Christmas Eve Over There

The Night Before Xmas 1918

Dear Homefolks,

While you all are sleeping and waiting for Old Santa to come I am going to write you a few lines and let you know I haven’t forgotten those good old days also. I thought for a while I was going to be home by Xmas but as it is Xmas night and I haven’t much chance to get home I can wish I were there anyhow. I may be a long ways from home but my thoughts are with you tonight just the same.

I hope Francis and the boy got to come home any how. If they are there and you all have a Xmas tree I know he will open his eyes. I sure wish I could be there in the morning to see him dance around when he sees his tree.
We had to work tonight but we got relieved at ten o clock and won’t have to go back until 12. We went up to the Red Cross and had some sandwiches and hot chocolat and one of the fellows were playing the piano and the others were singing. They got to dancing two and one of the nurses came out and danced a while. Well maybe you think it didn't look good to see her dancing. They had a Xmas tree

all decorated up two. Oh the Red Cross sure are for the Amex [American] soldiers every turn of the road over here. The Y [Y.M.C.A.] didn’t put on any thing like that over here tonight. We got a package today from the folks back home. Two pks of cigarettes two bars of chocolat and a plug of chewing tobac. We can eat chew and smoke to our hearts content. Well I won’t have to work tomorrow night any how. Tomorrow is our change day. We get 24 hours off. We go on days tomorrow and believe me I sure will be glad when we do two. Beats night 

work all to pieces.

I don’t know if you all will get to have the boy with you or not this Xmas but there is one thing certain and that is you are going to have this boy there next Xmas. I don’t know when we will get to come home but I don’t think it will be very early. Some times they talk like we are going home real soon but they say now next summer. Well I hope it will be early summer any how. Well here is hoping I will be home next Xmas and all of you will have a merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, with love to all of you. Your son

                Pvt. W.m. M. Mcutcheon

                21^st co. JC 14 Grand Division

                AEF APO 701

[signature of censor] 


Welton McCutcheon was born in Sheldon, Missouri and served in the 14th Division (see his soldier record here) during World War I.  Welton's series of approximately 50 letters describes uncleared battlefields, gives insight into the daily life of an engineer, and frequently touch on the culture clashes between French and Missouri engineers.

The rest of Welton's McCutcheon's letters are available to view at The State Historical Society of Missouri.