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Letters Home From WWI |
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This page part of the Wallowa County AGHP Site
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Letters Home From WWI |
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Lloyd Carpenter
Lloyd Carpenter is in the 63rd Infantry, which
reached Camp Meade, Md. In the middle of August. His address is Co. M. S. 37,
63rd Infantry. In a letter to his sister, Mrs. C.F. McPherson; now living at La
Grande, he wrote:
I will drop you a few lines as we are located again. We
are located but not settled as we only got here yesterday noon and have been
busy since. This morning we were told not to leave quarters till further orders,
not until we get cleaned up and get or bunks, and everyone wants to clean up at
once, so there is no room to turn around in the wash room.
Camp Meade is a divisional camp and they say it covers
27 square miles. Our quarters are much better than those at the Presidio. We are
near Chesapeake Bay, 19 miles south of Baltimore. Some think we won't stay here
only a few weeks, till we will go to France, but I hardly think we will go in
less than two months. The camp is not nearly filled up and lots of those here
are recruits who have not had as much training as we.
We had a great trip but got awful dirty. We went thru
12 different states, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri,
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Much of this
is fine country. I don't like Nevada, it is all desert and I don't like Kansas
as it is all plains. Missouri is too hot. The people there don't look healthy,
but the country looks pretty enough. St. Louis is an awfully dirty town, lots
smokier than Pittsburgh. The important cities we went thru which I remember are
Stockton, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus,
Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
The climate here seems to be a good deal like Oregon in
the summer. Of course I haven't been here long enough to find out much about the
place. Three of our company helped themselves to a furlough in St. Louis and for
or five from other companies did the same some place along the line. There were
about 1200 of us got in there at the same time. We all marched about ten blocks
up to the Y.M.C.A. to take a swim, so it was easy for them to skip out. Those
from our company were men who had been in the service for quite a while.
They say this regiment is going to be split up here.
Uncle Sam is going to have this war finished up by this time next year. I will
see lots more of the world by that time, but a fellow does not learn a great
deal by just going thru a country. In the cities he sees things that he has seen
pictures of before. It did seem strange to be where you could not see any
mountains. It makes you feel that you are in a great big valley and the
mountains are just a little farther than you can see. It seems as if they ought
to be there, only you know they are not.
I saw Iver Simonson before I left the Presidio, also
George Rogers. They are at Camp Fremont. I also saw the Winn boy from Elgin. He
was transferred from Camp Lewis the day before we left Friscoe.
We had lots of fun coming here. We had some hard tack,
made out of biscuit dough in the shape of crackers and they were as hard as
rocks. I would write my compliments on one side and write "soldier's delight" on
the other and hand them to the girls, telling them to take my card. We were
treated fine in most places where we stopped. They gave us postcards, stamps,
candy, cigars and cigarets.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, September 5, 1918
Lodge Hears From Soldiers
The two following letters were received by the Lostine I.O.O.F., No. 155 from brothers with the colors:
Quantico, Va., Brothers - In answer to your letter,
which I received today, I will say that I was surely glad to hear from you. I am
in the best of health and like this branche of service fine. (He is in the
Marines.) I truly believe that it is the best that Uncle Sam has to offer as
there are no _____ or any foreign element in it. I am in the third replacement
battalion and expect soon to be in France so it is impossible to tell whether
you will hear from me soon or not.
The weather has been rather disagreeable as it rains
every day and the ground is like putty. It surely is quite a job even to walk
Taps closes this letter. - Sanford E. Chapman.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, May 16, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sanford E. Chapman
Two letters have been received by Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Chapman of Leap from
their son, Sanford E. Chapman, 20th Company, 5th Regiment, U.S.M.C., in the
overseas forces, who was wounded recently in battle. We wrote, June 28:
Suppose you have seen by the papers that I have been
wounded. It happened the evening of the 25th. I am in a good hospital and am
receiving good medical treatment, and nursing. You need not worry for I am
getting along nicely and have every care and attention. The Y.M.C.A. man who is
writing this (Rev. H.M. Markley of Cofferville, Kansas), comes to see me every
day. I suppose I will be out of the fighting for some time so your mind can rest
easy as I am no longer in danger. Will write when I can sit up.
