Letter from Albert Krueger to his mother, father, brother, and sisters

Wormhoudt, France
Dec. 26, 1918

Dear Mother, Dad, Brothers & sisters:

The day after Xmas, every bodies happy every bodies gay, waiting and wondering how long we are going to be here and how soon we will be home. We are very comfortable here, a nice warm room, a nice soft floor to sleep upon, lots to eat and nothing to complain. But we want to go home, home to the good old states and Oak Harbor and Akron.

We have been traveling all over Belgium, seen its many ruined towns and lived in them. I have traveled in box cars and trucks and when neither were available I walked. I have seen men get killed upon the field of battle, and have heard shells go whistling thru the air. I have seen aeroplane battle in the air and fall to earth in flames. I have seen observation balloons brought down in flames, I have heard air bombs come whistling thru the air and see building blown up in ruins. And now I am ready to go home, to dear old Dad and mother, to live the rest of my days in peace.

How are you all anyhow, I suppose the winter has kept you in the house a great deal. The weather here is very rainy, but not cold, yesterday we had just a bit of snow, it only lasted until noon, but then it made it look something like Xmas. We had some dinner, roast beef with dressing, rice pudding with strawberries, oranges, apples, lots of potatoes and gravy, I never was so full in all my life. Frank was out with me to the company, neither of us could eat any supper. The Division tried to get turkey but could not. Meat is very dear. Tonight we, Frank & I and another fellow bought some pork steak, 3 slices about the size of this paper, they cost 12.50 francs, about $2.50 dollars, we then had a women frye it, and had some French Fried potatoes, it cost the 3 of us $19.50 francs in all, about $4 a piece for a meal. We spend francs like nickles, its nothing but paper, if you don’t spend it, it will tear.

Frank is playing an old German fife that was taken from a German prisoner. He has learned to play it very well. Just wait till we get home, will play that talking machine ragged, we are just dieing for want of music. We were down to the YMCA and played the machine down there, but there is always so many fellows around.

I bet it is dandy hunting now, I sure would injoy a good hunt in deep snow. Before the war there were a lot of rabbits in Belgium, but now they are caput, so Chick it is impossible to get one for you. Say, Chick, you wanted to keep that colt so that when I get home I can take my girl out sleigh riding. I’ll bring her down and introduce her to you if you promise not to steal her away from me. And if Aud behaves I’ll let him drive us around, but he must never look back.

We got a letter from Willard the other day, he was at Brest waiting to get on some boat that would take him home. He sure is some lucky guy to get home so soon. I had my allotment discontinued as of Dec. 31, so you will not get any checks after that date. We expect to get in the States by Feb 1st if every thing goes the way we expect it to.

Now I am going to stop, the cooties are biting to beat the devil, every night we take off our shorts to look for them. They sure are hell, and every body has got them, they are little lice, the call em cooties it don’t sound so bad, but they feel just the same. So good by to you all, keep well and happy. I expect to be with you all soon, if the good ship comes soon.

With love to all, I remain as every your son & brother

Albert