown.

I had a half dozen photographs ordered in N.Y. He took four poses so one of them should turn out all right. I wanted them in time for Mothers birthday but it couldn’t be done. I ordered one sent to Charlie’s, one to Karolyn and the other four to you. I suppose you’d better give one to Aunt Ada and one to Aunt Burdella. Pass them around as far as they’ll go.

I had my last paratyphoid inoculation to day. Nothing left now but small pox vaccination. Tomorrow my heart and lungs will be examined by experts. They are going over all the men in camp looking for T.B.

That picture of Marine wasn’t focused very well, was it. Still I was very glad to get it. Did she pick out that pose herself.

I can’t figure out how Frank Bergen got by the examining board. They seem to be making little tin gods out of the drafted men, don’t they. I guess it’s that way in every city. The volunteers aren’t even mentioned.

We were paid Monday afternoon. Just in time since I wanted to go to New York.

As you know Karolyn has always wanted to be a nurse. Since she can’t get a school her father’s objections don’t hold water. She tried to get in the Albany Hospital a couple of months ago but there were no openings. She could get in at Bridgeport and its more or less like home to her there. All her father’s and mother’s people live there.

Love to all
Herbert

Anticipating a quick visit with Mom

As I was driving home from Maine last week I saw signs for Bridgeport.... it made me smile and almost prolong my trip home. I have never been there. On that note, driving to Boston from NYC, though, I did drive near New Rochelle. I wish I had stopped there for a visit. I need to make a plan for that - for now I have found family on both sides - maternal and paternal - who lived in New Rochelle.

I guess I should figure no Sunday letter in mid to late July, as he will be home. That should help my chronology puzzle.

Wednesday, July 18, 1917

Dear Mother,

I have just heard from Grace and she wants Karolyn and I to come see them Sunday but hasn’t any place to put us over Saturday night as the spare room isn’t furnished. That’s all right but something went wrong at the other end and Karolyn isn’t going to Bridgeport yet awhile. As far as I can gather it’s something to do with a school out west which she is trying to secure for the fall.

I put in an application for two days leave before I knew all this and I had to fight with the commandant to get it. He warned me that it would be the last I could ever hope to get before leaving so I’m coming home. I’ll leave here Friday evening early and will probably be in Troy early Saturday morning – about two o’clock or so. I hadn’t thought of coming up yet because I thought that later I’d be able to get four or five days. According to the latest advices from headquarters here we won’t be here but a very short time now. We get practice hikes every other day – five or six miles. Our battalion – six sections – is already organized and will be ready to leave I think within a month. Whether will go to France or Russia I don’t know. It may be either. I do wish I had more time but I can stay until about noon Sunday and I want to see you all before I leave for good.

We have a new lieutenant for Section 80. Who should it be by “Lub” Allen a Phi Delt from Syracuse who graduated from Liberal Arts before my time but whom I knew quite well. They are filling up the sections to 45 men. The new men are all nice chaps in our sections and several of the rough necks have transferred so I’m going to stick with section 80.

I have a strained leg – it’s the tendon just above my heel but I expect it will be all right in a few days. Outside of that I’m as healthy as a mule. You’ll see for yourself.

If you haven’t sent me that money by the time you get this keep till I arrive. I have enough to get home on.

So I’m afraid you’ll have me waking you up early Saturday AM.

Until then, good bye,
Herbert

P.S. If I don’t arrive as I plan you’ll know that I’ve been called out in the meantime on one of these six day hikes. That will cancel my leave.
Herb