Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
From the Herald of
November 18, 1918
At 2:45 Monday morning, November 11, 1918, the State Department officially announced the armistice ending the great world war had been signed. At 6 o'clock hostilities ceased, and the war was over. As news of the end became known to the people here at home, great demonstrations were again set in motion in all parts of the country. Martinsburg had a big street parade. The school children, who had just resumed their studies after a brief vacation, were dismissed and quickly formed a marching line. The band, automobiles, working men and everybody joined in a joyous and patriotic march over the streets of the town, all doing their best to give expression to the joy they felt. As part of the Martinsburg Herald's coverage on November 18, 1918, the editor chose to print a few letters local boys sent home during the war under the title: The Boys "With the Colors" Letters from France and Camps.
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Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Tipton on Saturday received the following letter confirming the death of their son, Merl D. Tipton:
Somewhere in France
October 9. 1918
Dear Mrs. Tipton-
I am sending a few lines to you in the hope that it may help a little to lighten the burden of the loss of your son Merl to know that his loss will be felt not only by you but by his company and by his officers. He was under my direct command, and I can freely say that he was a good man and a good soldier, that he met his death fighting for his country, and met it like a good and true patriot. More need not be said of any man.
He was killed only a few feet from me, and it may comfort you to know that he died instantly and painlessly. Later you will receive notice of the place where he is buried, so that he will not rest in an unknown grave.
With heartfelt sympathy for you and others who will mourn his loss, I am
Yours most sincerely,
J.S. Hudnall
2nd Lieutenant Infantry
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Somewhere in France
October 9, 1918
Dear Ones at Home:--
I received a lot of mail today. Was glad to get some home news. Received about eight or nine letters altogether, most of them from you people at home. Have written to Gilbert Stoner and some of the other boys over here, but have got no answer yet. Expect to hear from them soon.
We do not get much fruit over here. Sometimes we get a chance to buy some. It isn't as plentiful as at home. We received those pictures from home on the first of October. Was glad to get them. I have them with me and am proud of them. I see by those pictures you all look well, especially those children, they surely are growing out of sight.
Well mother, I guess you know by this time that we are in the lines and have gone over the top a few times and you have also heard of brother Merl's death which was very sudden. He was shot through the head and expired instantly, not suffering any. It happened on Saturday October 5, about 8 p.m. I got his personal property that he had with him. I saw him a few days afterwards. He looked natural, it seemed as though he had just been sleeping.
I felt very sorry to hear of his death, for I miss him very much, for we were together most of the time and must say he was a good boy. We always attended services when there was any possible chance. We always read those papers you people sent from home. We have been getting them right along without any trouble. We were always glad to get the Sunday School gem and quarterly; also the home paper. We also read our Testaments and tried to do what was right.
Brother Merl was held in highest esteem by his superior officers and loved by all who knew him. His loss from our organization is deeply felt and the members of his company send to the bereaved family their heartfelt sympathy in their loss of such a noble soldier. He was always faithful in performing his duty whatever the task may have been.
Well dear mother I will close for this time. Will write more later. Take good care of yourselves. May the blessing of God rest upon us all until we meet again. My address is the same. Good bye. Love to all.
Lovingly,
Your Son and Brother,
Albert H. Tipton
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The following letter was received by Mrs. John Over of Woodbury, from her son Samuel over there, she having two sons in France and one entered camp Thursday, October 14:
Somewhere near Jerry's dug-out or trash pile
October 6, 1918
Dear Mother and All:--
Just a few lines to you this Sunday afternoon to let you know that I am well, and things are moving as good as can be expected. Mother I am sorry I have not answered you letters sooner, but we have been kept busy for two weeks and more. I received your most welcome letters and am glad to hear that you are all well. I also received your paper but got them at a bad time. I did not have much time to read them. Read Cloyd Detwiler's death and a little more news from home. So many thanks for them.
Well mother I can say I went over the top after the Germans and our Battalion went after them hard. We kept up right with our infantry. The first day we advanced between five and six miles and we fought the enemy that afternoon right out in the open, no shelter at all for either side. The same evening for one hour we were under heavy shell fire, and it was heavy. I was close to the Germans that time so close that I could hear them coughing and spitting but soon were chased away from their position. I was put out to watch for snipers. I believe if I had seen snipers the time the heavy firing was put at us I could never have shot at them, for it kept a man busy dodging shrapnel.
A company of infantry that night went and chased the enemy away. When they started after them they passed right by me where I was watching for snipers. I heard one of the boys say "You dirty son a b----, you better run for we are coming after you " they did go too.
We captured one of the Kaiser's quarter master's stores, so this is some of his writing paper. Watch how you handle it. I think though it is safe.
So we are still in the trenches and I will write only to you and you can tell the rest how I am. I have not got the time to do much writing. I just received a letter from Annie. Tell her if they were over here they would not need to save gas. We get a sample of it five or six times in one night, not gasoline, but the Kaiser's gas.
We are getting good mail service. The Y.M.C.A. is sure good to our boys in the trenches. I suppose it is pretty cold in the States by this time. I have not seen Levi lately but our supply sergeant saw him in his truck but did not talk to him. Was not surprised to hear Ray must go to camp. Well, mother, I will close for this time, hoping this letter will find you all well. I remain as ever,
Your Son Samuel
Co. A, 314 M. C. B'n
American E. F.
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The following letter was received by Mrs. J. W. Mentzer recently from her son, Edwin L. Mentzer, who for some time was stationed at Camp Lee Va., but has since been moved to Camp Wheeler, Ga.
Camp Lee, Va.
October 12, 1918
Dear Mother –
This afternoon I will spend a while in writing to you and am surely glad to write to such a good mother, one who deserves a lot of credit for such a noble life you have lead with all the hard life you had, but let us look forward till about next year this time when I think we can be together again and then surely there will be no happier people in all this world.
Everything is coming our way and I am sure we will win this war in the near future.
I wrote Charley twice last week and I will write often to him for I know he will be glad to hear from me. I am sending all my letters home for you to keep for me and when I get back I would not take a good bit for them.
Ross Brumbaugh and I are together every evening at the Y.M.C.A. It is good and warm and a good place to go spend the evening. I don't think I will be in camp very long anymore. I think we will be sent to some other camp to instruct the new men that come in the last of this month, for I have my course finished here at this school and know how men are arranged when they are advancing on the enemy.
There was a review this morning of 45,000 men. Some bunch! About 10,000 will leave here tonight for France. They all had their oversea clothes on and looked nice.
I will let you know as soon as they move me and where I am at. Some say we are coming to New Jersey at Camp Dix. If we do, I surely can get a pass home. I will try it pretty hard.
This will be some experience for me and I never will forget some of the things I saw and went through. But I am not the only one and am going to make the best of it till God sees fit to end it, and that I believe is going to be in the near future.
It will seem strange to me when I get out of the army, I will have lots to tell. I must write to Olie this afternoon again. I guess it is pretty cool up there by this time. It is nice down here now. The Spanish influenza is getting better. I am glad I didn't get it.
Does Meryl think he will soon have to come to the army? I hope he doesn't need to come for I know he wouldn't like it at first, but was all get used to it in a short time.
Well, I guess I will close for this time. I am well and hope this will find you all the same. Give my best to all. So long. May God be with you and spare you till we boys come home; may peace rule the nations, is my prayer. With best wishes,
From a Loving Son,
Edwin L. Mentzer
Co. A 99th Division,
D.T.S. Camp Wheeler, Ga.
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Editor's Note: Thank you to our circulation manager, Lugene Shelly, for transcribing all of these letters to allow us to see what soldiers and their families went through in World War I.
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