Some of us are putting on flesh (I’m gaining daily) and have never felt better, physically, in our lives.

As my readers know, Grant's father, William D. Willard (1867-1952), was cashier of the First National Bank of Mankato, Minnesota, and had proposed that his eldest son come work as his assistant after his return from war. While Grant writes enthusiastically about the possibility in this letter, we also know it never came to pass. He tells his father that he's written to his former employer informing him of the paternal job offer. 

Grant also goes on emphatically about his love of Dorothy Houghton and his desire to get married. One can sense from the way he writes about Dot that his family was not entirely enthusiastic about his choice of wife. This attitude would affect their married life in Mankato.

Convois Autos.,
S.S.U. 647,
Par B.C.M.
France

January 24, 1919

Dear Dad:-

Your very nice, long letter of Dec. 24 reached me on the 18th of this month.  I was very glad to get it indeed though sorry to hear that you have been laid up with the “flu.”  I trust that you are well again by now and that the miserable stuff has left no ill effects.

(At this point Snader came in looking for an argument and he found one in here.  The argument started out on the moral effect of German air raids and long distance shelling in France as compared with allied air raids in Germany.  At 11 o’clock last evening the argument concluded having been switched to the Russian problem of today.  So it is now the morning of January 25th – Saturday, I think.)

But to business!  You have asked me two questions: (1) “How do you feel, are we going to be called upon for large quantities of steel, etc. for European reconstruction?” and (2) in regard to our future plans when your little tin solider comes trailing home.  You must have my reply to the second proposition by now.  However, I shall reply again in case the other never arrived.

I should be more than glad to return to Mankato and act as your assistant.  Two years of barbarians has not decreased my steam pressure, in fact I think it has added to it if anything.  You say it is steam you need.  I should like to try mine out under your guidance.  Then, too, I’ve got to get married.  I’m so sure as I ever have been of anything that Dot is my mate.  The past two years have been sufficient test.  And she really is a wonder, Dad.  If you have never appreciated how extremely lucky your son has been in a good many things he’s undertaken I’m sure your appreciation will dawn when you know my Dot better.  There are times when it all seems almost too good to be true and the time hangs very heavy on my hands waiting for a chance to get back into civilization again.  Your offer is just the thing I have been looking and hoping for.  You see I’m pretty proud of your life and work and I should like to do what ever I can to help out and make as much out of my life as you have yours.  Speaking of reconstruction, it is going to be necessary for me to do a little reconstructing myself before I get away from the present ways of thinking, speaking and acting but I’m sure that, with a little patience on your part, a good many of the army crudities can be entirely wiped out and a good many merits, started over here, further developed.  At any rate, I’m very desirous of making the attempt.

I have written Mr. Wells [of the Wells-Dickey Trust Company in Minneapolis] to the effect that I couldn’t see much of a future in his office; that I didn’t care to be a bond salesman all my life; that it was too much to expect that I should be put into any other department with as little experience as I have had; that asking for a salary large enough for two of us living in Minneapolis on what little value I could be to the company would again be asking too much; that it is quite essential that I marry; that my father had made me a very attractive proposition which seemed to fill the bill to better  advantage for all concerned.  I haven’t yet received Mr. Wells’ reply, though it is about due most any day now.

Now as to the steel question – I can give you my ideas in a very few words.  There is going to be more modern construction in Europe as soon as things have settled down a bit than ever before.  By modern construction I mean railroads and steel framed buildings in particular.  All of this development is going to call for steel.  The pressure of war needs has created a much larger knowledge of industry on the whole.  This means increased production, doesn’t it, when labor conditions become more stable?  But before production can be increased machinery must be constructed on a larger scale than ever before.  This calls for steel.

In France, I should say that there is a decided sentiment and activity under way for increased industrialism on, what we would call, a modern scale.  France has been a bit backward in this regard, comparing what we have seen of France with what we have seen of Germany.  In this new movement in France there is going to be a big demand for steel even outside of the devastated lands.  This war has done a great deal for France.  As you know that the wage-workers in France are in much better condition financially now than they ever were before?  Why?  Because we American soldiers together with the English soldiers have been responsible for putting a large sum of money into circulation.  France has got her eyes open.  But she is in a very embarrassing situation as a nation financially.  The capital of France together with her credit will undoubtedly have to be spent in rehabilitating devastated regions.  

Germany may get her steel for reconstruction and development from Austria and Hungary as usual.  However, I know nothing of the amounts of iron ore in these countries and the prices of mining and shipping same as compared to ours.  But Germany wouldn’t concern us much because she will be last on our list.  If our output of steel exceeds our demands plus the demands of the allied and neutral countries then perhaps we can accept a bit of German credit. 