July 5. - I am getting a Y.MC.A. worker to write this
letter for me because I am not yet able to use my hand. It is getting on well
now. Since I wrote you I have been brought to an American Base hospital where I
am getting fine care and everything going as well as it possibly could. They do
everything possible. Yesterday they brought us a rose apiece and some candy and
cigarettes and played and sang for us, but it was not much like the Fourth at
home. There is not much to say. Just that I am patient as I can be and will
write you again before long.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, August 15, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sanford E. Chapman
Sanford Chapman, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Chapman,
of Leap, wounded in action in France, has been returned to the United States. A
letter just received by his parents followed:
Brooklyn Naval Hospital, No. 1, Brooklyn, N.Y., Sept.
21, 1918 - Dear Folks: - I suppose you will be surprised to hear from me here,
but it is so. I am feeling fine and hope this will find you all the same. I
arrived here the 19th of this month and have just got settled good for now.
We are sure getting good treatment. The people here
treat us like kings and they won't let us buy anything, as they say our money
isn't any good here.
We left France last Friday night, and came across the
pond in six days. When he landed here in the navy yard the sailors on the
battleship Arizona sure gave us the cheers. Had the band out and played all the
time.
My wounds are almost well now, but I wasn't fit for
duty any more in France so I won't have to go back any more. I am going to get
some clothes today and then go for an auto ride.
France is a good country for the Frenchmen but no good
for an American, as it is rough on his clothes.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, October 3, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sanford E. Chapman
Further details have come to Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Chapman of the wounds suffered by their son, Sanford E. Chapman, in France. He is now at Brooklyn navy hospital No. 1, where he is recovering, with every prospect of regaining the use of his arms. Both arms were broken and the first finger of his left hand was lost. Eight wounds were counted on his body. While he was in a hospital overseas, a French girl had to feed him, as he was quite helpless.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, October 17, 1918
Alvin Clayton
Alvin Clayton of Battery D. 65th Artillery, A. E. F.
wrote his mother, Mrs. Ella T. Clayton, June 23, as follows:
Received your letter today. This was the first mail we
had received for about three weeks and we had begun to think the post office
department had gone out of business.
We have a Y.M.C.A. here now, not a building or anything
like that, just a tent with a small canteen in connection where they sell
cigarets, candy, and toilet articles. They have some magazines but you have to
get there early in the evening to get one, on account of the general rush to get
a magazine, Immediately after supper.
Reading material is very scarce here and before the
U.M.C. came there was nothing in camp to read at all except a French edition of
the New York Herald printed in Paris. This little paper, generally two sheets,
is a daily, printed in English, and sells for 15 centimes or about two cents. If
it wasn't for that, we wouldn't know what was going on at all.
We haven't moved yet and are still drilling hard every
day. Friday, we had a hike in heavy marching order - full pack - and after going
about ten miles we came back and climbed a hill, almost straight up. I though I
was pretty hard and in good condition but that last hill showed me and a good
many others up. I got up all right and in good shape but I was just about all
in. My breath was about gone and my legs felt like so much lead.
I was on pass today and I saw a bunch of wounded
soldiers come in. They were mostly French and a few Germans. Also some French
Colonial troops - negroes. There were three Americans among the bunch, Marines,
I think. I was talking to one for awhile and he was sore as could be because he
was wounded and had to leave the front. He said killing Germans was the most fun
in the world.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday July 18, 1918
Robert Colpitts
Robert S. Colpitts is a private in the 6th Company
at Ft. McArthur, San Pedro, Cal. In a letter to his sister Miss Ruth Colpitts at
Grossman, he writes:
I just got back from the big allies' war exhibition at
Los Angeles. We have been over there several days parading and having sham
battles. It was something worth seeing. There were 10,000 soldiers in one
parade, and in one sham battle there were 12,000 soldiers and 15,000 sailors,
and they shot thousands of blank cartridges, so you can imagine what a noise we
made. There were cannons shooting all the time and the air was full of airplanes
dropping bombs all the time, and when they would burst they would throw the dirt
all over us. We are sure some sight now.
