Poch, Fritz - Letter to Mother (1918)

SPENCE, WRIGHT, TURK, KJAR, HOPPER, ANDERSON, SHOAFSTALL, CARDIO, BROOKS, PIERCE, COKER, ROGGE, SHEPPARD

Posted By: Marcy Rose (email)
Date: 3/27/2005 at 22:09:18

Article in the Atlantic News Telegraph, Atlantic, IA. I don't know the date.

LETTERS FROM THE BOYS

A letter from Fritz Poch, in service in France to his mother, Mrs. Fred Poch of 905 Walnut Street, this city, contains much of interest. It follows:

September 9, 1918
Dear Mother,

Have started several letters but never have finished them, so will try and get this one away.

Am getting closer to the front right along but still a numer of miles from there. Can occasionally hear the roar of guns but nothing dangerous, so don't worry. The field here is a large American Air Base with planes galore. All one can hear is airplanes humming and motor trucks rumbling.

Where is Frank mother? Has he come across? Is Martz still in the Home Guard? What is the news from home? Get Martin to write and send a few papers. You don't know how lonely it is not to get mail when all the other fellows are getting theirs. How are "Babe" and Dad? Hope you are all well.

Ma, I had one of the happiest moments of my life the other day. You can't guess what it was either. The division all the fellows from home are in camped just a few miles from our post and I had a chance to see the fellows from home. Fred, the Spences, Everett Wright, H. Turk, Kjar, Hopper, Clarence Anderson, Roy Shoafstall, Joe Cardio, Brooks, Tubby Pierce, Coker, Paul Rogge, Guy Sheppard and two or three other boys I can't think of just now. Alt is in the hospital with three wounds. He is recommended for "Distinguished Service Cross" for a stunt he pulled off in one of the battles. All the fellows I met are feeling fine, so if you meet any of their folks you can tell them so. The boys are on their way to the front again, so if their folks don't hear from them for a little while they won't have to worry. All of them didn't know what to think when I came walking into their camp. They had just read in the paper that I had landed and all were getting ready to write when I walked in on them.

Well, mother dear, I must close. Please write to me soon and send me some papers if you will. Try and get Melvin's and Leo's addresses for me. Also send Frank's. Tell the folks hello for me and say that I'm feeling fine. With love,

Your son,

FRITZ
Pvt. Fritz J. Roch
279 Areo Squadron
American Forces
A.P.O. 731 A

I copied this article as close as I could. The article was not in good enough shape to scan.
Marcy Rose