Letter from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace
1/21/1919
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Truman's letter includes references to the deadly influenza epidemic that followed World War I. He expresses his relief that Bess has recovered from the flu, and tells her that he has carried her picture (the one she sent him at Camp Doniphan) with him throughout the war. He says that he is eager to come home and wishes that the "ex-mayor of Toledo" (Secretary of War Newton Baker, who was actually an ex-mayor of Cleveland) would arrange this; along with the other American soldiers, he does not care about the peace plans of "Woodie" (President Woodrow Wilson) or European political struggles. He also alludes to the adoption of Prohibition in the United States, commenting that he wants to get back home and "lay in a supply for future consumption."
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Knights of Columbus
Overseas Service
On Active Service with American Expeditionary Forces
A.P.O. Camp La Beholle near Verdun
Date Jan. 21 1919
Dear Bess:-
Your grand letter of Dec 26 came last night and of course I was as happy as a kid with a bonbon, I am so glad you had a happy white Christmas. It is a good omen I'm sure and I sincerely hope that "flu" will be an unheard of ailment from this time forward. Your point is well taken regarding the furniture in my room at the Hotel Medeterranee (can't spell it). It would of course be essential to provide either a place to eat or a range. I am very sure that I shouldn't have overlooked a vital point like that even if I am blinded by Eros. My experiences to date have taught me most emphatically that it is very very essential that food be provided in plentiful quantities even if clothing has to be overlooked sometimes. Some of my men have been pretty close to nature at various times as to clothes but if there happened to be plenty of roast beef and baked beans it was
a happy lunch. But leave off the eats for a meal or two and it made one "h- of a mean man" to put it as they do. Therefore I won't overlook that end of it nor any other I hope. The stationary George and May gave you is simply grand and it makes me sorry to have to answer it on this kind but even this hand is at a high premium here. I think May's picture is pretty fine myself. You know I have two breast pockets in my blouse. Naturally you can guess whose picture stays in the left hand one. I keep May's and Mamma's in the other. Yours is the one you sent me at Doniphon and it has never left me from that day to this nor will it ever. It's been through all the trials and tribulations and happy moments same as I have. I have looked at it many many times and imagined that you were there in spirit as I know you were and its helped a lot especially when things were blue and it would look as if I'd surely blow up if another thing went wrong. I've never blown up and my disposition isn't so very bad. That picture saved it. The biggest worry I've ever had was when I heard that the original of that picture had the "flu" and the happiest day was when that letter came saying you'd walked up
Knights of Columbus
Overseas Service
On Active Service with American Expeditionary Forces
APO
DATE
town. I am hoping that Nice will not be an impossibility to us and I don't believe it will. You did right to send your proxy to Boxley. He's to be trusted absolutely.
We are having another spasm of moving. There have been orders out twice to move up back to a dirty little old French village but each time Gen. Berry has been able to get them canceled, because we have better quarters here than we can possibly get in a town. I suppose though that we'll go this time. Heard a real good rumor the other day. To show you how they start I'll just trace this one for you. An ordinance sergeant (get that ordAnance) who was overhauling F.Bty's guns told the Lt. who went after them that his own commanding officer, a Lt. had been told by the Generals aide that our guns were being overhauled so that they could be turned in at Le Mans on
Jan 27 which happens to be the Kaiser's birthday (so he said) and then we'd all go home. Now the whole foundation for that nice tale was the definite order for us to move back to a little old village and be billeted not far from Bar-le-Duc and about 40 miles from here. It's my opinion that we'll stay there until Woodie gets his pet peace plans refused or OKed. For my part, and every AEF man feels the same way, I don't give a whoop (to put it mildly) whether there's a league of nations or whether Russia has a Red Government or a Purple one and if the President of the Czechs-Slavocs wants to pry the throne from under the King of Bohemia let him pry but send us home. We came over here to help whip the Hun. We helped a little, the Hun yowled for peace and he's getting in in large doses and if our most excellent ex mayor of Toledo wants to make a hit with us he'll hire or buy some ships and put the Atlantic Ocean between us and the Vin Rouge Sea. For my part I've had enough Vin Rouge and Frogeater victuals to last me a lifetime. And anyway it looks to me like the moon shine business is going to be pretty good in the land of Liberty Loans and Green Trading stamps and some of us want to get in on
Knights of Columbus
Overseas Service
On Active Service with American Expeditionary Forces
APO
DATE
the ground floor. At least we want to get there in time to buy in a supply for future consumption. I think a quart of Bourbon would last me about forty years.
I hope you have a most happy birthday and that you never see another one without me to help celebrate and then may they go on without end. Remember me to your mother and Fred and Frank and Natalie and George and May and just keep writing when you feel inclined because I love you.
Always,
Harry
Harry Truman
Capt. Bty D129 Fa
American E.F.
This primary source comes from the Collection HST-FBP: Harry S. Truman Papers Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs.
National Archives Identifier:
200650Full Citation: Letter from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace; 1/21/1919; Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace Truman; Family Correspondence Files, 1910 - 1959; Collection HST-FBP: Harry S. Truman Papers Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs; Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/harry-truman-to-bess-wallace, March 29, 2024]