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Eight Day Journey As all are thoroughly interested in the boys who have offered their services in the present war we take pleasure in giving a few items from a letter from Byrl Sylvester, who recently arrived in France, describing his trip across the water… (NOTE: Excerpts from May 20, 21, 23, 24, 27 & 29 letters follow.) G. F. Sylvester and family left for St. Paul Tuesday where he will attend the Banker’s convention. Letter Sunday- June 24, 1917 "Camp" Dear Folks, Another week has gone by. No letters as yet from home and I am about six weeks away. Am sure there will be one by the 4th of July- so I hope. The past week has been a dandy here. It rained for five days straight. Was cold and disagreeable, but the routine of the camp went on just the same. We are all provided with slickers and boots so that we are comfortable during the daytime, but at night, out in the open it is very hard to keep warm, but after two weeks of it, I could sleep out in Alaska, I believe. Each man is allowed two blankets, no pillow, but my extra shirts answer the purpose. General Pershing and his staff are not in Paris, and are about the whole show at present. One day last week one of the high up U. S. Officers called to inspect the camp. It seemed might good to see a U. S. uniform in camp. The uniforms that we received are the regular English type. Very neat with red cross buttons. We received a summer weight one now and in the fall a heavy one for winter. Section 61 leaves tomorrow for the Front. Our section #62 will follow within a few days so that next Sunday, will no doubt be my last one before going to the Front. We are now about forty-five miles from the Line, but very often we can hear the distant boom of the big guns. While on leave the other day, I took a little walk through the woods near here and ran across an old man cutting down huge trees. His wife, I should judge about sixty-five, and four small children, the oldest one about ten years old, were swinging the axes. One girl was sawing wood. Think of these poor people out doing that kind of work and then tell me whether they need help over here or not? Over there where everything is plentiful- three meals a day, and a pick on Sunday of chicken or ice cream are not brought on. Why if chickens should show up here, the inhabitants would create a riot. Since writing my first long letter, I have heard that if letters sent over are lengthy, the censors will throw them out entirely. I have written the following letters to date- May 31- June 6- June 17- June 24. The way things are going now it’s hard to tell whether you have received any of them. Wished you would to into Nettekoven’s Hotel and buy a box of El’ Palencia cigars- large size- and send them over to me, as it is impossible to buy them over here. If you write my name and address plainly on the wrapper and state that I am a volunteer in the Norton Harjes Amb. Corps, I think I will receive them without duty. It is worth trying anyway. Am keeping as tight a hold on my money as possible. Hope you are all well and happy. Best regards and… Love Byrl. B. E. Sylvester American Red Cross 7 rue Francois Primier Paris, France Volunteer in Norton Harjes Amb. Corps P. S. P. S. All letters sent after I arrive at the Front will be forwarded from the Paris Office. Byrl.
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* SOURCE: Manzow, Ron (compiler), "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota - a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884": Plainview Area History Center, 40 4th St. S.W., Plainview, MN 55964. Compiled in 2001.
NOTE: from Ron Manzow, December 2001: "Feel free to reproduce the pages for anyone who wants a copy. It was
compiled to be shared... All I ask is that they consider sending a check to the [Plainview Area] History Center to help us out. That
should be enough."
Howder; © 1995-2011 All Rights Reserved. Last Updated February 14, 2011.