Guide to the Keyton Family Collection (RG 256): Coblenz Letters, 1919-1920
Folder 256-20-0731-001-013
Transcriptions and Links to Scanned Original Letters (in PDF) for folder 256-20-0731-001-013: June 1920, Arthur Keyton to his mother-in-law, Annie Williams. 1 item.
Biographical Note: John Arthur Keyton of Dothan, AL and Joyce Williams of Norwich, CT married in 1917 before he shipped off to World War I. In 1919, his unit became part of the US Third Army (Army of Occupation of the German Rhineland) headquartered at Coblenz ("Coblence" in French). Joyce joined Arthur in Late Summer, 1919. The couple was stationed in Sinzig, Germany then relocated to Coblenz when Arthur was reassigned to the 6th Field Artillery and the American forces were reduced in number. They returned to the US in Late Summer 1920.
Table of Contents
256-20-0731-001-013-001 June 27, 1920 Coblence, [Germany] Arthur to "Dear Mother Williams"
Item 256-20-0731-001-013-001
Coblence
June 27, 1920
Dear Mother Williams,
Joyce is so lazy that she can't hardly sit up, much less write to anyone so I am writing you for two reasons, to say hello! and to tell you about her.
She's almost as large as you and getting fatter every day, eats like a whole litter of pigs and sleeps when she's
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not eating.
Really, I dont believe you will know her when she gets home, for I have never seen her so fat and saucy looking.
We are coming home before long, just when I can't say, for it depends largely on how soon a replacement can be gotten from the States. I am anxious to get home, for I am going to resign from the Army and go to work, really.
Listen, why dont you go down home about the middle or last
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of July so that Joyce and I can go straight to Alabama and I will give you the spectacle of seeing a boy almost kill his mother with hugs and kisses, for I am so hungry to see my precious Little Mother I can hardly wait.
How is "Junior" getting along,! I suppose he is getting to be quite a boy by this time
Please give Ellsworth and Nellie my love and my best regards to the others.
Tell Clem that the couch
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in her house is a dangerous place to sit with the "right man", for he will certainly make her say "yes" if she's not careful, very careful to keep two distinct imprints on its surface. Joyce is a living testimonial to that fact.
Be good and dont go fooling around with any old batchelors etc for we cant afford to stand for that sort of monkey shines.
With much love __
Your Adopted Son
Arthur.
[Transcribed by Martin T Olliff, February 28, 2023]
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