World War I Collection

[Imprinted stationery: H. L. A. BATES 277 PINE STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. ] March 24th 1919 My dear old Snedward:

I have not written you for a long time but dont think that it is because I am not thinking of you. I have your photo framed on my desk, so that I think of you almost all day long. We have had fine letters from you from Southern France and we are all very glad that you have had the opportunity of seeing things. Your last letter says that you have been put into Class A which means back to Germany. I note by yesterdays paper that the 127th is released to come home, and some time ago it was said by Washington that the 32nd would leave early in May. Of course you may be transferred to some other division which is to stay, and then you wont come home so soon. We want to see you Edward dear, but we dont want to influence you against your own judgement. We rather hoped that you would be assigned to a Medical College such as Edinburg, as that would be in the line of your proposed profession. I dont know what to think of your going into the Marine Corps. Of course at this time there are about 50,000 men + officers in it but it will probably be reduced one half. Norman figures that if they reduce to Marine Corps he will drop back to Capt and be about 7th on the list. The University has wanted a copy of your citation (Croix de Guerre) but you have never sent it to us, or even a copy of it, and of course we are hungry for a sight of it. What answer did you get from the A.E.F. Decoration headquarters