Dear Dad:- Just rec'd the "Stars and Stripes" and learned from it that Sunday Nov 24th was Dads day for a letter. It also states that we can tell anything we know and it will pass the censor. We have been given the honor of guarding the American bridge head over the Rhine and are now well under way to our destination. We started hiking from Morgan, France on the 17th of Nov. and reached the Belgian border on the 18th. The Belgians gave us the most wonderful reception in the world, and the happiness we bestowed on them made us feel that all the hardships we have gone through were well worth while. We were the first Allied troops that most of the Belgians had ever seen so you can imagine how they felt toward us. Their towns were all decorated with Allied flags and the main roads through the towns were decorated with Christmas trees elaborately colored signs reading "Glory to our liberators," "Honor to our Allies" etc. When we reached "Arlons," which was the largest town we passed through the streets were so crowded that we had to pass through in single file. It sure was a wonderful sight. We made the hike through Belgium in two days and then crossed the boarder into Luxembourg. We received wonderful receptions all through here and on Saturday Nov. 23 we had our first glance at Germany. We are now resting in a little town called Dillingen(?) on the Sauer river about ten miles south of Diekirch(?). We are in a valley between two Mts. one in Luxembourg and the other in Germany. We have walked over one hundred and thirty kilometers in all so you can see we rate a rest. Coblentz on the Rhine is our final resting place so we still have a long ways to go. I guess you would like to hear about the battles I have been in so I will you a short sketch of them. My first experience was stopping the Germans at Chateau-Thierry early in June. You know the credit we got for that and the French people gave us credit for saving Paris. We spent a month and a half in that sector and then opened the big Allied offensive on July 18th at Soissons. That was a very bloody battle but we managed to drive them back many miles. When we were relieved from there we went to the rear for a month and a half. Most of our time was used up in drilling the replacements and hard hikes. We were chosen by General Pershing to start the big American offensive at St. Miehil. Just before this drive I was transferred to the 3rd Batt. intelligence outfit a good job behind the line but very dangerous on the lines. Well we managed to drive the Germans back many more miles and rec'd many letters of congratulations for our work. Immediately after this battle our second division was picked out of the whole Allied Army to break the Germans last line of resistance and capture Mont Blanc on the Champagne sector. This was the hardest battle of all but we came through with flying colors. We came to the Argonne front from there and drove the Germans back 40 kilometers. We were still on the front lines when the Armistice was declared so you see I went through from beginning to end of course there are lots of personal experiences. I would like to tell you about but they will keep until I get home. Give my love to Mother and Joe and keep lots for yourself. Write soon. Your loving son, Henry K. Kindig
Dillingen, Luxembourg Nov. 28, 1918
Mother dear: - Was fortunate enough to get some paper today so I'm not wasting any time in getting off a Thanksgiving Day letter to you. I have been trying to get some paper for four days but there has not been a lot in camp. Wrote Dad a Xmas victory letter yesterday and told him about everything I knew so I haven't much news for you in this one. The little town we are stopping in is surrounded by very beautiful scenery. We are in a valley on the Sauer river about ten miles south of Diekirch. We expect to leave here for the Rhine in three or four days and are all looking forward to the trip. All we have to do to get into Germany is cross the bridge and we're there. I certainly was sorry to hear about Helen Breitenbaugh(?). I wrote Aunt Annie and I guess she will get it before you get this one. I'm worried to death about all the influenza in the states and am hoping and praying it hasn't taken effect on any of the rest of the family. We had a nice "Thanksgiving Day" dinner today consisting of fried steak, creamed potatoes, coffee, bread, butter and peaches. Of course that doesn't sound so big to you all but it sure sounds good to us. I have had several good meals from the farm houses around here and this is what I'm getting tonight. A big goose, pork, potatoes, salad, bread, apple pie and milk. That won't make a bad Thanksgiving dinner will it? We are all looking forward to getting home soon and think we have as good a chance if not better than the rest of getting home first. If they take troops home in the way they came over you can look for me shortly because this is one of the oldest divisions in the A.E.F. Well Mother dear this is all the paper I have so must close. If you don't hear from me for awhile you will know I am either hiking every day or have no paper. The Y.M.C.A. is not making the rip with us so we are out of luck for writing material. Give my love to Dad and Joe and keep loads for yourself. Your loving son, Henry K. Kindig
Text of above letter. Note the censor's approval of the content.
