Letters written by Clyde Vern Cory to his wife, Molly, and his family while he was serving in World War I, November 21,1917- April 21, 1919. The letters reveal that he did not face combat, but was part of a military band that played often for newly recruited soldiers and nurses in hospitals and town squares. However, it is not clear what instrument Clyde played. Clyde spent the majority of his time enlisted training in Camp Custer, Battle Creek, MI, and Camp Mills, Long Island, NY. He served mostly in France in the areas of Mont-le-Vignoble, Domfront, and Cosne (Cours-sur-Loire).

Clyde wrote to Molly almost daily while he was serving. In each letter he discusses the weather, his location, movement, and schedule (which were sometimes censored), food he has eaten, which was usually good and well supplied. He also discusses his daily activities, mostly rehearsals and concerts, letters he has received from Molly and other members of the family. A handful of letters include sketches of soldiers, buildings, fields, and his habitat (tent, barracks, bunk, etc). Clyde also discusses several quarantines he is placed in, including nurses dying from pneumonia, soldiers with mumps, lice (cooties), and Spanish influenza, presumably. He also discusses differences he notices between Americans and the French, including their habits, their buildings, and agricultural techniques.

Clyde also consistently writes about his love and loyalty to his wife. He affectionately calls her Molly, Sweetheart, Dearest little wife, or Chubby. He promises his fidelity, despite attractive and nice French girls around him and his comrades. He does worry about her straying, but insists that he does not blame her for it. He is thankful to have her waiting for him, cannot wait to return to her, reminisces over good memories, hopes for the future, and sends lots of hugs and kisses in every letter.