After a long march through France, Belgium, and Luxembourg and into Germany, George's unit occupied Kreuzberg, a crossroads town between Bonn and Koblenz and about 30 kilometers west of the Rhine. Modern maps show a wooded area with low hills and numerous "camping-platzen". This corresponds well with George's experiences, as related in this letter.
This evening I will write you a few lines, to at last let you know that I am not among the casuals. There seems to be a foul up in the mail service lately. So many of the fellows are complaining about delays in delivery. Well mama I hope you are all the same as ever at home, it has been some time since I rec a letter from you. The Christmas package you sent must be lost for I have never rec it yet. Willie wrote me a few days ago, he is in a small town on the other side of the Rhine. I will go down to see him soon if my pass goes through. From what he says the marines will get stuck over here for some time. The rumor is out again that the 42nd is due to leave in the coarse of a few weeks. General Pershing is to review us at Ramgen (?) about the middle of the week, this is a good indication of us getting relieved soon after the review. If we leave here the chances are we will embark from Rotterdam which is a short distance down the Rhine. John Smith was in here today on pass. This is the first time I have seen him since we left Camp Mills. He lived in the N./E. and joined the aviation signal corps soon after I enlisted. Carl Kirkman was here a short time ago, he is a second Lieut in the balloon squadroon stationed outside of Coblenz. I heard Dutch Smidth was made a second Lieut since he came over. It was in the smae Div. as C. Smith. There is nothing going on here much to write about, news comes and goes. just rec news tonight that Walter Hopper died in the Div Hospital at [...nahr]. That's sure luck going all through the war and get this far and die. He was from K.C. and had been acting Stable Sergeant in our Co. most of the time we were on the front. Athletics are taking the place of drilling among the occupation troops to pass the time away. Nearly every regiment in the Div. has a show made up among the talent in the Reg. and go from town to town. Some of them are good and draw by crowds. We get passes nearly every night to visit in the near by towns. Last Sunday I went out horse back riding out among the hills and wound up at a small dutch town about 15 kil. from here. The people seem away behind time. They make their living mostly from raising grapes and have small patches of farms. The Burgermaster is the main squeeze in town and generally the most popular citizen. He is the same as our mayor, but acts according with the Germans' laws which gives him all authority over the people. There is lots of Deer & wild bore among these hills. A few of our fellows thought they would try their hand at hunting Deer. They killed a couple and this got the bunch started until it got to be a regular thing. The German people were scared so bad they wouldn't even go to church or hardly come out. An order was issued against it so Hunting wild game is finished here. Mama you propably have been reading in the papers about the 35th Div. which an invistigation is being made. From what I know they certainly must have met with awful resistance. We were over the same ground they lost so heavily on and believe me it was bloody. The front was later reinforced, and the Germans were pushed clear to Sedan. I was detailed to go up the night the final push was to begin. Zero hour was set, and ever gun for miles around started to boom, the German lines were plowed up like powder, believe me it was a sight. Well mama I hope your are getting a relief from the cold weather. It has been just like spring here, but couldn't say how long it will stay. Mama the next time I go to a big town I will have my picture taken, no joking this time, you probably won't know me for they say I am getting fatter and uglier. Ha! Joe sure is big what has. he been eating anyhow? Well mama I will close hope you & papa are enjoying good health and having a good time. Tell all the kids hello and not to grow up or I will not know em when I get there. It is nearly time for gaurd mount so good bye.
With love,