There were all sorts of captured stuff such as the
Germans had lost and it is a sight what they have to fight with. But they are
getting the worst of it, just the same.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, August 29, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert S. Colpitts
A letter to his many friends at home is sent to the
Record Chieftain by Robert S. Colpitts, 8th Co., C.A.C., Fort McArthur Barracks,
Lower Reservation, San Pedro, Cal.:
To the many readers of the Record Chieftain, I would
like very well to be able to see and talk with all of you but as I am in the
army now there is no chance, so I will send a few lines to the paper, so you all
will get to read and have an idea of what we soldiers are doing. To begin with,
when we landed at San Pedro, July 14, at 1215 and, like all recruits had our
first shot in the arm, we were a sick bunch, but we walked from the train to the
barracks on the upper reservation, about a mile and a half. That is, part of us
did. Some of the boys were too sick and gave up and the ambulance gathered them
up and brought them in.
When we got there, we were put in the barracks, some in
one company and some in others. I got assigned to the 6th company and went up
there and found that I was with two other Wallowa county boys, McWilliams from
Enterprise and Bud Frazier, from Pendleton, altho he used to be in Wallowa.
Everything went along fine for several days, then came
another shot in the arm, which laid up all up for a day and some for two or
three days. The officers would take us out and give us exercise of a morning
before breakfast, and after those shots in the arm we were so sore and stiff
that we could hardly use our right arms, but after trying awhile we could do
fairly well. We were getting along fine after our second shot and were learning
infantry drill and heavy artillery drill evenings. One day the captain said we
would shoot the cannon the next day. Instead of using the dummy ammunition we
would use the real thing.
So the next morning we were all anxious to get busy. We
went to the 14-inch disappearing rifle, loaded it and by the time we were ready
to fire it, it seemed to me that everybody in Los Angeles and San Pedro was
there to see it. But they could not get near it because the guards keep them at
a safe distance. And when we shot, the most of them nearly fell over. At that
time I was on the elevation detail, but have been changed since to chief of
breach. Well, when we fired the first shot, we boys were about 100 feet from the
gun and it seemed to me as if some one had hit us with a board, almost knocking
us on the ground. But it was only the compression of the air. We were almost
deaf. But we shot seven times that day, and after the first shot everything went
fine.
The trouble the first time was we were all excited and forgot
to stand on our toes with our mouths open and a finger in each ear. But the
second time we sure never forgot what the captain told us. After that we took
drills of all kinds and everything went fine until the war exhibition at Los
Angeles. We went there and did some parading and had some sham battles, which
were interesting to us, but maybe not to you people out there where you never
get to see it, so I won't go into details, because you would get tired of
reading such stuff, or at least I would be, as it is all old stuff to me.
After that exhibit was over, it has been about the same
old thing until I got transferred to the 8th company in the lower reservation,
then in a few days the boys from Oregon, or at least the most of them, were sent
to West Virginia, and I and a few who are still here, expect to go any time. Sam
Stace, Lundy Woods and myself are here from Wallowa county, but we are all in
different companies, so we won't be together long.
We have just got out of quarantine for what they
thought was small pox, but there was only one boy sick, so they have not decided
what it was. Today we went on a 10-mile hike and got back about 1 o'clock. That
is, part of us, some of the boys gave out and never got here until dark.
