Claude M.

MacPhee wrote his letters from France on note paper printed with the American
YMCA logo and titled “on active service with the American Expeditionary Forces.”

He served with the Machine Gun Company, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division.

Pat Heefner of Waynesboro has photocopies of her Uncle Mac’s letters. Three letters give a
picture of the soldier’s life. Two are written to his mother, the third to his best friend’s mother.

Pat’s father was rooming with Mac and his wife, Gertie, in Waynesboro when he met his future
wife, Jean, Gertie’s niece.

Sept. 1, 1918

Dear Folks:

Received your 9th letter to France today and was very glad to hear from you. I am sorry that I
am unable to write more but under the circumstances we have had it is simply impossible to
write with any degree of regularity.

I am sure that those Hombres who are writing so many letters are not on this Front for very few
letters leave this outfit.

Sept. 8, 1918

Many things have happened since I started this letter for we are now far from where we were
when I started this little missive and who knows but it may be mailed many miles from our
present land.

To return to the subject of writing if you could only see how we carry our writing materials and
the places we have to write in you wouldn’t wonder why you haven’t received more letters.

Things are certainly looking fine over here, did you read about the British? Taking Kemmel Hill?
Not so bad was it? Looks rather bad for “Old Jerry” -- now all along every front and looks very
much like the beginning of the end. While writing this I received your 10th letter to France. That
was very sad about Bill and his brother. I suppose there is much grief around town since the
accident occurred. Perhaps there is some truth in the little song that is quite popular over here
which says “I’m better off in my little dug-out than playing around New York.” So far I have
managed to pick up but one souvenir, a little scalp wound about an inch and an half long over
my left eye just at the hair line. It never bothered me and has up fine, wouldn’t sell it for a
farm. That paper was likely right we were frolicking around in that country and had some fine
times up there too. The best was when the British took Kemmel Hill. What does the paper have
to say about (illegible)? Send me any clippings you may happen upon – they are always
interesting. In your 10th letter you said that you were becoming worried (Illegible).

When you receive two letters you may know that I am still busy but healthy and you may rest
assured that you would be speedily notified in case of any accident. Six letters in one mail. Well
all I can say is that Enrich is in a very quick sector or facilities are much better than here. Give
my very best to all the folks and tell them I will see them next Sept. I hope by this time grandma
has entirely recovered and is enjoying perfect health.

Well I guess there isn’t anything more to write about so will cease for now. Will write as often
as possible.

As ever, CMM.

Oct. 18, 1918 Moreitz, France

As I happen to have a few leisure moments thought I would just knock off a few lines just to let
you know I am still in the land of the living. Just now for the first time in France I am in a room
with a bed in it. Can you imagine that? Just think of it; a bed. Just today I had a fine hot bath
not exactly my first since our arrival, but just the same it is worthy of note. I started a fire under
a big caldron then pulled the fire and climbed in. Did you mention “Cooties” in one of your
letters? Well I must confess I have them and plenty of them at that. During the day I have to
pile rocks on my blankets to keep the playful little insects from dragging them away. I plan on
bringing a few dozen home with me so you won’t have to take my word as to their size or
ferocity.

However Cooties are not the worst pests in the world and we rather welcome them these chilly
nights. So you learned that we were the first Americans to enter Belgium. We had some rather
warm times up there which I will tell you about when I return. Yes we will be home about next
July for things certainly look bright and in fact have looked good for some time back. Have the
papers mentioned anything about the “Hindenburg Line”? ‘Twas some blast there I assure you
and one that we won’t forget for some time.

We are the final Americans to occupy this territory and this experience I will never forget if I live
to be a hundred years old….

I have a nice piece of H.E. (high explosive shell) that I took out of one of the mules and I plan on
having it made into a watch charm after the war. Received your twentieth letter a couple of
days ago, and by the way you should be receiving several from me by this time. Well I think I
will cease for this time and try to get a little sleep for I have been pretty busy for some time
back. Might add I an in the very best of health and sound as a bullet. Will be home the same
way. CMM.

Nov. 1, 1918

Dear Mrs. Holham,

After many attempts and postponements I will endeavor to perform a very disagreeable task
and acquaint you with an event that has affected me so deeply that I hesitate to put my feelings
on paper for fear that the words I pen will fall short of conveying the message as I would have it
conveyed.

On the 29th day of September our company went over the top and as we had been bereft of
our officers the preceding day the responsibility for the success of our operation fell entirely
upon our sergeants,

The platoon of which Jack was in command has as its objective one of the most difficult of
access of the whole movement, and I might say of the whole war, so upon his courage and
presence of mind rested the success of the whole movement, so to speak.

And it was successful, for it broke the Hun’s famous stronghold, and those who participated in
it their names will go down in history, with other heroes if our country.

But such a wonderful victory cannot be won without paying a heavy price, and I lost the best
friend and brother that any man ever had.

While leading his platoon forward, Jack was caught in a heavy barrage, and took shelter in a
shell hole but the German’s had the range and landed a high explosive shell in the midst of the
platoon, wounding Jack and killing three others outright.

He was rushed to a first aid station and here every effort was made to save him, but he
answered the call of One higher than mere mortals, and passed away as he had lived, a man of
whom any mother might be proud, who was loved and respected by all who knew him, and one
whose face can never be filled in my life.

We placed him in the little French town of St. Emile and marked his grave with a little cross and
the flag of his country for which he gave his life.

I am sorry to have to be the bearer if such sad tidings and to have to present them in such a
crude fashion, and I assure you, you have my deepest sympathy, in this, your hour of sorrow.

Yours in sorrow, CMM.