From Tyler Daily Courier-Times, December 5, 1917:
Sergeant Milton Henry Writes to Mother From France
Mrs. L.A. Henry, South Broadway, this city, has consented for the Courier-Times to print extracts from a letter written by her son, Milton, who is with the American army “Somewhere in France.”
The young man enlisted in the medical department as a private at San Antonio, and has been in France from sometime. He is now a sergeant.
Sergeant Henry encloses in his letter to his mother a small piece of black cloth which he says came from the outside of a German Zeppelin which was destroyed near where he is located. The cloth has the appearance of being a mixture of silk and oilcloth, and is of very strong texture. It is black on the outside and of a grayish color on the inside.
The letter bears the government censor stamp, and extracts follow:
“Somewhere in France,” Headquarters A.E.F., October 29th, 1917.
Dearest Mother,
Your letter mailed the 8th received and very much enjoyed. Your’s beat Dad’s though as I haven’t heard from him yet. This shows you how irregular the State’s mail is handled coming to us. I also received the Hearsts in the same mail for which please accept my thanks.
Nothing could please me more or make me happier than to be able to spend Christmas with you all but it doesn’t seem possible at the present writing. With the Germans pounding Russia and the Italian’s retreat, it looks as if the biggest part of the job is up to the Americans, French and English and you have probably noted accounts of the recent brilliant successes of the French and British on the Western Front. I am hoping though that this time next winter will see us all together. We are having miserable weather, raining almost every day and old crimp with it. When I have to go through, I bundle myself up good and I couldn’t feel any better than I do. I’ve fleshened up considerably and every Sunday I start out on a hike through this beautiful country.
About eight or ten days ago a bunch of Zeppelins left their base in Germany bound for England on a bombing expedition, which from press reports proved successful, but on their return they were not so lucky, as French airmen brought down two and compelled one to land out of control. You will find enclosed a piece of the outside covering of one of the monsters, being forced to leave it to your imagination as to how same was acquired. I hope, however, to be able to tell you more about it when I see you gain. Which I hope wont be very long.
I don’t think it would be advisable to risk a cake over here. Lots of the boys have gotten packages with eatables in damaged condition. They evidently get pretty rough handling any way. I hardly know what to suggest. I’ve got plenty of towels. The quartermaster commissionary keeps toilet soap, tooth powder and tobacco. Esther said she was making me a regulation muffler. About the only think I haven’t got is a comfort bag.
The Colonel and I are keeping busy. He is doing more administration work than practicing, and has charge of the Dental situation now. I never saw a happier man over his promotion. He is making a regular dental assistant out of me, sterilizing instruments ad making___ments and making up salutions, doing emergency work, etc.”
This project, “Letters Home from Soldiers During World War I,” is supported by contributions from Andrew L. Leath, Vicki Betts, Tiffany Wright, Savannah Brantley Cortes, Randy Gilbert, Jeanne Sellers, and Scott Fitzgerald. If you would like to add or correct any information regarding Milton Henry or any other letters from soldiers during World War I, please use the comment feature or reach out to us using the “Contact Us” option below. We appreciate your feedback!