Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Title
Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Creator
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960
Identifier
WWP18909
Date
1918 February 17
Source
Daniel Metraux
Subject
World War, 1914-1918
Language
English
Text
Camp Wadsworth, So. C.
My dear Anna-Marie,
First of all I want to thank you for the nice box of candy you sent me and which I and my tent mates enjoy immensely. It was very good of you to think of me in this way. And then, I also want to thank you most sincerely for your letter of the 13th inst. which arrived yesterday. I am glad to hear that you, father and the kiddies are well and that Paul is getting along nicely in school. Also glad to hear that you managed to get out a little more, and I certainly do hope that you will be able to get help very soon so that you can continue going out! I read with pleasure that the weather up north is now also more pleasant,—well, it’s about time! I’m still perfectly well and just as happy as ever, so don’t worry at all about me, my dear.
I’m rather sorry to read that Elisabeth hasn’t been over to see you. Yes, I hear from her pretty regularly. In her last letter she wrote that Mr. Franke was quite seriously ill,—he had an attack of pneumonia but is now on the way to recovery. It certainly must have been a hard time for all.
In regard to the peace with Russia,—well, it doesn’t seem to be quite settled yet. However, Russia is, no doubt, out of the war for good,—at least, anything she may do in the future cannot amount to much. Of course, I never had any sympathy for her, but I do believe this will only prolong the war in-as-much as the Allies will have it so much harder and it will take so much longer to whip Germany, which, of course, must be the ultimate result of this dreadful business. There is no longer any doubt in my mind, if ever there was any at all, that we are in this for one purpose and that is to win and this we will do, but I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if it takes about 1½ years to do it. This would mean that we’ll have possibly another 2 years service in the Army This, of course, is not a very cheerful outlook, but we might just as well look at the things the way they are and not the way we would like them to be!
I do not need anything at present, however, will be glad to let you know in case I do.
Did you read the ‘Gas-Attacks’ I recently sent father? Father does not seem to find them so interesting as he gets the news from the papers and because there are a lot of personal matters in the magazine. However, if you care to read them, I will be glad to continue to send them. Just let me know.
From the enclosed clipping you will see that I’ve now got the corporal’s stripes back again. Furthermore, the captain informed me that I was on the list for an early promotion to Sergeant’s rank and that I would have gotten Sergeant’s stripes if there had been an opening. However, I’m satisfied, but will take all I can get, nevertheless. The more, the better!
As we had to pay the division for January, we had to put in a few night’s work last week and I was therefore unable to attend most of the YMCA entertainments. However, there won’t be any more overtime this month as far as one call tell.Friday evening we had a very impressive memorial service of the sinking of the “Maine.” After a few addresses by our Major, etc., all lights were turned out at 9:15 p.m. This was the exact time the Maine was sunk 20 years ago. Then, in the dark, the chaplain said a prayer, after which President McKinley’s favorite song “Nearer my God to Thee” was sung, and finally the bugle played ‘taps.’ It certainly was most impressive!
The quarantine was lifted last Monday night and I took a trip to Spartanburg that evening, saw a movie show, and then saw one of our comrades off at the RR station. He was off on a 12 day furlough.
Yesterday, Saturday, evening, a friend & I took the 6:30 train to Spartanburg after supper. We saw two vaudeville shows and after having something to eat decided to stay in town over night. However, we had to wander around until 1:30 a.m. before we finally succeeded in finding two vacant beds in a hotel. There were 4 other beds in the same room already occupied by sleeping soldiers—2 men from the Officer’s Training School, and 1 hospital & 1 infantry man. The latter snored so loud, it was terrible! The noise he made was so frightful that he finally woke up just as the church bell struck 3! I felt like swearing at him the next morning, but unfortunately he was gone before I woke up and I never had the pleasure (?) of making his acquaintance. After a good breakfast, we returned to camp for dinner. I bought a little alcohol heater in town which I use for heating water for shaving as our tent stove is not used anymore on account of the warmer weather. The apparatus is very convenient.
Well, having no further news of interest, I’ll now close.
Please give my love to all at home.
