My Fellow Soldiers
Letters from World War I

Front Line

Front line personnel and civilians at home exchanged over 51 million letters in the first year after entering the war. For security reasons, the military censored outgoing mail from all service members deployed overseas.

Volunteers preparing care packages at the American Overseas Committee
Betty Boadway to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 10, 1918

Mrs. Betty Boadway, to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 10, 1918. "Probably the inclement weather and shortage of planes would be excuse enough to keep you idle . . ."

Learn more About Betty Boadway to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 10, 1918

Wives and mothers with blue and gold star flags at a parade, 1918
Betty Boadway to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 27, 1918

Mrs. Betty Boadway, to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 27, 1918. "Dear Husband of mine, it is two A.M. and that's an unheard of hour for a staid and settled matron to be writing."

Learn more About Betty Boadway to her husband Lieutenant Walter Boadway, September 27, 1918

Lt. Walter Boadway sitting at a table
Lieutenant Walter Boadway to his wife Betty, October 20, 1918

Lieutenant Walter Boadway, to his wife Betty, October 20, 1918. "I went out with a Red Cross Lieut. named Hemingway . . . He has been here in the hospital 4 months."

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Lt. Walter Boadway sitting at a table
Lieutenant Walter Boadway, to his wife Betty, August 10, 1918

Lieutenant Walter Boadway, to his wife Betty, August 10, 1918. "I really enjoy night flying. It's a good thing I guess because I'll probably have plenty of it soon."

Learn more About Lieutenant Walter Boadway, to his wife Betty, August 10, 1918

Sgt. Clyde Eoff
Sergeant Clyde Eoff, to his sister Josephine Eoff, October 26, 1918

Sergeant Clyde Eoff, to his sister Josephine Eoff, October 26, 1918. "Just at supper time they threw some gas shells in the town and interrupted our meal."

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Photograph of Pvt. Dwight Fee during World War I
Private Dwight Fee to his parents

Private Dwight Fee, to his parents, July 21, 1918. "The Jerrys hid, then a half hour later rushed our trench, throwing bombs."

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Lucille Fee
Lucille Fee to her husband Private Dwight Fee

Mrs. Lucille Fee, to her husband Private Dwight Fee, July 25, 1918. "Already this war has made me a much better person and I have profited so much by it, except that I am a great deal older."

Learn more About Lucille Fee to her husband Private Dwight Fee

Maurice Hess
Maurice Hess to his father

Maurice Hess, to his father, October 6, 1918. "We must stand true to the best light that God has given to us in our endeavor to see and do the right."

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US post office notice declaring suspension of mail for enemy nations, April 1917
Conrad Hoffmann Jr. to his wife Louise

Mr. Conrad Hoffmann Jr. (International YMCA), to his wife Louise, July 23, 1918
"I shall remain gladly for I realize that thereby I can be of real help to our countrymen who become prisoners of war here."

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US post office notice declaring suspension of mail for enemy nations, April 1917
Louise Hoffmann to her husband Conrad

Mrs. Louise Hoffmann, to her husband Conrad, September 9, 1918. "There is no country like ours and I am so glad you are strong enough to hold out under pressure, and stay American."

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Lifeboats from USS President Lincoln
Ship's Cook Third Class Hugh Alexander Leslie to his parents

Ship's Cook Third Class Hugh Alexander Leslie, to his parents, June 16, 1918. "Our ship, looked as if she knew she was sinking."

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Anna Mitchell, American Red Cross worker
Miss Anna V.S. Mitchell (Red Cross), to her sister Caroline Phelps Stokes, April 1, 1918

Miss Anna V.S. Mitchell (Red Cross), to her sister Caroline Phelps Stokes, April 1, 1918. "The flames . . . our extra supply of provisions! They were gone."

Learn more About Miss Anna V.S. Mitchell (Red Cross), to her sister Caroline Phelps Stokes, April 1, 1918

American cemetery in France, 1919
Chaplain Arthur W. Moulton to Mrs. R. Goldklang

Chaplain Arthur W. Moulton, to Mrs. R. Goldklang, September 3, 1918
"The cemetery is a beautiful one and your boy lies by the side of other American boys who have made the supreme sacrifice."

