The following letter originally appeared in the February 14th issue of the Lebanon News:
"SOLDIERS WRITE HOME.
Somewhere in France,
January 7, 1918.
Mr. E. B. Sutherland,
Dear father:
I will write you a few lines as I have some time. I received your letter two days ago and was some glad to hear from home again. I just came back from the hospital but I am all o. k. and feeling fine.
I had a fine Christmas, also a fine Thanksgiving dinner. We are on our way to the coast but don't know when we will sail for the U. S.
I received a letter from Douglas a few days ago and was glad to hear from him. I was close to him once but didn't know it. One of our company boys met him and brought me a letter from him. He was o. k. I was glad to hear you were all well. I hope the creek is on a boom.
Denny Grizzle, Sherman Parson and I are together now.
You asked me if I was in the battle where Lafayett Sexton was killed. I was there and it was some battle. Rufus Kiser was wounded in the same battle. We are in good hopes of being home soon. I know it will be sad for us there, so many friends dead, but I have lost some friends here too.
We have some time with the French girls. I will try to see Douglas soon. You would not know me now, I weigh 170 pounds and still going up like a reed. We just received a compliment from Richmond, Va., wishing us good luck a safe arrival home. Well I will close as we are ready to move. Answer soon. I remain your son.
DEWEY JACK SUTHERLAND"