Theodore Burr Diary

Theodore Burr volunteered at the age of 17, enlisting in the Coast Artillery Corps in  1917. He served at the Second Battle of the Marne, Battle of the Aiosne and Vesle in Chemin des Dames Sector, 3rd Offensive of Verdun, Battle of the Meuse.

January 25, 1918, Blois, France: I get the blues but most of the time I keep feeling human...When I get my mail coming through good, and get my pay, so that I can get some real good cooked food I’ll be nearly all set. The only thing missing then will be  Fairfield and home.

[n.d.] At the present I am in the office all day and make one trip at night up near the front. I enjoy it and it is safe so don’t worry, because if the shells fall near me I intend to desert the machine and use my legs (They are faster). You should have seen me the one afternoon that I tried to build a dug-out. In about a half hour I had three blisters and right away I decided that I would sleep in the open before I would ruin myself digging in the ground...All the shells this side of Berlin couldn’t make me keep on digging that afternoon

June 20, 1918, Somewhere in France: ...surrounded with all of these pretty French girls. I have a fine girl up to the hospital and also a perfectly wonderful girl in one of these French Cafes. I will try to get one of her portraits and send it to you. by the way she might be promoted and become your future daughter-in-law. I am meeting so many that my head is beginning to whirl, and I am afraid to travel for fear of meeting others.

March 2, 1919, Bourges, France: ...Yes, dad, I’m glad I got over here and prouder still that I served at the front instead of laying back ins ome town and crying to get to the front and mean just the opposite. Dad I’ve lost all the souvenirs even my personal belongings, when I went to the hospital but I still have a memory that is worth all the trophies of war. [he was injured in a motorcycle accident in the line of duty in Nov, assigned to office duties]

Sept. 28, 1919, Paris, France: ...I love this girl and have persuaded her to come to America with me after we are married. ..You may be opposed to my marriage with a French girl, but mother, if you are willing I will come to Fairfield as soon as I land, but if you think it best I will keep away from home. [worried about people’s criticism of French women…] I want to return home real bad but if you think it will harm you, should I return home married, I will go elsewhere...The girl is a wonderfully bright and clever girl, she has a fairly good family over here, and I can assure you than when we get back to America she will carry herself as a Burr.