Ambulance Company No. 1.
2nd DIVISION
Army of Occupation
Engers Arn Rhein, Germany
April 15, 1919
Dear Father:
Will answer your letter of March 26th which I received yesterday. It is very windy today and quite cool. Most all of the boys have gone to a ball game this afternoon, but I am not feeling very good today, have a slight cold, so I preferred to stay in. We are having it pretty easy now. Everything is finished by noon each day and we have all afternoon off to go to ball games, walk around town or up and down the river if we want to.
There is a big Krupp Steel works and foundry here. Have been about all through it. They have some very large engines and electric cranes, steam hammers and such.
The farmers around here are planting their crops. Work animals are very scarce, they use oxen quite a bit. I saw one guy plowing with a horse and cow hitched up together. Their fall wheat is about four inches high and fruit trees are starting to bloom.
We expect to move to another town in a few days. It is about three kilometers from here. The name of the place is Sayn. The 32nd Division is starting for the States and the 2nd is taking over part of their territory.
I am going to have some pictures taken in a few days. When Joe gets home pay him $30.00 that I owe him. When I came back from the Hospital I couldn’t get paid until my service record got back so didn’t get a chance to pay him before he left. I wish you would send me a copy of the Pacific-Woodsman one in a while.
We have a commissary here in town now and can buy good old American candy which is a great change from French chocolate which was all we could get during the war. Except last summer the Quarter Master Corps started a candy factory in France and we got some issued once in a while. I still carry $10,000 insurance. Guess I will keep it till I get out of the service. I know of one fellow who died with the flu about a month after he discontinued his insurance.
Everybody is anxious to go home, and we are all awaiting patiently the action of the peace conference. Seems as though they are awful slow about it, when we in the army worked and fought day and night to make possible a peace by victory. Here is hoping it comes soon.
If you think it advisable, don’t wait till I get home before you invest. I will be satisfied with your judgement in the matter. The only objection I have to the Floreda Country is the deep snows in winter. But the advantage of being close to range along with good land and good water right at a reasonable price will probably offset any disadvantages it may have. We likely would be able to branch out a little in a few years.
Will close for this time with love to all. Your son,
Robert E. Schalles
1st Amb. Co. 2nd Div American E.F.