Guy B. Hoge to Mother [Lydia Arbella Hoge], January 20, 1919, Letter

              Cpl. Guy B. Hoge,
Base Ordnance Depot #1,
A.P.O. #701, Am. E. F.,
France.

January 20th, 1919
Dear Mother:

	I have been trying to find time to complete a diary of my trip to Nice, but on account of one fellow who works with me being off most of the time since I came back because of a cold and the other fellow being off part of the time for the same reason, I have been unable to finish it. I received a letter from Mary written December twenty-ninth saying she was just recovering from the “flu”. Two days before that I received your letter saying she had it. I was fortunate in receiving her letter so soon after I received the one from you, for I had been just a little uneasy. I hope the rest of you are fortunate enough not to take it.

	We worked hard yesterday even though it was Sunday. We loaded twenty cars with harness and twenty more today for the docks for over-seas shipment. It looks like harness enough to supply the farmers of the States for years, though in reality it would supply only a very small percentage. We also shipped several car-loads of ammunition. It is used as a ballast for vessels as well as getting it back to the States. 

	I received another roll of Observers from Mary and a letter from you written New Year's Day. I also received three or four other letters. One was from Edna Titus and one from Margaret Shirk. They both told me that Mary had had the “flu”.