FARMINGTON NEWS, Friday, December 27, 1918
Fridos, France, Nov. 21, 1918.
Dear Mother, Dad and All:
Well things have been happening since I wrote you all, so will try to put out a mean
letter.
Tuesday (19th) my sis, Byrde, stepped in to see me. They are located just about 35
kilometers from here. She had a letter from Laura giving my address, so she got my
location and came over. I have been in this town several times since they moved in but
didn't know that she was in Mobile Hospital No. 4 and didn't have time to inquire, so you
see how it happened.
Today I was relieved from duty at 8:30 a.m. and caught a truck right up there and arrived
about 10:00. We hit the talk-line until noon; then had dinner and went to Hill No.240.
Probably you have read of this place. It was the place where the Bosche had tunneled in,
built concrete dugouts, and was preparing to spend the winter. Anyway, we fooled them.
It is a wonderful place. The passages lead way back under the hill and then the barracks
start in. They have rooms for machine shops, gun repair shops, also generator rooms where
the electricity for lighting and other purposes were made.
Fred Fuhrmeister went with me and this out-did my Verdun trip by far. Byrde was delighted
to see me, but not any more than I to see her. She looks fine; is in excellent health.
Have been driving a large Packard truck for the past two days but don't think I will keep
it. The Captain want me back in the office. So am quite willing to do so for the winter.
Byrde says that they are to go to Germany, so we will be near each other there I am sure,
and so will see each other again.
We are to receive a French and U. S. medal for efficiency in addition to our service
badges for service in France and Germany so you will see quite a specimen when I stroll in
on you.
I suppose George will be home pretty soon now. Sincerely hope so at any rate, for if any
one has done his bit Doc Watkins is that one.
Of course, you know that all hostilities have ceased and things are so quiet that it seems
that there is something wrong; but it is nearer all right than it has been for a long
time.
The old "Vic" is going again and sounds as good as always does.
I still expect to be in the states by spring, so you must set some hens early so as to
have some friers for me when I pull in. I want to live on eggs, milk and fried chicken for
the first two weeks, then fried chicken, eggs, milk and oatmeal for the next four months.
We have excellent eats here, fresh beef, corn, tomatoes, rice, tapioca, excellent bread
and plenty of cigarettes,all furnished by our esteemed "Uncle".
My cough has entirely disappeared and I never felt better in all my life. We are still
having beautiful weather here. The French say that it was sent by God to help win the war,
and I believe it.
We have services twice a day on Sunday. There is an Ordained Methodist Minister in the
bunch and we all get together and have little meetings that do some good and keep the
bunch from forgetting that there is such a thing as Church, and that it itself is a great
deal.
I think I will write Laura a little letter tonight so had better cut this one off and get
busy on the next. Hope the kiddies are all O.K. and give my regards to anyone in town that
appears interested.
Love to All,
GENTRY.
Pvt. G. W. Keith, Evacuation Hosp.
No. 10, American E. F. France.
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NOTE: The "Laura" referred to in foregoing letter is Laura Keith who married
Ellis J. Lawrence. According to St. Francois County Cemeteries book, Laura was born in
1890 and died in 1970. She and her husband are buried at Parkview Cemetery near
Farmington. The writer of the above letter, Gentry White Keith, was son of Hugh Lawson
Keith (son of Pleasant G. and Clarinda Baker Keith) and Josephine White Keith (daug. of
Joseph Jefferson White and Melinda Overall White). According to his mother's obituary,
Gentry White Keith, who relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the War, died December
24, 1941. His sister, Byrde Keith, became Mrs. Perry Ryan and lived at Bolivar, Missouri.
Other siblings of G. W. Keith were: Lucille (Mrs. Charles C.) Colvin of Chicago, Illinois;
and Genevieve (Mrs. George L.) Watkins of Farmington.
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