1918 WWI Soldier Letter 150the AERO SQUADRON- RICH FIELD WACO TX Crashes Deaths

Description

World War I Soldier's letter,
5-1/2 pgs
., approx. 6" x 9", written on YMCA "With the Colors" patriotic stationery, dated at
Rich Field, Waco, Texas, Jan. 13, 1918
, from Ralph W.L., 150th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service,  to his cousin Kathleen.
Rich Field was a WWI training field for the Air Service of the U.S. Army, 1917-1919; The first shipment of 25 aircraft arrived Nov. 14, 1917, and were uncrated & assembled by the 150th Aero Squadron, moved from Kelly Field. flight instructions began there on Dec. 1, 1917, a little over a month before this letter was written.
Great content
, writing of aircraft crashing, lives lost, and more.
Includes:
"Am glad to hear, Kathleen, you are beginning to change your mind about this war and I hope you will soon come to my way of thinking about it. you know what spirited arguments we had about it before I left home. Seriously, though, it is an awful disgrace to civilization to think we must prepare to wipe a nation or nations off the earth so the rest of us could live in peace. The idea seems to carry one back to the dark ages, when man's one aim in life was to make war. But out of it all will come a peace which will be forced, but lasting, and our generations following will profit by it.
Was down town last night to a dance given by our squadron and held in the K. of C. hall. Can you imagine me hurrying and dancing with O'Brien, Murphy, O'Connell and some of the other genuine Irish girls; but they used us very nice just the same and we thanked them very heartily for their trouble...
It has been nearly as cold as it gets in Michigan, and the first heavy falls of snow in 25 years, so the natives say. I hope it is 25 years more before it snows like it again, in which case I would stay here when the war is over....
The cadets are learning rapidly and if they are driving them at all camps as they are at this one, we will have our 22,000 men ready by May 1st as per schedule, and then the sauer kraut will fly. There have been several nasty falls so far, but not a pilot killed or even seriously injured. Some record for a field of 85 planes and about 30 in use all the time. At Ft. Worth, where the Canadians are training, several lives have been lost and a great many machines demolished, but of course those things are expected in this work...
Your Cousin,
Ralph W.L.
150 Aero Squadron
Rich Field
Waco, Texas."
A few small edge tears. Fine.
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