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George S. Patton with Renault FT tank in France, July 1918
Colonel George S. Patton to his father

Colonel George S. Patton, to his father, October 28, 1918. "You know I have always feared I was a coward at heart but I am beginning to doubt it."

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Clarine’s Uncle, Pvt. James Edgar Thornton
Clarine Payne to her uncle Private James Edgar Thornton

Miss Clarine Payne, to her uncle Private James Edgar Thornton, August 30, 1918. "I [must hurry] up and get to the mail box it is all most mail time."

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Ms. Audrey Jane Radcliffe
Audrey Jane Radcliffe (stenographer with the US Army) to her father

Ms. Audrey Jane Radcliffe (Stenographer, US Army), to her father, October 27, 1918. "Your dear little girl is at least in France. . . . Be good dear dad & write your little girl."

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Pvt. Dean Robertson
Private Dean Robertson, to his family, June 11, 1918

Private Dean Robertson, to his family, June 11, 1918. "We are in the field‐not the trenches. You must have read of what the Americans are doing and of the open fighting."

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Private Dean Robertson
Private Dean Robertson, to his family, June 21, 1918

Private Dean Robertson, to his family, June 21, 1918. "The Huns were on 3 sides & fired on us continually. It was 2 days of Hell."

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Envelope with handwritten note redirecting it to the wounded Harry Stevanus.
Alice Stevanus to her son US Army Cook Harry Stevanus

Mrs. Alice Stevanus, to her son US Army Cook Harry Stevanus, August 24, 1918. "Those that are mamed and wonded oho my dear child may god have mersy and heal them strong and well fore i know it was for a good cause and will never be forgotten."

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Harry Stevanus and his wife Verna
Verna Stevanus to her mother-in-law Alice

Mrs. Verna Stevanus, to her mother-in-law Alice , August 19, 1918. "We know it is hard to see him coming back a cripple but still that is better than not at all."

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Chief Nurse Julia Stimson at her desk, France, 1918
Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her parents , October 13-18, 1918

Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her parents , October 13-18, 1918. "I'm going to see if I can't put the job of Chief Nurse of the AEF on the map."

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Julia Stimson, RN
Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her family , July 25, 1917

Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her family , July 25, 1917. "We have been receiving patients that have been gassed, and burned in a most mysterious way."

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Julia Stimson, RN
Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her family , November 25, 1917

Chief Nurse Julia Stimson, to her family , November 25, 1917. "It is a fearful thing to have the responsibility of one hundred women so far away from home."

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Sarah Thornton
Sarah Thornton to her husband Private James Edgar Thornton

Mrs. Sarah Thornton, to her husband Private James Edgar Thornton, August 20, 1918. "Bell and Jack are well and [send] love. Yes I am still getting my money but I [haven't] got my July check yet."

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Pvt. Raeburn Van Buren
Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother September 15, 1918

Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother September 15, [1918]. "I loathe these 'swivel chair' soldiers who are doing their fighting with a pencil in some comfortable little room in Paris or Washington."

Learn more About Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother September 15, 1918

Private Raeburn Van Buren
Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother August 28, 1918

Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother August 28, 1918. "These little pup tents we use are poor shelter from a downpour of rain unless much time is spent in entrenching works."

Learn more About Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his mother August 28, 1918

Private Raeburn Van Buren
Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his grandparents, October 8, 1918

Private Raeburn Van Buren, to his grandparents, October 8, 1918. "Must Go Now!"

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Yeoman First Class Charles Edmund Worth
Yeoman First Class Charles Edmund Worth to his mother

Yeoman First Class Charles Edmund Worth, to his mother, July 16, 1918. "Cease to be a horrified victim and become a proud victor."

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Refer to caption
Private Raeburn Van Buren to his mother, August 1918
Image credit: Stephen L. Harris

My Fellow Soldiers