England’s demand for reconstruction steel I should think would not exceed her war time demand.

Italy comes out of the war stronger than ever was before.  War needs have increased her productive capacity.  Italy like France has become more modernized by the war.  This, I should think, would mean a demand for steel greater than the supply available from sources cheaper than from the U.S.

Then there is all of Russia!  What’s going to become of Russia anyway?  Will her eyes ever be opened so that they are not crossed?  I am glad to see Russia represented in the Peace Congress and I hope it means that the allies are going to support one man in Russia during the reconstruction period any way.  If Russia once get settled I see no reason why the demand for steel would not exceed the available domestic production at a less price than we could offer.

This covers the larger European countries.  My conclusion, as you see, would be that there will be a large market for American made steel for the reconstruction of Europe.  This conclusion, however, is base on a lack of knowledge of the amount and prices and grades of steel production in Europe.  I really only know that the demands for steel will be great over here.  Anybody knows that – so you see I’ve not given you a bit of information.

Ambulances in Mainz

We are still in Mainz.  The last two weeks have indeed been easy ones.  During this period we have made but one trip of any size and that was a second convoy up to the prison camp at Giesson.  In addition we have two cars a day on call here in Mainz to answer what few requests there may be in this vicinity.  Being attached to the army headquarters this way gives us the cream in the ambulance line and leaves the dregs for those sections attached to army corps and divisions.  But the easy life with little work is beginning to tell on us.  The “esprit de corps” has suffered a bit.  However, many rumors of an early demobilization are refreshing and keep us all in pretty good spirits.  Some of us are putting on flesh (I’m gaining daily) and have never felt better, physically, in our lives.

Hap [Ahlers] is bigger and stronger than ever.  Johnny Taylor is no longer a boy of 17 but a grown up man of 19 years with big ideas and a great mind.  Fraser’s egotism of two years ago has developed into the finest kind of fellowship and good fun; etc. down the line.  We have all profited something.  However, these are not arguments in favor of war but in spite of war.

There are rumors that we will be on our way home in a month but also there are so many rumors to the contrary that we pay no more attention to them whatever.  I think our chances of being demobilized over here are very slim so that my trunk and other excess baggage will either have to be shipped home by the American Express Co. which is very expensive or I shall have to store it somewhere for further instructions.  I hope to be able to get into Paris within the next month to get these things straightened out.  I have several souvenirs which I don’t care to lose.  But, Dad, I’m not bringing home an arsenal nor a curio-shop (un magasin d’antiquites).  Mine are few but full of significance – for myself anyway.  Some of the boys are lugging 500 lbs of souvenirs around with them.  Wait until we have our cars take away from us and are made to carry only army issue on our backs!!!!  That time is drawing nigh.

Much love to you all,

Grant.

Esprit de corps getting lax...

Near the German city of Giessen was one of the most imfamous p.o.w. camps of the First World War. Denutrition, punishments and psychological mobbing were rampant. It was a precursor to major concentration camps of the mid-20th century and beyond. Grant and his comrades evacuated prisoners from Giessen several times.

Monday, January 20, 1919:

Left this A.M. at 6:30 for Giessen--#1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,16,18, staff car and camionette. The day was dark and cold. Hap got almost as far as Frankfurt and had to return with carburetor trouble. The remainder of the trip passed off without accident.

Giessen POW Camp

A few kilometers out of Butzback, [Clifford O.] Soles & I left the convoy for Wetzlar. We arrived at our destination at about 11:30 A.M. and sat down to an excellent dinner with a French 2nd Lieutenant now in charge of the cemetery at the Wetzlar prison. We were supposed to bring this doctor back with us together with his infirmière and one couché. The Lieutenant spoke English--he was very nice to us. Since the armistice was signed they have been having a pretty easy time at Wetzlar. This Lieutenant had taken charge of the cemetery & camp sanitary conditions. He had been prisoner since last July taken on the Champagne. He had come to Wetzlar in October and had found things in a terrible condition. The graves of those prisoners who had died were not marked nor nicely arranged. No car had been taken of the place whatever. There were a number of Russian prisoners in the camp and the doctor said they were the worst, most slovenly and unsanitary people he had ever seen or heard of.

