This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Schaippacasse/Schiappacasse Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AQB.2ACI/270 Message Board Post: Plattsmouth Journal, Thursday, August 22, 1918 A LETTER FROM RAY SCHIAPPACASSE France, July 19, 1918 Dear Mother: We are at last in France and I was no little surprised at the appearance of the country here, as it has proved much better than I had expected. For instance, you would not have known there was a war here judging from the people, for they do not seem to be in actual want as I had expected. The one thing though, there is no young men or women, the work being done by the women and old men while the young girls, they tell me, are in the factories in the cities. The land here is cultivated with great care, the farms are small and they plant it in wheat and grapes as they make a lot of wine here. They build all houses of stone and some of them look very pretty with their moss covered red tile roofs. The fields are covered with red poppies that grow wild everywhere. They use a great many of those fall Lombard popular trees which look very nice as they grow very high. The one thing I notice there is no birds to speak of, only swallows and sparrows. Scarcely any song birds. There is a good bit of rain here, but only a little at a time so it does not get muddy, and the soil is kind of sandy and it sinks in right away. I am feeling fine and get plenty to eat so am happy and contented in every way. I am no where near the battle front, and don’t expect to get into action for a long time yet. So don’t worry. I hope Cecile is well, and you are too. I want you to write and tell me everything right away because I haven’t read anything for a long time. Well good-bye to everybody and with love to all. I will close for this time. PVT. RAY SCHIAPPACASSE, Co. B. 116 Field Sign. Bn. A.E.F. Plattsmouth Journal, Monday, September 16, 1918 A LETTER FROM FRANCE [front page] >From Thursday’s Daily. Somewhere in France. Dear Mother: I am moved again, and am now close to the front so that I can hear the guns roar, but there is no danger as we are about 10 miles from the front, and the boches are running the other way and are making good time at that. We are billeted at present in a church in the center of a French cemetery, so we a have a nice big building to sleep in. The church and the town are badly shot to pieces as the Germans were driven out of here a few days ago. There are three big bells in the tower of this church, also one side of is blown away so you can see the bells from below. The Germans had used this place as a Red Cross Hospital before we came here, and did a good business. At present I am attached to a radio company of the signal Corps. Up to date we have, that is, I have had nothing to do but eat three squares a day. However, I am going to try to get transferred, as I don’t see how I can be of any use here as I don’t know anything about the work. About the only excitement we have here is when Fritz comes over in an aeroplane and they shoot at him with anti-aircraft guns. One was up just now and they fired about fifty shots at him, but don’t think they got him as they fly high up in the air and are hard to hit. I couldn’t see the aeroplane this time. He was so high and far away but you could see the shells burst in the air. It leaves a black smoke. They usually come over to find where the enemy has the artillery located, though once in a while they drop a few bombs, but seldom hit anything much. We had a nice time at the place we first stopped at as it was way out of the war zone and the fields were green, but here there is too much was to be nice, although it’s a whole lot worse in the trenches, so I have no kick coming. You would think that we hear all about the war, but we probably don’t know as much as you do. They boys are all betting that the war will be over by Xmas. And as we go to press it is said that Austria has about quit and that the Germans have lost heavily to the British, however we do know that they are on the run here, so things look pretty good to us now. When I get a pay day, if ever, I’ll send some German helmets home as they are easy to find all about here. They put 36 cents worth of stamps on them and they go home O.K. so they say. If you want to you can send me some magazines as reading is mighty hard to get here. See if you can get something from Charley. My address is changed again. This is it. Name Co. A. 107 Field Sig. Bn. A.P.O. 734, A.E.F. It is getting dark so good night, and write soon. With love to all. RAY SCHAIPPACASSE I got Cecil’s letter O.K.