American Field Service. - Letters from Verdun: frontline experiences of an American volunteer in World War I France

Bibliography and Reference Material

Ayres, Leonard P. The War With Germany: A Statistical Summary (Washington, 1919).

William L. Foley Collection, American Volunteer Ambulance Drivers in World War I: 19141918 (Hamden, CT, 2007).

Hansen, Arlen J. Gentlemen Volunteers: The Story of the American Ambulance Drivers in the Great War, August 1914September 1918 (New York: Arcadia Publishing, 1996).

Hart, B.H. Liddell, The War in Outline: 191419 (New York: Random House, 1936).

History of the American Field Service in France, as Told by Its Members (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1920)

Heyman Neil M., Daily Life in World War One (Westport, CT).

Shermer, David. World War I (Secaucus, NJ: Derby Books, 1975).

Smucker, John R. Jr. The History of the United States Army Ambulance Service, 191719181919 (United States Army Ambulance Service Association, 1967).

Tuchman, Barbara W. The Guns of August (New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1962).

Tuchman, Barbara W. The Proud Tower (New York: Macmillan, 1966).

Dedication

In memory of Avery Royce Wolfe,

18981977,

a patriot and soldier who left an enduring legacy of military service.

Epilogue

Final Letters

24 Aout 1918

My Dear Mother,

Quite unexpectedly I was permitted to go on permission. I have just arrived in Paris where I expect to spend a few days. OBrien, our top sergeant, is with me and we expect to have quite a pleasant furlough. He is an older man than myself, about thirty-eight, and he was in the coal business at Salt Lake City before coming over. It has been unusually hot the last few days but we were lucky in having it rain this morning, so our five hour trip to Paris was not so uncomfortable as it might have been.

Everybody here is enthusiastic over the brilliant success of our troops. After the last fracas things have been rather quiet in our sector but we hope to see some more action soon.

I think I told you that the section has won a Croix de Guerre with a palm. We are all very proud to receive this distinction but I wouldnt want to go through what we did again to win another palm.

The mail has been very tardy of late but I hope there will be lots of letters from you waiting for me when I rejoin the section. Any others dont count as you are the only person I am writing to now. I hope Milton keeps his head and doesnt get into this thing until he has to. This life would ruin anybody.

With love to Father, Spencer, Milt and you especially, I remain your son,

Royce

August 28th, 1918

My Dear Mother,

Still in Paris but expect to pull out tomorrow night. Have met quite a number of old friends, and am incidentally having a good time. Hope if I cable for a little gold it will not be inconvenient for you to send it. Costs quite a little to live over here.

Love to all, your loving son,

Royce

January 2nd, 1919

My Dear Mother,

Have been at Nice for the last two days. Menton was a bit dead so I ran down here to see the New Year in. Quite a success. Plan to go back to Menton tonight and leave for section Saturday. Met Milt Potter yesterday and through him learned a lot of news from Buffalo. He is certainly leading a hard life in this war. A softy job in a base hospital miles behind the line, a two month permission home and then, after a month, another permission of two weeks at Nice. I wish I had been wise and joined something like that.

It is very wonderful down here. The only thing that I have against it is that there is too much scenery that greets you at every turn of the head. The promenade on New Years afternoon was a remarkable sight. French women certainly know how to dress. Had picture taken and will send same at earliest opportunity. Hope I find some money waiting for me at the section because I am terribly low. There is a good rumor afloat that we are posting February. I hope its true.

Love to all,

Royce

January 20th, 1919

My Dear Mother,

We have moved to Mzires where we are rather comfortably installed in a private residence. Some time ago we lost our division, and since then not a car has moved. We do nothing but wait patiently for the time when we will be able to go home.

There are no definite rumors about this and no one seems to think that we will get home within the next four or five months. It all seems so utterly foolish. Here we are, not doing a thing, using up the countrys money when we really should be back there with you. I have become so discouraged that I am seriously contemplating joining the Red Cross. This would mean another six months over here, but at least would get an immediate discharge from the army.