An undated article found in a donated scrapbook located at the local history room at the Cuyahoga Falls Library:
Joseph Hale of N. Front Street, violinist, graduate of the Columbia School of Music in Chicago, drafted to serve as a soldier, has been compelled to cancel an engagement with the Tri-City Symphony orchestra in Davenport, IA. “I am willing to go and fight,” he said.
A.E.F., October 20, 1918
My Dearest Aunt Nellie and Uncle Will –
Many things have happened since I last wrote to you. In the first place we have moved several times and have been stationed in towns which I know you are familiar with. Your fine letter of August 25th was received several days ago and many of the places you mentioned I have seen and others I have at least passed thru.
Spent several days at the front and many more in reserve. It was a great experience even though we were there during the rainy season. We had our share of dugouts, cooties and rats, saw many air battles as well as being under actual fire all the time. My job was to keep track of ammunition, grenades, flares, etc., and to see that every platoon got its full share of the feed.
We are now back in one of the cities which has suffered a great deal from bombardment and air raids. It was practically deserted for months but the people are returning in large numbers now and it is beginning to be quite lively. There are French, English, Scottish, Italian and American soldiers quartered here. It must have been a beautiful city before the war but many buildings have been completely destroyed. I have not been able to find out anything of historical interest regarding the place. Went to one of the large churches here this morning. There is a river running through the town, reminding one of what Venice must be like. The arched bridges and houses along the river with their bright colored vines are very picturesque.
We are taking a series of long hikes with full packs and it’s hard to tell where we will land. One thing is certain, this war is just about over and we will soon be home again. Then I will tell you a lot of things which must be left out here.
I hope you are both well and enjoying life in that “home” so dear to me. That lily enclosed in your last letter caused me to dream more than ever of good old Lombard. My most sincere love to you both.
Joe
Corp. Joe D. Hale, Co. F 32nd Inf., Amer. Expeditionary Forces, Italy, A.P.O. No. 901
Newspaper Editor Note: Many friends of Mr. Joe Hale will be interested in the letter which appears in this issue and all of us who have listened with the greatest of pleasure to his charming music, are proud to know he can handle a gun as well as a violin.