With lots of love,
Your brother,
Otto
My dear Anna-Marie,
First of all I want to thank you for the nice box of candy you sent me and which I and my tent mates enjoy immensely. It was very good of you to think of me in this way. And then, I also want to thank you most sincerely for your letter of the 13th inst. which arrived yesterday. I am glad to hear that you, father and the kiddies are well and that Paul is getting along nicely in school. Also glad to hear that you managed to get out a little more, and I certainly do hope that you will be able to get help very soon so that you can continue going out! I read with pleasure that the weather up north is now also more pleasant,—well, it’s about time! I’m still perfectly well and just as happy as ever, so don’t worry at all about me, my dear.
I’m rather sorry to read that Elisabeth hasn’t been over to see you. Yes, I hear from her pretty regularly. In her last letter she wrote that Mr. Franke was quite seriously ill,—he had an attack of pneumonia but is now on the way to recovery. It certainly must have been a hard time for all.
In regard to the peace with Russia,—well, it doesn’t seem to be quite settled yet. However, Russia is, no doubt, out of the war for good,—at least, anything she may do in the future cannot amount to much. Of course, I never had any sympathy for her, but I do believe this will only prolong the war in-as-much as the Allies will have it so much harder and it will take so much longer to whip Germany, which, of course, must be the ultimate result of this dreadful business. There is no longer any doubt in my mind, if ever there was any at all, that we are in this for one purpose and that is to win and this we will do, but I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if it takes about 1½ years to do it. This would mean that we’ll have possibly another 2 years service in the Army This, of course, is not a very cheerful outlook, but we might just as well look at the things the way they are and not the way we would like them to be!
I do not need anything at present, however, will be glad to let you know in case I do.
Did you read the ‘Gas-Attacks’ I recently sent father? Father does not seem to find them so interesting as he gets the news from the papers and because there are a lot of personal matters in the magazine. However, if you care to read them, I will be glad to continue to send them. Just let me know.
From the enclosed clipping you will see that I’ve now got the corporal’s stripes back again. Furthermore, the captain informed me that I was on the list for an early promotion to Sergeant’s rank and that I would have gotten Sergeant’s stripes if there had been an opening. However, I’m satisfied, but will take all I can get, nevertheless. The more, the better!
As we had to pay the division for January, we had to put in a few night’s work last week and I was therefore unable to attend most of the YMCA entertainments. However, there won’t be any more overtime this month as far as one call tell.Friday evening we had a very impressive memorial service of the sinking of the “Maine.” After a few addresses by our Major, etc., all lights were turned out at 9:15 p.m. This was the exact time the Maine was sunk 20 years ago. Then, in the dark, the chaplain said a prayer, after which President McKinley’s favorite song “Nearer my God to Thee” was sung, and finally the bugle played ‘taps.’ It certainly was most impressive!
The quarantine was lifted last Monday night and I took a trip to Spartanburg that evening, saw a movie show, and then saw one of our comrades off at the RR station. He was off on a 12 day furlough.
Yesterday, Saturday, evening, a friend & I took the 6:30 train to Spartanburg after supper. We saw two vaudeville shows and after having something to eat decided to stay in town over night. However, we had to wander around until 1:30 a.m. before we finally succeeded in finding two vacant beds in a hotel. There were 4 other beds in the same room already occupied by sleeping soldiers—2 men from the Officer’s Training School, and 1 hospital & 1 infantry man. The latter snored so loud, it was terrible! The noise he made was so frightful that he finally woke up just as the church bell struck 3! I felt like swearing at him the next morning, but unfortunately he was gone before I woke up and I never had the pleasure (?) of making his acquaintance. After a good breakfast, we returned to camp for dinner. I bought a little alcohol heater in town which I use for heating water for shaving as our tent stove is not used anymore on account of the warmer weather. The apparatus is very convenient.
Well, having no further news of interest, I’ll now close.
Please give my love to all at home.
With lots of love,
Your brother,
Otto
Original Format
Letter
To
Bubendey, Anna-Marie Kappelmann, 1887-1986
Files
Collection
Citation
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960, “Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey,” 1918 February 17, WWP18909, Otto Kappelmann Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.