A few weeks after the 332nd Infantry's 3rd Battalion arrived for duty in Adriatic port city of Fiume, Ralph wrote a brief letter home:
"Fiume – Austria Dec 7th 1918 Dear Sis: — ... This city is sure some place, being quite American like. Good buildings, well paved streets and all. The people are quite up to date and dress fine. There are loads of good looking girls, but so far haven’t fallen for any. Everyone treats us fine and we all are having a pretty good time. Very little drill, only two hours a day.
"They are having their winter time now. Sure is fine weather, almost like our spring. ... No such thing as snow, ice or such.
"Am in good health and sailing along OK as well as most everyone else.
"Don’t be surprised at the shortness of this letter for this will be the last one I’ll write from this side and will soon be there to tell you all about it. ..."
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As political events grew more complicated in Fiume, everyday life became more frustrating and difficult for the men 3rd Battalion. In another letter home, Ralph took the opportunity to vent some of his exasperation:
"Fiume-Hungary Jan 1st, 1919 Dear Sis: - I might as well tell you right now, one of my New Years resolutions, was to write to everyone I know. Some job. Eh! Well, I don’t mean exactly everyone, but only some of the family and a few? others. If I remember right I told you all, in my last note, that I wouldn’t be writing anymore from this side. At that time, the dope was that we were going to leave soon and it would be our last mail out. Well, we all were wrong and the worst of it is, that it looks as if we may be here for the next six months to come unless things change here or someone over there raises cane about it.
"I can’t remember very well if I told you anything about this place or not, anyway I’m going to assume that I didn’t and go back to the time of our arrival here, and give you the dope concerning the city, “what’s what” and “who’s who” and the most important events of the season.
"Our arrival was a matter of small importance only a usual occurrence as far as the people were concerned.
"We marched downtown to a large school building where we have been quartered ever since. It sure is a good looking building from the outside and pretty decent on the inside, but that has nothing to do with us or our beds? I believe the boards are getting softer tho, for the men have only been sleeping on the floor for six weeks now, with only three blankets to make a bed with. Pretty nice? I guess not! That’s only one item
"Nothing what one would call real exciting has happened at all. We have had it pretty nice as far as any drill is concerned, all we do in that line is to take a two hour hike each morning and that’s all. Nothing doing on Sundays or holidays, nor on days when it rains.
"Since being here, several sub-chasers, destroyers and a cruiser, which is still here has been in port. Made a visit to them all, in hope I might find someone I know or get something to eat. I had no luck at all in finding anyone I know, but I did get one or two meals of some real food and plenty of it, as long as the boats were in port. When the cruiser leaves I don’t know what we’ll do. You understand we have been on Italian rations since being down here and if you knew what they were I’m sure you all would be a little surprised.
"I’ll drop that subject and go on with something more pleasant. Week before last, some of the bunch or rather battalion put on a minstrel show at one of the theaters, by the way, quite a regular one, just like in the States. The show was pretty fair considering the source and talent. The following night, the “YMCA” came down off their perch a little and went as far as to have a musical entertainment for us. Free for all, something quite unusual, as they never give anything to anyone unless you have the jack to pay for it and then usually cost about twice as much as it is worth. That has nothing to do with the show tho, it was really good and songs fine & up to date.
"Next on the program was another show produced by the British troops that are located here. Nuf-ced, as entertainers, singers or comedians they were good plumbers. When I tell you that that is all that has happened here, up to Xmas, you can easily see what a lazy, useless life we are living, when, for no reason on earth, we could ____ ____ doing some real good for ourselves and everyone else. Oh Hell! What’s the use to talk about it, were in the ____ army and only enlisted men, so what’s the use.
"Last week or Xmas week was just the same as any other, as far as we were concerned, nothing at all doing to make it seem like Xmas except we had a fairly decent dinner and some of the men got their boxes. I received the one you sent, yesterday and was rather surprised to get is as I didn’t send any slip and didn’t expect to get any. Many thanx! The cake and chocolate sure went good and the other things will come in handy. Thanks again.
"Today is New Years, but no one around here seems to realize it. To express it in plain words, It is a dam rotten day, has been raining all day.
"Last Monday, the sailors from the Birmingham put on a minstrel show and it sure was good, will enclose their program and you can judge for yourself.
"Well Sis, I guess that is about all I can think of at this writing and there is now use for me to say much about the city, you can draw your own conclusions from the cards I sent.
