Letters from Lt. Paul E. Smith, written while he served in the armed forces during World War I.
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 13 June 1918, page 15:
Letters From Our Soldier Boys
From Lt. Paul E. Smith
Office of Aeroplane Division
Engineering Dept., Kelly Field
South San Antonio, Texas
June 4, 1918
To Mr. Vaughan, St. Johns, Mich. (Mr. Colman C. Vaughan is the editor of the weekly "Clinton Republican" in St. Johns, Michigan, according to the 1920 U.S. Census)
Dear Mr. Vaughn:
Would it surprise you to know that I am writing this at nearly the middle of the night? And from my new office during business hours? All because I have been re-assigned to the above division as one assistant to Mr. Mathieu, a Frenchman who has charge of the aeroplane construction here. My hours are a little irregular, but during the afternoon I act as aid to Mr. Mathieu and after 7 p.m. I am officer in charge of this division and I do not go off duty until midnight or later, according to the rush of work.
The Aeroplane Division is made up of a number of separate buildings, each of which handles some section of the work. A ship progresses from the fuselage shop, through the wing building department, to the erecting department and down on the line where we install the motor, do minor repairing, line up the ship, and turn it over to the testing division. The motor installation is the principal night work, although each night it is necessary to run some of the other buildings. During the day these separate departments of our division are in charge of two or more officers, but at night I have the whole outfit. To aid me I have a motorcycle side car with driver, with which I can hustle around the field on the many necessary trips.
I am very much pleased with the assignment because it brings me into actual contact with the care of ships and their building, but best of all, I can be a student under Mr. Mathieu, who has seen service as a flyer at the front and who understand this game from A to Z.
Goodnight, Paul
"Clinton Republican, St. Johns, Michigan, 27 June 1918, Page 15:
Letters From Our Soldier Boys
From Lt. Paul E. Smith
Letter to Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Smith from their son, Lt. Paul Smith
Office of Airplane Division, South San Antonio, Texas
June 20:
Dear Mother and Father,
It's about 8 p.m. and I am at the office where I transact my night work. Received mother's letter this morning and glad to know that everything is fine.
But I have some wonderful news for you. At about 4 p.m. today I was informed that my name was one of five officers whose qualifications had been sent to Washington as fit for overseas duty. Isn't that great, and just the move I have been wanting because I don't want to get stale in Texas before the war is over. However, this does not mean I will get orders to move this week or next, or a month from now, but it does mean that I will be one of the next ones to leave this field to serve in France. And France is the place we all want to get to, where the things we do will seem to count for more. I am going to be on pins for some time now, waiting for the orders, and I will try and have everything ready for immediate move. I am already planning on seeing you at home for a few days. I don't know how much time these orders give.
I ordered the one more everyday suit I would need today and it will just about complete my clothing equipment. Gosh, but an officer needs more stuff than a show lady.
Hot, my it's awful here. The thermometer hangs close to 100 all day, and day after day. On account of the heat they have had to eliminate the flying during the middle of the day. The air is filled with what we call "air pockets," where there seems to be no air at all and it is hard to control a plane under those conditions.
Our engineering picnic of yesterday was a fizzle on account of the rain and it rained all day. Some of us went to the park at New Pronpels, where the picnic was to be, and had a pretty good time. We had dinner at a hotel in the place - turkey dinner and lots of it for 50¢. Guess they don't know there is a war. We came back early and went to a show before coming out here.
Got the Republican today and of course have read it all through.
Gee, but I would like a good shortcake - guess they don't have such things down here - at least I haven't seen them. But feed is pretty good at the Club. We have Chink cooks now.
Got to get to work now, and if I should get my orders soon I will wire. Goodnight.
Love, Paul
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 29 Aug 1918, Page 9:
Letters From Our Soldier Boys
From Lt. Paul E. Smith
France, August 8, 1918
My dear Mr. Vaughan:
After a violent two hours of kicking a football around in a temperature of about 80 degrees, I am inclined to be mighty comfortable with the removal of heavy clothes and myself propped up on my bunk. You see it is part of our life at this concentration camp to keep physically fit through some method of exercise. We have ball diamonds, tennis courts, etc.
