I saw Rick B. this morning with a load of stocks

[Rick B]

Wished I had more time to spend with you Bob. I always enjoy our time. An Article would be easy Bob and Edward Tinker is putting a bunch in a book on Trench art and part of the story. I have a few hundred with Trench Art markings now and to think someone figured it was the end and they knew they would be in trouble back then for destroying Government property but didn't care. I see them laying in a trench, thinking they were not going to make it, but carving a wife or kids name gave them hope at that moment worth more than time in the brig. These mean allot to me and preserving them now is more important than the non carved stocks. I ended up with about 3,000 usable stocks and the same in broken. I have all of these to go through in front of my barn and put some of the early rare No traps back ends I have found back with the fronts end. They tossed all parts in these lots when sold by the Arsenal so I know they are in the pile. Rick B