I guess I have written about enough for this time,
altho I could write such news all night, as there are many things which would be
news to you, but there has been so much of it that it does not seem like news to
me.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
September 19, 1918
Alfred Couch
Camp Lewis, May 4: (to his mother, Mrs. T. R. Akins)
I am still alive but I surely do feel bum. Yesterday we got the second of those
typhoid germs and believe me, it surely put us out for a while. The first was
only play. The arm that was vaccinated is sore as the devil. My throat also is
sore, but it is all to be expected.
They treat you here like a big bunch of school kids;
the officers are not all snappy, all good fellows.
I have been one day on kitchen police already. That is
the only thing that I don't like so far. They scrub the floors after each meal,
also scrub the tables. Talk about being clean, I never saw the like in my life.
Everyone has to take a turn at kitchen police. It is all the same as flunkey
only a whole lot worse. I scrubbed an Ice box three times before they said it
was clean.
Well, I have been issued my gun today and have been
busy all day cleaning it. And to cap the climax, they put us in quarantine, but
that will soon be lifted, I think, so we can go about more. We have to stay in
the barracks except for drill. The way they start training you is fine: just
simple little exercises such as we had in school: then Mark Time, March. Then
sounds right and squads left: a squad is eight men. It will be fine when we get
over all this recruit stuff, such as the shots in the arm - we have one more to
take next Friday. About three out of ten faint away, simply scared to death. It
hurts no more while they are giving it to you than if you stuck a needle half
way in your arm.
I have seen none of the other boys I know, for you
cannot get away. We work or drill an hour and then the officer in charge gives
us a talk on different subjects. I don't think I will be here more than a month
or so. We have had an all day rain and that makes things worse. If you could
step into this barracks now you would think you were in a hospital, but by
tomorrow noon they will be all right again. You don't have to do a thing for 48
hours after you get the shot. I am feeling fine except for my arms.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, May 16, 1918
Douglas Cox
S.D. Cox received a letter the first of this week
from his son, H. Douglas Cox, setting at rest fears which had arisen from his
failure to hear from him since the middle of February. It seems that "Doug" had
gone overseas shortly after writing in the late winter, and mails to and from
him had been interrupted ever since. He has been getting along very well, as is
shown from the following letter:
Somewhere in France, August 15, 1918. My Dear Daddy:-
You might think I am dead. Have been as far as writing letters is concerned.
Received three of yours, besides the package from sister and Chet. Am having the
best of health, not being sick more than one day and that was on the boat. A
good many of the boys fed the fishes on that trip. I never had a better ride in
my life, but one more will be a plenty.
Old man, when you tell me everything is running all
right, what more could I wish for, then I have nothing to worry about, but what
ever happens, I'd like to know anyway. I get a little more money now (not
bragging). I never received my questionnaire, which don't matter now. Have taken
two days off, tho I have rights to more, you know, but I was never much for
running around.
This climate is as near like home as any we have been
in and France, what I have seen of it, looks much like Alder Slope: it's trees,
vineyards and gardens like Uncle Jimmie Mitchell's at Joseph. The people have
nothing more than the smallest type of burro to farm their land with, and for
travel they hook them single to carts with wheels higher than your head, a comic
combination. I'm not knocking at al, but everything else, no matter what it is,
seems likewise. Have hopes that there may be a chance to see South America if we
are not here too long. Otherwise, it's straight home for me. No place like home
anyway.
If you speak French you are in luck here, but they
treat you fine all the same. Wine is the most of their living and soldiers can
have it just so they watch their step. It don't bother me much. Have been to
town since starting this letter so will try to describe the city. Buildings most
all alike and very substantial, being made of brick, rock and concrete, and much
of the streets are laid with rock, along which are stone walls and lots of
hedges, vines, roses, etc. Reminds one of that old Virginia calendar.
As to the business part of the towns about every other
place is a wine joint, only run in an orderly manner. Don't have any idea how
long we are going to be here any more than you do, and will say, I have enjoyed
being here so far; but just the same, I've seen a plenty, any time they call it
off.
