Rosieres, France, near Bar-le-Duc March 1, 1919
Dearest Bess:
This has been a beautiful sunny day - the only one for a long time and the first one this month! It was made more joyous by two letters from you. The days are always fine when mail from home comes even when it's raining. My first sergeant reminded me of a day in the drive when I was chasing around figuring a barrage and raising sand with everyone in sight when the mail man gave me a letter from you and I calmed down at once and forgot the barrage, battery and everything else for a while. You won't be the only one to weep when we meet I'm afraid. I'm glad you like the pictures. They flatter me considerably but then we all like picture that make us look better than we are. It was no joke about that fool horse inspector wanting us to cook oats for our horses. He was canned shortly afterwards though and my horses are gone to Germany or somewhere else now and I don't have horse inspectors to worry about any more, and I hope I never have. We only have inspection of the men now - clothes, billets, mess etc etc. I didn't take any pleasure in making that fellow cry who overstayed his time in Verdun and I'd rather be beaten than call a man down but I have to do it to make 'em behave and to keep my job with honor and efficiency. It's one of the many requirements in Army Regulations to make men obey the rules but I don't like to do it. And as for ever thinking of calling you down - why I'd go jump in the river first. I can't even remember of having called Mary down for anything badly as she needs it sometimes. You'll have to do all the disciplining in our household because my heart fails me on cronic [sic] rule breakers and hard cookies in the army if they put up the right kind of talk.
I'm so sorry to hear of Mrs. Bryant's death. Please extend my heartfelt sympathy to Helen. There's nothing much you can do or say in a case of that kind because it's something we've all got to look forward to but may the day be far distant when either of us have to face the same situation. We have two mothers that are only produced once in the world and if I had my way they'd live forever, or at least as long as I do. But we don't order such things and I reckon it's as well for us we don't.
I had hoped that C. C. Bundschu would keep his mouth closed and state only the real facts relative to himself and let the rest of us alone. As far as I've heard he seems to be making some statements that may make it rather unpleasant for some of us when we get home. K. D. K. [Col. Klemm] was not popular with officers nor men but he played no favorites. He was just as mean to one as another and I think it was a policy he inaugurated from some mistaken idea of German discipline being the best brand. He's been transferred to the 106th at his own request because it's going home before we do. To give him his due he is an efficient officer and would have been a Brigadier General had the war gone on another sixty days. I'm off of him for life but I don't care about its being made public property just yet. He didn't treat me any worse than he did the rest of his B. C. but my Irish thought he did and probably conversed more about him than they should have. Take all the early talk from the first arrivals with a grain of salt because I'm sure they'll talk too much. I hope I shan't have to say a word when I get home either in public or in private about anyone of the 129th to hurt his standing at home. As I told you C. C. was sent home for inefficiency - unjustly we all thought but if he goes to talking too much we won't be so sure about the unjustness of it.
Capt Thatcher is Major Thatcher now and Major (Doctor) Wilson is a Lt. Col. They both deserve the promotion and we're all glad they got it. Col. Elliott is still with and so are Maj's. Miles & Gates. Col. E. T. Smith of the 106th FA is our new commanding officer and he's a good one. Regular Army man, not a West Pointer which is in his favor.
My Battery is still producing champions. I have the Division Featherweight and Lightweight boxers in my organization. Have a man on the Division football team and two men on the basketball team. I lay claim to having had the shootingest outfit, I hope to have the best marching one and I know that when it comes to hand to hand combat no other battery has me beaten. If we can't find someone to lick in an adjacent organization we begin on ourselves. One of the men came into my office this morning and informed my clerk that two of my hearties had just had the best fist fight he'd ever seen. I was not supposed to hear of it and I didn't. I saw 'em both afterwards and from the appearance of 'em it must have been a right successful go. They are friends now and no harm done. I sure feel sorry for Henry Allen if this outfit ever gets to him.
Be sure and keep writing because the letter'll follow us up even to Funston. I love you
Always Harry.
Harry S. Truman Capt 129 FA American E. F.