This is the final post.

 

Theo was discharged from the Army on May 30, 1919, Memorial Day.  Above is a copy of his discharge. In April 1920 he married Ethel Friis.  They had five children.  He went to work for the Chicago Surface Lines as a streetcar motorman.  (The Chicago Surface Lines was the predecessor of the Chicago Transit Authority.)  His main route was the Clark-Wentworth line that stretched from Chicago’s northern border to its southern border. 

 

Theo died on December 26, 1940.  He is buried in Montrose Cemetery on Chicago’s northwest side.  His grave is marked with a Government Issue tombstone inscribed:

 

THEODORE F. THOURSON

ILLINOIS

PVT. 1 CL. 132 INF. 33 DIV.

DECEMBER 26, 1940

 

Note:  The letter of 5/21/1919 was the last before returning home.  The Chicago based members of the 33rd Division were camped at Grant Park where relatives and friends could greet them.  This photo was taken at that time.  Not in the background the Santa Fe building (with the circular windows) and the Art Insistute.  

Camp Mills L.I. May 21 – 19

 

Dear Anna:

 

            I received your letters of May 15^th and 19^th and Mabel’s letter of May 18^th and was glad to hear that you are all well.

 

            I called up Cousin Emma yesterday afternoon and she and her cousin came to camp in an auto and I met them at the Hostess House.  We had a long talk and I am going to try to see her again.  They are not giving us any more passes and we are not allowed to leave our quarters without permission as we may get orders to leave any moment.  All those who are not going to Camp Grant are leaving today.  They are the men who filled up the company when so many were in the hospital.  Most of them are from the South.

 

            The weather has been fine here although we had some rain today.  Well this is all the news I know of this time.

 

                                                            Love to all

                                                                        Theo

 

 

 

(Received May 24, 1919)

Camp Mills May 20 – 1919

 

Dear Mabel:

 

            I went to New York yesterday and went out to see our cousins but they have gone to the country.  A short time after I left the company barracks a friend of theirs who is stationed at this camp [came] to see me and tell me where they were.  He left a note telling me where they were.  He also said he would be around to today and see me.  I just now met him and he tells me that Cousin Emma is at a town called Jericho, L.I. about twenty five miles from here.  It is to[o] bad she is not at the same place she was last year as it is only about a half hours walk from here.  Cousin Matilda is at Great Barrington, Mass. and she said she would pay my fare both ways if I would come to see her.  It takes about five hours to reach the place.  I am afraid I will not be able to get there as we are liable to leave any day.

 

            I was lucky to get my pass to New York yesterday as orders came today not to issue any more passes as we are likely to move out at any time.

 

            I received two tickets for the reception they are going to have at the Coloseum [sp] when we return.  We were told to send them home to whoever we wished to have them.  If you belong to the Auxilliary Ass’n. you will not need a ticket so you can give them to somebody else in that case.

 

            I do not know how true it is but there is a rumor floating around here that we may parade in Chicago next Saturday.  I hope it is true.

 

            I received a letter from Eva today that she wrote when we were on the Mt. Vernon.

 

            Well this is all for this time and I hope I will see you soon after this letter reaches you.

 

                                                            Love to all

                                                                        Theo

On Board Mt. Vernon

May 16, 1919

 

Dear Anna:

 

            We expect to land tomorrow morning at Hoboken.  We do not know which camp we are going to.  Received your letters of Mar. 29^th, Apr. 1^st, Apr. 8^th, and Mabel’s letter of Apr. 7^th while we were in Brest.  I did not write from there as we expected to leave almost any day and I thought I would arrive in the US almost as soon as the letter.

 

            The water was pretty rough for a couple of days and a good many of the fellows were seasick.  I did not get sick at all.  We had bunks on the deck so we had a lot of fresh air at least.  The fellows who had there [sp] bunks inside were the ones who were sickest.

 

            I hope I will be able to see our cousins when I am near New York.  I received a letter from Sweden from cousin Sigrid.  I think she is going to stay there as long as her father lives as it is pretty lonely for him there. In also received an Easter card from Mrs. Rice of Charleston, Miss. 

 

            I think you will see [us] up in Chicago inside of two weeks from now.  We passed a couple of boats that had left a couple of days before us with some of the 32^nd division on board.  I did not know what company Elmer Anderson belonged to or I might have looked him up in Brest as they were there when we arrived.

 

            You will have to excuse the writing as I am sitting in upper bunk writing on my mess kit cover which does not make a very good writing desk.

 

            I will tell you all about the trip when I see you.

 

                                                            Best love to all

                                                                        Theo

 

Syren, Luxemburg

Apr. 18,1919

 

Dear Anna:

 

            Received six letters from you and Mabel a few days ago.  We are busy getting ready to leave here.  We expect to leave not later than Wed. the 23^rd.  I received a letter from John Dahl from Camp Upton.  I suppose he will be mustered out in a few days.  I also received a picture of Enoch.  I suppose he has sent some to his friends in Chicago so you will get to see it.

 

I am glad to hear you received money as I was wondering if it got to you safe and sound.

 

We do not have any chance of spending any money here so I have nearly $100 more and we signed the payroll last night so I expect we will receive our April pay when we get on the boat.

 

I am glad to hear Ma has so much company so it is not so lonesome for her.

 

We expect to go on board about May 1^st.  I suppose we will get home just about in time for the Decoration Day parade.

 

We have had rain the last week or so but the weather is fine today.  I only hope it stays this way until we get on the boat.

 

Well this is all the news for this time.

 

                                                Love to all

                                                            Theo           

 

 

(Received 5/12/19)

Syren, Luxemburg

Apr. 11, 1919

 

Dear Mother,

 

            Just a few lines to let you know that I am well.  I have not received any mail in eight days.  I understand that our mail is being held at Brest, as we will soon be there to board the transport for home.  We expect to leave here any day now.

 

            We are having real spring weather right [now] and I hope it keeps up as it will make the travelling a good deal better.  We were paid yesterday and I expect it is the last one over here.

 

            I hope I have more time to write next time and I hope it is from some other place.

 

            Hope you are all well at home.

 

                                                                        Love to all,

                                                                                    Theo