But to start at the beginning, I had a wonderful trip across the pond and through England. My many experiences and sights seen will make a wonderful story to be told when I come home. No doubt my folks have told you something from the many letters I have written to them.
I arrived in France on the 3rd of this month and after going through one rest camp at the port of debarkation and "enjoying" a trip across western France in an Italian "Pullman" I arrived at this camp. Here all the air service men are assembled and put through additional training and physical development, to be sent forward to fill the open positions. And some camp this is. Beautifully located on the border of a town of about 5,000. We have stone barracks, good bunks and above all, a regular Yankee feed.
The little city next to us probably appears in ancient history; it dates back to 600 A.D. and is rich in interesting tings. An old stone barracks built by Napoleon is a sight to see and little did that gentleman think that today it should house an American military post office.
The little shops are curious but it is surprising how many useful articles you can buy. Every French citizen is the American's friend and they do all possible for us.
How often you hear the expression "with the American Forces in France." How little the person in the States realizes the marvelous scope of its meaning. Every city in this land has its American camp and the new life that they have given to the once closed shops is a God send to these people. But to the American Engineer belongs the glory of great achievements. Very few people know that on the French west coast these boys have built the largest terminal in the world with its miles of docks, warehouses, and locomotive shops. Mammoth factories have sprung up, camps built and American railroad men are running many of the country railroads. In the city our Sanitary Engineers are cleaning the places up and out of all this comes the fruits of the work, smooth working system of handling men and material and best of all, the thanks of a grateful nation who has come to realize that its up to the great American nation to win this war.
I often think France is losing much by sacrifice but isn't she gaining more? It's a big business game to level the world's civilization and it's a proud country that holds the ruins by mind and dollars.
Must run over to mess.
Goodby, Paul
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 3 Oct 1918, Page 1:
Boys Watching New From Home
If We Promptly Furnish Needed Supplies, Guns, Planes and Ammunition, All Will Be Well
Business of Winning the War Should Be Foremost
Lieut. Paul E. Smith Writes From the Fields of France
On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Forces, Sept. 6, 1918.
My Dear Mr. Vaughan:
Time is certainly flying and yet it's hard to realize that I have been away from the States nearly two months. They have been busy ones which no doubt accounts for the rapidly moving calendar.
Let me see. I wrote you a line a month ago next Sunday while stationed in southwestern France. Since then I have been fortunate to see much of France, including Tours and Paris. Probably Father and Mother have told you something of my movements.
I am now at a very busy field in the zone of action northeast of Paris. There are five or us aviation engineers getting some final first time instructions and at the same time doing a bit for Uncle Sam. We expect to finish in about a couple of weeks - where to then is uncertain.
One of the best features of this field is that it is visited daily b different Allied planes and many of OUR good looking Liberty ships. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the different types.
I do wish I could tell you about our Liberty, "Ours" because the brass name plate bears the stamp of that big aviation factory and fairly radiates the Detroit phrase, "Made in U.S.A.", that the designers called for. And they are coming over in a quantity production way to leave us no doubt that the folks at home are pushing.
Do you know ever since I have been here I have found myself watching every item of home news in the endeavor to know just how hard the States were pushing behind the lads over here. The whole atmosphere changes with crossing the sea. The job assigned America takes on much great proportions and more and more does one realize that all depends on those at home. The greater call is for material and supplies.
I have noticed the complete shutdown of automobile manufacture that we might have steel; I have read of the country's Sunday gasoline saving, and have been glad. I speak of these two items because they belong t our business at home and if either involves a loss to that business I am happy, and I know father is, to understand that the loss is only an aid to the boys over here.
It cannot be other, now than that the great final drives for victory will soon be on as even the late great advances of he British may herald the beginning of our rush. When it does start in earnest there must not be a single lost ounce of push in the States that does not PUSH for the boys. Get the material to them and they will do the reset.
Must leave you now for the blanket and roll.
Goodnight, Paul
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