Hi List, The following letters were written by Joe Rawls, who was stationed in France, to his father, B.B. Rawls. If anyone knows more about Joe will you please post to the list? Thanks, Carla Miles The Butler Herald Thursday, August 22, 1918 Page One Letters From The Boys "Over There" Letter from Joe Rawls, who is in France, to his Father, Mr. B.B. Rawls, of Butler It will be remembered that Mr. Rawls was one of the first enlisted men from Taylor County. He is in the Rainbow division which has recently been in the heaviest of the fighting on the firing line in France. This division has won the praise and admiration of the world. It is very gratifying to Mr. Rawls' many friends to learn he has passed thus far thru the war without injury. It is to be hoped that good fortune will continue to follow him, and bring him safely home soon. France, July 1, 1918 Dear Father: Your letter as well as those from other members of the family, received a few days ago. I received a letter from Lonnie recently. He said that he had joined the navy, suppose he has been ordered to report for service by this time. I don't think he will like the navy as well as he first thought he might. How did your peaches turn out this year? There ought to have been a fine crop on the old orchard. We have been out of the trenches for several weeks this time. This division was relieved by some drafted men. We have been moving most of the time since we were relieved. We have hiked most of the time but we move on the train awhile also. We passed through several large towns; also have seen a better class of people than those up around the front. We are now camped near a French aviation field. They sure have some fine planes, too. They were not red fighting planes up there, most of them were proto places. I will close for this time, hope to hear from you real soon. Joe Rawls The Butler Herald Thursday, October 3, 1918 Page One Joe Rawls Writes Interesting Letters From Battle Field August 15, 1918 Dear Papa: It has been a long time since I have written to you all, I have been so busy for the last few weeks that I haven't had time to write. I was on the front at the time the Boch began their big offensive last month, we were shelled very heavy and lost a few men, but the Boch did not make but very little advance where we were. The next time we saw the front we saw some real fighting, but the first thing we did was to go "over the top," we went over one evening and advanced a few miles through the woods, we then came to an open field we went across the field to the house and stayed there a few hours. We passed through a very heavy artilary and machine gun barrage that day. A machine gun cut two holes through my pants, but that wasn't a close call at all to what some of the boys had. I put one German out of his trouble over at the house, it was almost dark when give Germans came out of a "dug-out" just outside the house, three of them came to one window and were trying to talk like Frenchmen the other two jumped in the next window and jumped at the guard in there, but he ran out the door. I happened to be near the door and went to see what the trouble was, but just as I reached the door I saw a big German making for me. I shot him in the stomach with my pistol, he then jumped back out of the window and went to the "dug-out" but died later. We continued our advance for several days we captured a lots of machine guns and artilary and munition and also a few Germans. I must close but will write again real soon. Fondly, Joe Sept. 10, 1918 Dear Papa: I know that you think that I am not going to write at all, but it has been so lately that a fellow could not write no matter how much he wanted to do so. I am sending you a little slip telling all that we have done since coming over here. I am as well as usual and ready for the front again. I saw Mr. Harris' brother yesterday, he had just come back from the hospital. I was promoted the other day to a corporal, but I do not like the job much, had rather have my old place back any time. I have no news so will close and write again at the next opportunity. Your son, Joe