18 June 1919
American YMCA
Dear Parents, I thought I would drop you a few lines to let you know I am well and feeling fine. It is a long time since I wrote to you last. I supposed you gave me up as lost. But do not worry, I am alright. I always keep putting it off day after day, thinking I would beat the mail home. But we may be held up for a few days or a week, but I am on my way home, as you say it. It takes time to fit and equip a Company. We started to sail from Russia June 2 and landed at Brest, France a week ago today.31 This is a far better country than Russia will ever be. You can see some fine buildings, roads and layouts of the country here. In Russia nothing but woods. I did not see Edmund LaFevre from the time we landed until we left Russia. He also came on the same boat, and is near our camp now. It is certainly too bad that Aunt Kate passed away, leaving so many little ones behind.32 It is certainly rough when a fellow knows that a bunch of his relatives has passed away. It seems to me like it cannot be true. I supposed Henry Ruhlman is back by now, having a great time. If nothing happens, I may be there between now and New Years. Ha Ha. Well how is everybody around the neighborhood nowadays? I can imagine the fellows having their sport and I am way out here trying to make life (sweet ?) after our long stay in the cold wild woods of Russia. Well let’s forget all about it, better days coming soon. Let’s hope soon. The Company had a picture taken and also the platoon in which I am. I am going to send one of each. You may receive them in a week or so after this letter. I have seen the Company picture and it is a dandy. (see photo below) I think I will close now, don’t have nothing much now, but will have more when I return home, which may be soon. With best regards, and good wishes to all, I remain your loving son, Clem.
Please excuse me for not writing sooner and oftener. I may explain later but not very well at present. Please send my best regards to Mrs. A. Jacobs. So long, hoping to see you all in a very short time. Do not worry, Clem |
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31 Companies A, E, G, I, L, & M boarded the H.M.T. Czar on June 2nd; at 7:45 AM on June 3rd their ship departed Archangel; they arrived in Brest, France at Noon on June 11th where they disembarked and marched about 4 miles to Camp Pontanezen; there they went through a de-lousing process and were issued new uniforms. On June 21st, these same Companies boarded the U.S.S. Von Steuben for the voyage home; they arrived in Hoboken, N.J. on June 30th and spent 2 days being processed through Camp Merritt, N.J.; Company I was assigned to a train bound for Detroit on July 3rd, which arrived at the Michigan Central Station at 8:30 PM that same night. The 339th was honored by the citizens of Detroit with a picnic at Belle Isle Park on the following day, July 4, 1919. (Source: "Detroit's Own Polar Bears, The American North Russian Expeditionary Forces, 1918-1919", Stanley J. Bozich and Jon R. Bozich, Polar Bear Publishing Co., Frankenmuth, MI, © 1985)
32 Catherine (Ohlert) Grobbel, wife of Bernard, left behind the infant Rose Ann, plus 9 other children ranging in age from 3 to 20 years
Above is the photograph of Company I , 339th
Inf. that was taken while at Camp Pontanezen, Brest, France
Photo Credit: "The World War I Document Archive
- WW I Image Archive" (photo used in accord with their
policy)
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