Want you to send my any lists and papers and postals of
Wallowa lake, E. O. Mill and schoolhouse, etc. I want to show them to the boys
I'm working with. Some are from Montana, Idaho, Washington and California. You
see we feel almost at home when we get to talking about home and photos do a lot
of good. One boy from Idaho knows some people that I do. Outside of him I have
run on to no one from home. But have just heard one of Lou Eaton's boys from
Newton, Iowa, is in this camp.
How are the crops? Tell P.O. Shirley I would like fine
to sew sacks for him. Would like to know if the town still booms or not. Just
the same. I notice old Wallowa, Oregon, is always first over the top with
Liberty bonds. Time never went so fast before as it does here. Thank Chet and
Sis for me and I promise to write them soon and am ashamed for not doing so
sooner. Have a little more patience about this letter writing because it's hard
to write, but will do better after this. You see I am working seven days a week,
not so hard, but long hours and something is always butting in when I take a
notion to write. This time I got to this line and your letter of July 17 came.
It does no good to worry. Just make the best of it. This is a great life if you
don't weaken. Takes about a month for letter to reach me so write soon. H.
Douglas Cox, 481 Areo Squadron.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
September 12, 1918
Vesta V. Crane
Vesta M. Crane, a Troy boy with the colors, writes
the following to his mother, Mrs. Vena Crane, of Troy, telling of his safe
landing in France:
I will drop you a few lines to let you know that my
journey across the ocean was made safely, and that I am well and I like it fine
here. It sure is a pretty country and everything is much different here than
there. I don't think I will be in place long. You know I can't tell where I am
now or where I will go. But you know where I started for. I have been traveling
most of the time since I left Camp Lewis, Wash., day and night , most of the
time. We had sleepers on the train and on ship.
I saw a bunch of German prisoners the other day. The
whole bunch was ragged and dirty, pretty near all of them wounded. They showed
that Germany was suffering, and she is going to suffer death or come to terms
before we come back.
Pvt. Vesta V. Crane, Co. G. 158 Inft. A.E.F., via New
York.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, October 10, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~
Vesta Crane
Vesta V. Crane, an American doughboy in Co. G., 158
Inf. A.E.F, writes to his mother, Mrs. Vana Crane, Troy:
I have settled down here in Camp for a while, I guess
and am at the end of my journey until I get some more training. I don't know
when we will go to the trenches, not soon, however, I think. O can hear the
cannon roar once in a while most every day, I see many airplanes, too.
Well, this is a beautiful country and I like it very
well, It is much different tho, than I expected it to be, that is the people and
their ways of doing things, which are very different from our own, and they are
about as slow as the ___. They were wooden shoes. But they are surely good
people. They are all about as poor as you and I were when we first started out.
They have been driven from the front and all they had was the clothes on their
backs, and most of them have lost their loved ones in the battle line. They seem
to have plenty to eat.
We Americans feel very much at home here as they are
such friendly people. They surely welcome us with all their hearts, and they
would do anything for an American soldier.
Well, I sure got my fill of traveling before I got
here. I went from San Diego, Cal., to the Atlantic by rail and then across the
ocean to France.
I haven't had a sick day since I've been in the army.
I've felt fine all the time. I didn't get a bit seasick crossing the ocean,
which is quite a sight for one who never has been on it. You can't see anything
but water for days and days. It's quite a sensation to be on a big ship. Talk
about a sleeping car being nice, you ought to step on board an ocean steamer.
Then you could see something nice.
I can't help it if you do worry about me, but I have to do as
Uncle Sam says and I like the army all right and best of all I am not here
alone. There are many boys in my company that I know. They are from Flora,
Wallowa, and Enterprise. We have staid together all the way and expect to, to
the end.
Enterprise Record Chieftain
Thursday, October 31, 1918
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