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<rdf:Description rdf:about="http://digital.centerforknitandcrochet.org/items/show/6590">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Letter by Thomas Hickman to his family]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[World War, 1914-1918--Correspondence]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[Veterans--Illinois]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[World War, 1914-1918--France]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces--Correspondence]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[Military]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[Veterans]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[World War I]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[Save Camp Montour, France Dec 27, 1918 Dear Mother and all – As I received a dandy letter from you a few days ago I will try to find time to write you a short letter. It seems our mail must be held up some place, as we don’t get half the mail we use to get or even should get. I haven’t received a letter from Lucille since the 13th of December, and I know we writes me two or three letters a week. And the letter I received from John is the first one I have received from home for about two weeks. But I guess all we can do is wait as all are doing their part now to get the boys home. However we haven’t the slightest idea of then we will leave here, everyone writes about “so and so” being in the papers about the 87 Division coming home so soon, but I guess something must be done to keep the folks at home in good spirits. But at any rate don’t look for me until you see me coming and then you won’t be disappointed, as we have been by rumors. But I feel safe in saying we may be home by Christmas 1919. If we have real good luck. Enough said I expect. Well, Mother! You should have seen me Xmas Eve and Xmas day. Oh Gee! I felt so lonesome, blue and thoroughly disgusted. Xmas eve, I think I cursed every living thing in France, and even the mud under my Bunk. Couldn’t get drunk for I was almost broke, too muddy to go to Buvette so all I did was curse. But Xmas morning I am glad to say brought out a different spirit. I went to Tours, France to a foot-ball game, when the team from our camp played “Tours”. There I got a delicious turkey dinner at the Red Cross Canteen. Now I mean to say it was some fine dinner, and no one in American could have had a finer dinner or a more enjoyable time that we had that those “dear American girls” fixed and served to we boys. Well, then after spending several moments of real pleasure in filling up on turkey, we passed out (over) [Page 2] through a hall where several girls were seated at boxes of candy, cigars, cigarettes, and the like, but no one seemed to be the cashier, so we ask the last girl where we would pay for our dinner. Here was her answer “This is Christmas and your dinner is the gift from our people at home, and the Red Cross girls.” So after dinner by the time we got to the door we found our pockets filled with candy, Cigarettes, Cigars, nuts, and the like, and our minds and hearts filled with “Merry Christmas” wished by those good American Girls. I do not care who or what those girls were before the war, in the States, they sure make life all that could be expected in France, and are doing as much for their Country as any of we boys, for they always have a kind word for any boy who wears the uniform of the good old U.S.A. Then after dinner we went to the game, which didn’t last long, as our team walked through them like they did through the Boche at Chateau Theirry. After the game we went to visit Tours It is a very pretty city, and I guess in peace times it was quite an industrious place. But of course since the war all of France and its cities are torn up. However, we felt more at home to see “Beaucoup” people and street cars, taxi cabs, at the curb and some Tall buildings and streets wide enough to walk in. So after visiting the main points of interest, we went to the Y.M.C.A. where we found a most beautifully decorated building with everything to make a boy enjoy himself. We were heartily greeted by the friendly men and girls that were stationed there to help make life more agreeable. Then we got another delicious six o’clock dinner with roast duck as a filler and of course all the other “trimmings” that Americans put with it on Christmas day. Then we were invited to the Red Cross Headquarters where we were met by several nice Santa Clauses, namely” “Red Cross Girls.” [Page 3] 3. At this place we were given the little Red Cross bags and in passing the line they were filled with everything from soap, comb, wash cloth, etc to candy, nuts, cigars, Oranges, Cigarettes, and other things too numerous to mention, and last but not least was a dandy pair of home knit R.C. socks filled just like you used to fill we kiddies stockings at home. Then we all run around town with the pair of socks throwed over our arm, just as proud of them as any little miss was of her new dolly or a boy of his tin automobile. So to make the trip 100% perfect my pal and I took a ride on a street car, just to make ourselves think we were in a city. Then to our special train where our band played a few raggy selections, finishing up with “Home-Ward bound” as we left. Then the worst was yet to come as it was about 9 o’ clock P.M. and we had about a six hour ride in the French train. Most disagreeable to us was no heat in trains over here and about half the glass broken out of doors and windows. We arrived back at Montier about 4.30 A.M. But the Officers were real good to us, as we did not have to work next day so do not ask whether I slept any or not, as I know you well remember what a sleepy head I am from your experiences in former times calling “Thomas! Thomas! You must get up now for it is five minutes till seven.” Then for a grand rush to and most generally miss my breakfast to work at “7 bells.” But those were the good old days, “before the war” Grandpa’s tales. Ha ha. Then after I got Lucille for a call boy I think I got stung for she can sleep more than I can, and it fell to Mother Phares to call us both. But we are only kids once, and I am sure a very happy fellow to know I have a grand [Page 4] home to come back to and two good mothers and a dear little wife to greet me when I do return which no doubt will be “tout-a-fait” as the French speak of it. Many boys have no home to go to when they do return and many have lost their loved ones with Influenza. But let life be what it may this is a great old world after all. John spoke of “ no mans land” never compare anything to that, as you can just imagine what “Hell” is like and then multiply it by three and you have a fair idea of no mans land. Well I guess I had better close as the censor might get tired of reading this letter and throw half away. Hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years I am as ever Your Loving Son &amp; Brother Sergt. Thos. S. Hickman Co L. 346 Infantry 87 Division American Ex. Forces Via New York]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:description><![CDATA[Handwritten letter from Thomas Hickman, who was serving the United States army in France, to his family in Clinton, Illinois. The letter was given to the Clinton Morning Journal for publication and contains editor&#039;s marks. See also DeWitt County War Service record 6-3_WWI-6-2010-57_003]]></dcterms:description>
    <dcterms:creator><![CDATA[Hickman, Thomas]]></dcterms:creator>
    <dcterms:source><![CDATA[Illinois Digital Heritage Hub]]></dcterms:source>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[1910s (1910-1919)]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:relation><![CDATA[<div class="item-relation"><a href="http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16614coll15/id/596" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.idaillinois.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/p16614coll15/id/596" alt="http://www.idaillinois.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/p16614coll15/id/596" height="200"></img></a></div>]]></dcterms:relation>
    <dcterms:references><![CDATA[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16614coll15/id/596]]></dcterms:references>
    <dcterms:language><![CDATA[English]]></dcterms:language>
    <dcterms:type><![CDATA[text]]></dcterms:type>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[http://dp.la/api/items/b5cdba37420a1694935e8700edb63554]]></dcterms:identifier>
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