The Uncensored Letters of a Canteen Girl

In the canteen huts, she served hot chocolate, made whatever treats she could come up with to give the soldiers something besides what the mess cooks offered. She listened to tales of woe; she helped buy gifts for the sweethearts back in the States; she was pretty much a big sister to everyone, a little touch of home. She always was on the siding waving when the troop trains pulled out to the Front, and always made sure she was able to smile at them as they went. At first I thought this entire service hut idea was spoiling the men too much, and one of the old French soldiers told her the same thing once. But it all seemed to make 'the boys' feel better about where they were and what they were doing. She was Over There. She understood much of what they were going through. That must have been important to all of them, so I have to respect her for that.