We left Wetzlar about 1:30 P.M. without the doctor, without the infirmière and without the couché. The doctor wouldn’t leave until he had finished his work, namely that of locating & labeling the graves of the dead. His infirmière wouldn’t leave without him and the couché has already been evacuated so Solesy and I returned to Mainz with no more of a load than we had running up. Out of Frankfurt we ran on to LaFleur out of gas so I took his patents aboard. McCrackin & Fraser took gas out to Al after we arrived. We pulled into camp about 6 P.M. tired & cold. Had one blow out just out of Wetzlar.


Wednesday, January 22:

The Lieutenant called us together today and made us a speech about the “esprit de corps” of this section. It seems that we are getting lax within the section & unless we improve we will have to drill, rise and go to bed at the signal of the bugle. I have since learned that the talk was intended especially for the cooks who have been getting a bit bossy of late, but I think the talk passed right over their heads. Woodie is obstinate and contrary. Afterward I had a talk with the Lieut. regarding my situation as a sergeant. He called me a quitter because I didn’t throw McCrackin out when he butted into my work and wait for orders from the Lieutenant before I withdrew. I explained the situation as I had seen it. He understood and was very nice about it. He would like to see me back where I was before McCrackin came, but didn’t want to put me there himself under the conditions. So I’m to wait awhile for further developments before I receive instructions. What this mean, I don’t know. Hope he isn’t going to get rid of Mac. I impressed it upon his mind that I was making no claims of reinstatement whatsoever--that I am absolutely contented to remain a private in this section.

[The French] are quite apt to play us, Americans, for suckers.

Life in Germany for SSU 647 was a far cry from that they'd been living in wartime France. They spent their days in cafes, reading, exploring the country and generally relaxing with an occasional demand to perform their military/sanitary role.

Sunday, January 12, 1919:

Fratz, Johnny, Dirk and I went rabbit hunting with our “gatts” this morning. Finding the rabbits rather difficult to hit, in spite of their elephantine size, we spent our ammunition on targets. Fratz, Dirk and I played billiards at the Kurfürst this p.m.

Monday, January 13:

Rainy and miserable outside. Stayed in and read the History of Europe Since 1815 most all day. George, our waiter at the Cafe Paris here in Mainz told us that the cold and wet days are about over. We are soon to have spring. Should like to be here on the Rhine in the spring.

Tuesday, January 14:

The day of the big Kegel [bowling] tournament. Walked off into the country with Johnny, Fratz and Dirk this a.m. Played billiards this afternoon. Horn and Titchner went to Coblenz today for more food.

At 7 o’clock a few of the mob assembled at a very antique and miserable bowling alley in town. We paired off and had a most thrilling and exciting tournament. The alley is very funny. Made of concrete surface, longer and broader than ours and only 9 pins are used. It is next to impossible to make a strike and spares are very rare. Results are as follows.

Grant's original "kegel" chart from the diary.

We had a great deal of fun out of it. Too bad Horn couldn’t have been there. It was his idea originally.

Horn came in about 10 p.m. very tired and disgusted in general. The Commissary in Coblenz refused to sell or issue him a thing because we don’t belong to the 3rd Army American. The YMCA gave him a few little things. The Lieutenant will go with him again in a day or so to see if his bars help any.

Wednesday, January 15:

GRW, Johnny Taylor and Stuart Fraser

Rainy and miserable out. 
Took a hike with Johnny, Fratz and Dirk winding up at the Kurfürst where we played billiards. Was made very happy today by the arrival of mail--one letter from Dot, one from mother (Dec. 16 and Dec. 10 respectively), one from the office, one from Tish Libby and a wedding announcement from Adele Pattison.

Friday, January 17:

The Lieutenant gave a birthday party last evening in the front rooms here in the barracks. He is 27 years old. He surely looks and acts older. 
Harris and Woodell acted as toastmasters calling on everybody present to tell why he came to France. Bodfish presented the Lieutenant with the cigarette case which the section bought for him. The case is a dandy, but the presentation speech was better. The Lieutenant made a speech in return in which he called himself “Old Man Smith” and asked the session to proceed as if we were all civilians again, forgetting rank and bars -- man to man. He called on us for an expression of our first impressions when he joined us in Lagny. The testimonies were funny. Al LaFleur was particularly good because the Anderson régime had been exceptionally hard on him. Mechanic Anderson got well oiled up and made a wonderful speech on insignias for Lieut. Kendrick’s benefit. (Kendrick was with us.) “Ergo,” said Andie, “As Shakespeare says in Hamlet, section 649’s insignia is an anachronism.” Champagne, candies, cookies and cheese sandwiches were the order of the evening.

