A.E.F.-France
May 6, 1918

Dear Ma:-

We are doing about the
same as usual here, nothing
especially new except that
we learn a lot of new stuff
right along, which is very
important of course.

Your letter of March
14, got here a couple of days
ago and is the first mail
we have recieved since
landing in France.

You had the right dope
about my leaving very soon
after your visit in [Quantico? ]
and it was lucky that you
got down when you did. Otherwise
you would not have seen me.

We travelled very quickly,
as Marines usually do, and
when we did leave I only got

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Tom Ashley had been with the Marines in France for about a month when this letter was written. He has not yet been in battle, but notes that the whole company is "fired up fine." He assures his mother that he has plenty to eat in the village where they are staying with French families, but notes that indoor plumbing is nonexistent and that all the washing is done in the river. American newspapers are their source of information about the war and the scores of baseball games. Thomas Williams Ashley was killed in June of 1918.

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