"I sure would like to go ahead and tell you some honest to God, real down-right truth, but I dare not for it may get me in bad and then to. If I was to start such, I would get to raving about it and say more than I am allowed to. It’s bad enough to think about some of the things that are done or that have happened let alone talk about them, so I’ll say no more about, except things are not or never have been a bed of roses for this outfit and take this little hint from me, don’t believe all the dope you read in the papers, but instead read between the lines and take just the opposite meaning of what is said in them.
"Now don’t get all excited and go tell Anne or Dad what all I’ve said for no doubt they will worry themselves sick about it or don’t worry yourself. Just take it from me I’m all OK and in good health and will get by with the rest of them. I sure hope for the day of our liberation and freedom when we all can get back in civilian clothes again.
"Well I guess I had better stop before I get to raving. Give my best to all and remember don’t any of you do any worrying about me, but instead do a lot of wishing and hoping that we all get away for this soon and come home. Write soon.
"As ever Ralph
"P.S: - don’t forget the fact to be prepared of one awful earful for I sure have one to tell and more too, and another thing, when you get the word I am coming home prepare a lot of real food for if things keep up I’ll need it. Ralph"
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As a follow-up, Ralph soon wrote home again to express his regret about sending his earlier letter and to attempt to explain his discontent :
"Fiume – Europe Jan. 5th 1919 "Dear Sis: - . . . Now for a little bit of explaining. You all or rather Leona will get a letter from me which I mailed the other day and now I wish I hadn’t done so.
"For to speak in plain English it was a hell of a letter. You will find said letter rather disconnected and won’t be able to make head from tail out of it as it was mostly devoted to raving about this and that. I shouldn’t have written it at all for at that time I was doing a good deal of crabbing about everything in general and it seemed I couldn’t tell about anything unless I got off the track and went to raving. Now don’t misunderstand me, there is nothing that letter that isn’t the truth, in fact it is not exactly true to facts as they are and have been here. I could have said a whole lot more, and not exaggerating things one bit, but then you know, if the fellows all wrote home and told the truth it would only cause their folks to do a whole lot of unnecessary worrying, when it is much easier for us to swallow things and to grin and bear the hardships and then tell about them when we get home.
"While I’m on said subject just remember that I’m capable of taking care of “Yours truly” and will get by OK and for none of you to do any worrying about me. Also remember and prepare yourselves to hear one big earful when I do get home. I’ll assure you, right now, it will be quite different from what you might expect or have read or heard about. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
"Next, I wish to thank you all for the Xmas box. Rec’d it last Monday all OK. Sure was glad to get it, especially the cake, which was more than good, having not tasted anything like it for seven months, also the chocolate, which has it all over the stuff we get here. Sure would like to get more, but take it from me, don’t try that stunt of ordering anything from concerns thru their Paris branch for they sure sting you. Several of the fellows got things that way and I mean they got stung good and proper. Everything else came in mighty handy. Have the tie on and one the handkerchiefs in my pocket now and use the gloves every time I go out. Again I say thanks and many of them. . . .
"Well I guess there isn’t a whole lot more to tell. We are carrying on, in the same old way, a two hour hike each day and that’s all, inspection on Sats & nothing doing on Sundays. Sure a fine way to spend ones life. I guess not. Everyone is getting pretty well fed up on it and want to be on the move again. Preferably Home.
"A couple of weeks ago, some of our fellows put on a show, also the “Y” and the French & British troops too. All of which were only fair. Last week some of the sailors from the U.S. Cruiser Birmingham put on a show and I mean it was a show too. Will enclose the program & you can judge for yourself. [ see image of program above ] . . .
"Nothing unusual going on here during the holidays to make it seem any different from any other time. We had a pretty food dinner Xmas, but nothing special New Years day. Xmas, we had turkey, dressing, mashed spuds, gravy, slaw, stewed figs, “wop” bread, tea and wine. Pretty good! Eh? It was the first time since I left the States that I had a real good stomach full.
"Speaking of the weather, we haven’t had any to brag or kick about. It is similar to the fall or spring in the States that is about half way or fifty-fifty hot & cold with a plenty of rain and wind mixed in, but never both at the same time. Snow never falls here in the city, altho, one can see it on the mountain tops nearby.
"There is sure some beautiful scenery around here but no chance to see it at a close up view, as we are not allowed out of the city.
"Just to cite the kind of weather we have here can you imagine sitting in a room with the window open and no coat on and being comfortable on the 5th of Jan. That is the case today. . . ."
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