Sunday, January 19:

Rather an interesting day. About 11:30 this morning a French lieutenant appeared at our bureau and verbally gave us an order to vacate our happy home to make room for French troops about to arrive. Smithy gave him an argument. Then Burt came to Smithy’s assistance and they both put up a fight. 

Arthur C. Burt

“My orders come from the billeting mayor of Mainz. Are you going to obey them and move within the next half hour or not?” was asked Burt after the argument had provoked him. 
“We receive our orders from our lieutenant.” replied Burt. 
“Where is your lieutenant?” 
“In his room in Mainz.” 
“Where is the sergeant in charge?” 
“Gone to church.” 
“Then you won’t move according to order?” 
“No sir.” 

In the meantime the (our) lieutenant had been sent for. Before he arrived, however, a telephone message came from the billeting mayor (a French colonel) saying that if we were not out within half an hour we would be put under arrest and a squad detailed to move our possessions for us. Our lieutenant arrived and stirred up more words. He had it hot and heavy with the billeting lieutenant and the infantry commandant. There was no written order and it hadn’t come to us through the D.S.A., the proper channel. Furthermore the D.S.A. had told us that we would not be moved from our comfortable quarters. So our lieutenant stuck it out, refusing to move, but went right down and reported the whole rumpus to the D.S.A. 

In the meantime, at the expiration of half an hour, armed, mounted guards arrived with orders to keep us in our barracks--we were under arrest. Captain Bacheleur arrived from the D.S.A. and the argument started afresh. The D.S.A. supported us. The conclusion was that no order had been issued for our vacating. That had such an order been issued the D.S.A could have canceled it because it hadn’t come through the proper sources. We were merely requested to move by an infantry commandant who had tried to bulldoze us into believing it was an order. The billeting mayor had backed him up. So as a request on the part of the infantry commandant in order that he may not be compelled to split a company the matter rested between himself and our lieutenant. The logic of the situation was evident. 35 Americans vacated to barracks just as good as those formerly occupied in order to make way for 150 French infantrymen to occupy the same space in a building large enough to hold their whole regiment. We are a little more crowded in our new barracks but we will be quite comfortable once we are straightened around. At any rate we had the satisfaction of “calling” an awful big bluff on the part of a French commandant and a billeting mayor. They are quite apt to play us, Americans, for suckers. And I don’t think we will be asked to move again. We have a larger room than before with more light and plenty of heat. Dirk, Johnny, Fratz and I are together again and have taken Hap in with us making five altogether. Some of the boys, however, are a bit sore because their accommodations are not quite as nice as before, but I’m sure all will be smoothed over in a day or two.

Tomorrow a.m. at 6:30 nine cars with the staff car and camionette leave for Giessen and and Swain and myself for Wetzlar for prisoners of war.

We shall come dancing back to dear little Mankato – the happiest pair that ever went through a hell of torture together, unscathed and unscarred.

As 1919 began, the Great War had been over for nearly two months and millions of young men had perished. Though there was peace among the great powers, it was not a peaceful year. There was civil, economic and labor unrest in Europe and elsewhere. Strikes were commonplace. Communist activists fought against reactionary forces in various countries. 

In the U.S., the several states ratified the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, establishing the prohibition of alcoholic beverages. It took effect one year later.

The League of Nations was founded, and, at Versailles, the treaty was signed that formally ended the First World War. Afterwards U.S. President Woodrow Wilson embarked on a cross-country speaking tour to garner support for the treaty and put pressure on the U.S. Senate to ratify it, and wound up suffering a stroke in October that would leave him disabled for the rest of his life. In the end the U.S. never ratified the treaty and negotiated a  separate peace with the Central Powers.

As for Grant Willard, 1919 was a momentous year. After being discharged honorably from the U.S. Army in the spring, he returned home to pick up the pieces of his life and start a new one. In September that year he and Dorothy Houghton were married in her hometown of Amber, Pennsylvania, and set up house in Minnesota.

January 10, 1919

Dearest Mother:-

A little mail came yesterday – the first I have received, outside of one letter from Dot, in a couple of weeks. I drew two letters – one from Marion and one from Zella Devitt. There must be a pile of mail for us somewhere. I thank Marion very, very much for the draft she enclosed. It has gone into Morgan Harjes & Cie. with the rest of my funds to be saved for a rainy day, which I hope is not far off.

