(23) Letter: Jack Bentley to Cornelia Bentley, February 4, 1919

February 4 1918 Dearest Mother, Its been some time since I wrote to thee it must have been a week. I generally write more then that. "Is es nic bar - Yah" Well I am now a big bird being Divisional Athletic Officer this will take me away from Auback and take me to Rengsdorf - which is Div. 1grs. I have 40,000 athletes to direct, rather a large order, and when Colonel Bick's cheif of staff, said "Lt. can you make good" I told him plainly that a man did not always know whether he could make good or not but that I was certain I could. He said "then you are Div. Athletic Officer". I feel better about the fact that I was transfered from the 313th when a day or two ago I received a note from Major Elliot telling me that I had made good in the 313th but that they were required to select good men for the troops of occupations and now I feel much better about it all the way round. He said that Colonel Sweeny had asked for us to be kept in the 313th. That is Billy Walters, Royal Johnson

Mike Walsh and I. When we graduated at Camp Meade. He said that he was pleased with our work. The major said some more nice things and so I am keeping his letter. I have never received thy Xmas box: a great many were lost & stolen I am sorry to say. We hear that in 4 or 5 weeks we will be on the water but I don't know. There is rumor afloat that we go by way of Roterdam out the Rhine. I don't expect a leave of any kind and really its sort of a dissapointment to me to not get to Paris. I may yet who knows. I heard from John Bancroft and Bert Adams they both seem to be O.K. My luck is good having gotten with the 32nd Div. One of the very best and we are to get home soon. My baseball reputation has given me a wonderful start here: strange what tht does for a man. Every one gives me the glad hand other wise a blank stare. Here, love's in beaucoup. Thine Jack O.K. John Bentley 1st Lt 125 Inf.