Sidney D. Light's WWI Diary, Postcards & Letters, 329th Battery Book Accounts

Dear Bert,                    Aug 27 (somewhere in France)

.......I have forgotten just now whether I mentioned in my previous letters anything about our trip across. Of course we are not allowed to give any details but it certainly was wonderful and one that I shall never forget. The weather was fine all the way except the first night out when most everyone was sick including yours truly.

We marshaled 22 miles to this camp and arrived yesterday noon. Believe me, I thought I was used to walking after I quit the Terminal but I guess I must have gotten out of practice. I made the grade, but my feet were some sore. I carried a pack that didn’t weigh a pound less than 45 or 50 and along toward the finish it weighed 200 I’m sure. I feel pretty well rested up today though and have managed to get outside of a lot of work....

.....The nights in France are very cool and clear and the moonlight evenings are wonderful and always make me feel homesick as they bring back memories of a year ago when I used to take advantage of them. Just think, Bert, about a week from next Wednesday I will have been in the army a year. Can you imagine it? It seems like 10 to me but time has gone by pretty fast just the same.

A strange thing happened here yesterday afternoon. I heard someone yell, "Is Sid Light in this outfit" and lo and behold it was an old pal and neighborhood chum of mine from Saginaw. He had been here for about 6 weeks and was leaving for the front and on hearing that our regiment was here, decided to look me up and bid me farewell before he left. Well, I certainly was glad to see him. He belongs to an observation balloon squadron and has been in the service about as long as I have. The world isn’t so large after all, is it.....