Day before yesterday the Chief of our Service, Col. Jones, was in Mainz and told our Lieutenant that he could assure his boys that they would be on their way to the States within 3 months. And that those who wanted to stay over here would be given that opportunity. The latter don’t apply to me in the slightest degree. The former, on the other hand, hits me right between the eyes. Three months isn’t so very much longer. Col. Jones’ statement is the most authentic report we have had and I certainly hope he’s right. I had already sent a letter into headquarters requesting a furlough to the States for the purpose of continuing my former occupation. If it had been granted I figured that I would have been sent back to Allentown and be mustered out there. However, the Colonel said that such requests would not be granted, that he would O.K. them readily enough but that General Pershing was refusing all such requests. So I shall probably have to come back a soldier and will have had no opportunity of touring around over here.

There doesn’t seem to be much argument in favor of my refusing Dad’s perfectly good offer to join him in business when I come back. I think if Dot were convinced that I’m not to be pulled along through life on the coat-tails of my Dad that she would be quite as keen on the proposition as I am. I’m pretty sure she can be convinced. Your letters to her have helped. I’m trying to do my level best from this side. So I have formulated the following plan: immediately upon demobilization to make a direct hit on Ambler, there to get acquainted all over again and to make a regular lover’s fool of myself. It may be a period of three weeks or so before they throw me out during which period Dot and I will, undoubtedly have been very busy. Then I’ll come home, work like a trooper, pick out a shack or pitch a tent somewhere in Mankato or vicinity for Dot and myself. Then when everything is running smoothly and when agreeable to all concerned I shall pile out to Ambler and then to the time of Mendelssohn’s wedding march we shall come dancing back to dear little Mankato – the happiest pair that ever went through a hell of torture together, unscathed and unscarred. Was?

On Tuesday, January 7, Horn Snader and I went in my car to Coblenz for food supplies. The day broke clear and cold, the road is as smooth as a floor and moreover my car was running like a charm. What more could be desired for a 90 km drive down the banks of the historical Rhine? It was indeed a memorable trip, this beauty of which I couldn’t begin to describe to you because my pleonastic abilities have never been properly developed. Ask Carolyn and Alice – they can undoubtedly much more about the entrancing qualities of the Rhine than I can. I am enclosing a few pictures of some of the things we saw. When we passed the Loreley I looked so hard for the beautiful sirens that we mounted a rock pile in our “flivver” and had to be pushed off. Horn said that the only sailors he could imagine as being lured by the sirens we saw would be a crew of drunken Longshoremen.

Coblenz is a maze of Americans. I never saw so much elaborateness in my life. Every unit seems to have an insignia of some sort worn somewhere on every article of clothing. The M.P.’s which decorate every corner, highway and by way are all dressed up like a parade and address one as though he were the dust on his shoes. A poor, inexperienced ambulance driver has a tough time in Colbenz. (I was addressed several times.) Due to army red-tape and penurious YMCA men it took us eight hours of constant prevarication and running from headquarters to headquarters to get one fair sized load of provisions for our outfit – enough to last a week. We came home by our distemper. Why should we have to pay exorbitant prices for foods, clothing, reading and writing material already paid for by you people in the States and intended to be distributed among the American soldiers on this side? The Red Cross gave us our share of everything they had in stock – jam, milk, cigarettes, chewing gum, clothing and reading material. By “our share” I mean the usual army rations for 50 men to cover a definite period of time. What did we get out of the tremendous store house of the YMCA? Half a dozen packages of biscuits, one package of this writing paper and some magazines. We got all of this only after arguing with the main office for an hour and when we finally got it they wanted 30 some odd marks for the lay-out. Can you beat that? Horn said, “I didn’t come 90 km to buy goods which my family has already more than paid for,” and picked up the box and we walked out leaving the wide-eyed and very much shocked little triangle man scratching his bald-pate and pondering over Horn’s harsh words.

I’m afraid you would accuse me of being very unpatriotic if I should go on enumerating our Coblenz experiences. The Americans are handling the whole situation in their territory so differently from the French and English in theirs that it’s hard to understand it all. Judging from articles in US periodicals I should say that you people have a far greater understanding of the underlying principles of this war and the proper solutions for its resultant problems than has the American Army of occupation. I like the trend of thought and reason in the Literary Digest articles under the title of “Feeding German.” I wish the French knew more of how you people at home feel. As it is, they are becoming quite vexed with us. I don’t know how the English feel. We have fallen once for German poisonous propaganda. Wasn’t it sufficient to teach us our lesson or are we going to fall again? If we can’t agree with the French and English on the solution of Germany’s problem then it is sure a sign we haven’t learned our lesson and high time for us to pull out of Europe and leave it to those who know.

There has been a call for cars at the hospital to take sick prisoners down to the train so I must leave you now.

Am feeling fine.
 
Much love,
Grant.