Tag: Michel Lefebvre

Well, just when I thought the one letter from Michel Lefebvre in France was a one-off, I found two more, one of them is here.  The postmark on the envelope indicates it was sent from Bourges in Cher, France on 14 March 1951.  Two 15 franc stamps are on the front.

Here’s a transcription of the letter, to the best of my abilities.  Spelling and grammar errors left as they were written.

Dear Clarice,
I remark since your last letter there are many things changed while your patient Jud Westover is died and you have a new job.
Between this time, I leaved Percy Hospital near Paris where I have spent four months, for the Military Hospital of Bourges in the department (district) of Cher.  I am separated of Paris from two hundred kilometers but chiefly I had rather to rest in a special house or at home and I might be glad.  It’s raining since a week that I am arrived and after the people say: the weather will not change afore one or two months.
My illness is not worse, I am spending all day long between rests of two or three hours and small activities such as reading, walking limited by walls of the hospital, inside games and hobneys [?].  I have not any treatment, I like very well this and I feel better.  I do not know how many long I am about to stay here but I wait principally on my boxes a departure in a time so that [this?] possible.
I went in Borgest next Sunday, it is an old town with irregular paving stone streets, the cathedral dating in the Middle Age is in good state what is astonishing with the two international conflicts, you might see it from the card that I like is in the letter.  Borges has a great historic past, it was a royal town with Louis XI’s [crowd?] and Jacques Coeur the famous treasurer.  In spite of this there are more squares and gardens what turn over the aspect of the town.
I hope that your job is liked by you and I wait the pleasure to read you.
Your Sincerely,
Michel

Michel did enclose a postcard of the cathedral which was kept with the letter.  Apparently Clarice told him about Judd Westover, who I believe she cared for after high school and before her career as a nurse.  I remember going through a box of photos with her once and she pointed out the Westovers, and I *think* that photo exists in the collection on my hard drive somewhere.  If I find it, I’ll put together a post and update this post as well.

UPDATE: Information/photos found, and that post will be coming shortly, here – https://www.sheetar.com/2024/02/19/the-westovers/

This one is a real mystery.  I tried to do some searching for this fellow, but the name is apparently common enough that I was coming up with too many results and had too little information to really narrow things down and be sure I had the right person.  I’m basically putting this out on the internet in case someone is searching for their ancestor and finds this post – if this is you, send me an update!

Grandma saved this letter from a man in France in 1950.  She was 19 at the time, so this may have been a high school pen pal or letter exchange program?  There’s not a lot of information here to really know for sure, but he sent her photos of himself and (presumably) his parents.  Let’s start with the envelope.

It’s addressed to Miss Clarice Spicher, and the postmark is from Clamart, Seine, France.  The stamp has been cut out of the front.  On the back, the return address is Mr. Lefebvre Michel, Hopital Percy, Pavilion 10, Clamart, Seine.

The front of the card features a boy playing a violin to little birds with a message, “Meilleurs voeux et Souhaits,” which Google Translate tells me says, “Many wishes and greetings,” in French.

The inside message is dated at Clamart, 18 December 1950.  Here’s a transcription to the best of my ability with the handwriting.  I’ve left in misspellings and errors exactly as written.

Dear Clarice,
In this end of year, I wish you a happy and merry xmas, by the circumstance I show you my wishes of good health and perhaps of happiness, in any case of Peace for 1951.
The dark cloud of the War is rising and everybody in the world wonder if nothing of ugly and redoutable is not going happen?  Against that I am happy that President Harris Truman has taken strong measures so as to renforce Peace.
What are your intentions now?  Is your house ended or nearly?
Presently I am treated by streptomycine and a product called in French P.A.S. para amino salyscilate di sodium and I am better.
Even I shall have the joy in returning at home for New Year, this shall change me of this annoying atmosphere.
I remarked this year in France that big Christmas-trees will be put on the largest places such as Obelisque Opera, in Paris, enactly like in U.S.A.
I do wait impatiently an of your letter.
Your Sincerely,
Michel

The drug he references seems to be a drug used to treat drug-resistant Tuberculosis, so it seems like our soldier was hospitalized and being treated for Tuberculosis when he wrote the letter.

He also sent along three photos.  The first is of him in uniform and what looks like barracks in the background, and the back inscribed with, “To my American friend, 1949.”  The next is a more formal portrait, dated on the back 7 September 1949, and “to my friend Clarice.”  And the last one I would imagine is of Michel and his parents, no date, but, “To my American and to our friendship.”

It’s a really neat capsule of a piece of correspondence and I’d love to know more about Michel if you happen to be connected to him!  I’d imagine he was a young man, probably early 20s at the time this was sent.

UPDATE: It turns out there were more letters from this same man in her collection, so I’ve added those to other posts.  They can be seen at the tag here: https://www.sheetar.com/tag/michel-lefebvre/