The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Roundup of recent "Plainview News" WWI coverage

August 10, 1917 - August 19, 1917

PAGE 98

size. Get these as soon as possible. %7 rue Francies – Paris – and insure the package. Parcel post. When it rains here it is very tough cold weather and very disagreeable. The war is bound to last at least one more year.
All well-
Love, Byrl.
PSPS Boots are 35 to 40 dollars over here. Be sure to get a very good pair there.
Good Luck. Byrl.
August 10, 1917- (Byrl’s Letter)

Plainview Young Man Finds Life Lively on French Front
Byrl E. Sylvester, with Ambulance Corps, Dodges Death in Night Battle While
Experiencing First Active Service on Firing Line—Witnesses Air Battle Between
French and German Planes
We are privileged to reproduce the following letter received recently from Byrl Sylvester which we know will be read with deep interest by all. After two months absence he has received his first letter and paper from home:
(NOTE: The letter written July 13 is printed here.)
G. F. Sylvester and family left Thursday morning on an auto trip to Moline, Ill. on an extended visit to their daughter, Mrs. Baker.
Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Sylvester drove to Rochester Friday and were accompanied home by Mrs. J. D. Bateman who has made a rapid recovery from her recent operation.
E. L. Sylvester and Peter Wood spent Tuesday at Camp Schmoker and report a fine catch of bass and pickerel.
August 17, 1917- (Byrl’s Letter)
After Week’s Real Work on the Firing Line He Writes Home
Byrl Sylvester, of Ambulance Corps, Graphically Describes Condition on
French Front
Enemy Air Bombs Drop Near
(NOTE: Letter written July 20 to Mr. Mack, publisher of the Plainview News, printed here.)
A few lines from Geo. F. Sylvester informs us that they arrived at Port Byron Ill. Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock anfer a run of 350 miles. He states that grain and corn through eastern Iowa are looking fine.
PLAINVIEW NEWS.
Sunday, August 19, 1917
Dear Folks,
For the past week our Section 62 has been at rest. We are located at present in a fine little village on the banks of a fine spring, a very good place for a camp. No telling how long we will be here though. Have received all your letters so far, also the PLAINVIEW NEWS. Notice my letters are being printed in the paper at home. Had I known this was going to happen, perhaps I would have taken more pains with them, but as letter writing is way out of my line, you will have to suffer the consequences. Last Wednesday, a few of us visited some of our troops, training over here. I tasted some good old white bread, the first in three months – better than any cake I have ever eaten.
Nettie has written several dandy letters and received a nice letter from Mrs. LaCraft a short line ago. Am anxious to receive the home draft list. The crop reports from Minnesota are might fine, but many of our men from the west report dry weather. The marines report one hundred thousand troops over here at a time. It will take many times those numbers to make an impression on the well protected "Bosche lines."
My vacation of ten days is due very shortly and will either go over to London or down to Southern France. The six months will be up December 1st, but I am unable to tell my plans at present. It all depends upon conditions at that time. At all events I want

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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."