Leutesdorf, Germany Jan 12th 1919
Mother dear: - Rec'd a big box of cigarettes from John Wanamakers' London store from you yesterday and want to thank you a thousand times for them. They will sure come in handy and you can't imagine how I will appreciate them. The Second Engineers, who are attached to our division gave us a show last night and it was very good. There are quite a few entertainments in store for us next week and we are looking forward to them with much interest. We have been spending the days drilling and studying maps etc. and I usually play billiards in the evening. We don't have much excitement but it is sure better than dodging shells and sleeping in the rain. I don't have a thing of interest to tell you Mother dear but thought I would drop you a few lines telling you I was well and happy and thinking of you. Give my love to Dad and Joe and keep loads for yourself. Thanking you again for the box. Your loving son, Hen. Corp. Henry K. Kindig, 83rd. Co. 6th Reg. U.S.M.C. Am. Ex. Force
Leutesdorf, Germany Jan 15, 1919
Mother dear: - Just a few lines to let you know I am well and thinking of you. Rec'd another of your very sweet letters last night and sure enjoyed it. My mail has been coming in quite regularly now and I hope it continues to do so, as aside from going home thats all we have to look forward to. We had some good boxing bouts Tues. night and movies last night. The sixth regiment is putting on and "All Star" show tonight and I think it will be very good. We have been drilling very hard this week and have stage several war time maneuvers. Then worked about the same as we worked them in real action except that no guns are working and the enemy is missing. That makes is very different. I hope you have been able to find a girl by this time. What's the matter? Have they all gone to war? I'll be only too glad to wash the dishes and do the cooking when I get back. Gee Mother dear how I could relish an old Thurs. night supper like the ones you used to make up. Lamb chops, hashed brown potatoes (spuds), coffee and about ten pieces of your sponge cake. You'll never know how often my mouth has watered just from the thoughts of it. So Russell Davies has arrived back in Ambler again? If he keeps on rambling around he'll know more about he world than I do. Tell him to join the Marines and he can see the world for nothing. Guess "Artie" is about disgusted with him by this time. Well Mother dear thats about all the news so will close. Give my love to Dad and Joe and keep loads for yourself. Hoping to hear from you soon and with lots of kisses. Your loving son, Hen. Corp. Henry K. Kindig, 83rd. Co. 6th Reg. U.S.M.C. Am. Ex. Force
Leutesdorf, Germany Jan 21, 1919
Mother dear: - It looks as though we are going to get and (sic) afternoon off for a change so I am going to make good use of it by dropping you a few lines. Just this minute rec'd your very sweet New Years Eve and New Years day letters and sure enjoyed them. I can't understand why you don't get my mail Mother dear. Your mail has been coming to me very regularly and I don't see any reason why mine shouldn't reach you. I am writing you continually and feel sure that by this time you have received some of my mail. Was very sorry to hear that Mrs. Mc Mullen was so sick. I hope she is better by this time but guess there is not much hopes for her. I will write all my Aunts as soon as I get a week or so off but don't feel very inclined to do so. Do you know that Aunt Annie Breitenbaugh(?) is the only one in the Kindig family that has written me since I left home? I am sure that all my cousins and Aunts are not so taken up with Society etc. that they haven't at least had time to send me a few lines. Aunt Emma and Aunt Mame and Helen have always found time to write me so I take all my pare time in writing them. If I have any time left, and I am sure I won't, I will drop the rest of them a very few lines. I know they have a darn site more time to write me than I have to write them and if they don't think any more of me than to write I don't think they are very anxious to hear from me. I guess they will try and use all this camouflaged interest stuff towards me when I get back but it wont work. I don't forget things so quickly. Was very sorry to hear of Mr. Landes death. What are they going to do at the office? Guess there will probably be a shake up and I sure hope they arrange things O.K. What does Dad seem to think about it? We have been working very hard of late and had another "peace time" battle yesterday. You can't imagine how these things get on our nerves Mother dear. I enlisted to fight but not to be a peace time soldier. Its enough to drive anybody with any brains or ambition whatsoever nuts. Guess we can get by with it until we get home though. I expect to take a liberty to Coblenz tomorrow of the next day. After that is over I am going to get my teeth fixed. Well Mother dear that is all the news for the present so will close. With loads of love and kisses to all. Your loving son, Hen. Corp. Henry K. Kindig, 83rd. Co. 6th Reg. U.S.M.C. Am. Ex. Force
Leutesdorf, Germany Dec. 10, 1919
Mother dear: - Rec'd two very sweet letters from you last night and sure appreciated them. It had been a long time since I had heard from you and I was sort of worried so you can imagine how those letters were appreciated. I hope you are getting my mail again and have learned my where-abouts. You mentioned in your last letter that you had rec'd my cablegram but that you had been worrying for fear I had been wounded or sick and was keeping it from you. Well Mother dear I can easily realize how easy it would be for you to think I was wounded after reading about all the Marines did over here. I was hit by a piece of shrapnel on the St. Miehil front but it never pierced the skin and all it left was a black and blue mark. That was the nearest the "Heines" came to getting me, and as far as health is concerned I am better off than ever before. I have not missed a day with the battalion since I joined it, so as far as health is concerned that speaks for itself. I can't even get sick enough to get on light duty. Have been receiving the Phila. papers pretty regularly and learned from them that Bill Shetzbice(sp?) had been killed in action. I guess you remember him. He lived opposite Ida Vare on So. Broad St. I was certainly sorry to hear about his death and we will sure miss him when we get back. I have been watching the casualty list very regularly in the New York herald and have not seen Tom Jenkins' name so think he must have taken sick. I guess his Mother is worried to death. Give my love to Dad and Joe and tell them I am going to get back as soon as possible. Have lots of interesting tales to tell them. Tell Jodie(?) this war put "Bill Harts" and "Doug Fairbanks" exploits in the shade. Take good care of yourself and don't worry about me. Now that I have such high hopes of getting home again you can rest assured I will take the best care of myself until that time comes. With all my love to all and a nice kiss. Your loving son, Henry K. Kindig 83rd Co. 6th Reg. U.S.M.C. Am. Ex. Force
