TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MENA WEEKLY STAR DECEMBER 19, 1918 P. 5
On active service" in France
November 16
Just a few lines to let you know I am still in the army and hope to be back in Mena soon. The big job is about ended and believe me the American boys are celebrating, and it looks as if the song that was so popular will have to be changed to 'Goodbye, France; Hello Broadway.' We have paid the debt we owed. I have got some good experience while over here and have seen lots of sights, and I am glad that I was one of the boys at Camp Pike to hold up my hand when a Captain asked for men to volunteer for quick service in France, and you are safe in saying that Peter Bain was the first drafted man from Polk county to reach this country. But I am afraid I won't be the first to return as there is lots of work to be done by the engineers yet. I can't tell you of going over the top, but the boys that have been over can tell you of the places the engineers fixed for the start, so it is all in the game, and it is a great game.
Sergeant Peter A. Bain
Co. D. 508th Engineers, A.E,F, France.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Peter Alexander Bain. He was born on October 12, 1891 in Hot Springs, Arkansas and died on September 16, 1957. He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Heavener, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Sgt. SVC Bn. Eng. Corp. during World War I. He departed Hoboken, NJ on January 23, 1918 onboard Ship 38. He was serving in as a Sgt. in Co. D 508 Engineer Service Battalion. He departed France on May 24, 1919 onboard the General Goethals. He was serving as a Sgt. in Co. D 508 Engineers. The 508 was an African American unit.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
On active service" in France
November 16
Just a few lines to let you know I am still in the army and hope to be back in Mena soon. The big job is about ended and believe me the American boys are celebrating, and it looks as if the song that was so popular will have to be changed to 'Goodbye, France; Hello Broadway.' We have paid the debt we owed. I have got some good experience while over here and have seen lots of sights, and I am glad that I was one of the boys at Camp Pike to hold up my hand when a Captain asked for men to volunteer for quick service in France, and you are safe in saying that Peter Bain was the first drafted man from Polk county to reach this country. But I am afraid I won't be the first to return as there is lots of work to be done by the engineers yet. I can't tell you of going over the top, but the boys that have been over can tell you of the places the engineers fixed for the start, so it is all in the game, and it is a great game.
Sergeant Peter A. Bain
Co. D. 508th Engineers, A.E,F, France.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Peter Alexander Bain. He was born on October 12, 1891 in Hot Springs, Arkansas and died on September 16, 1957. He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Heavener, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Sgt. SVC Bn. Eng. Corp. during World War I. He departed Hoboken, NJ on January 23, 1918 onboard Ship 38. He was serving in as a Sgt. in Co. D 508 Engineer Service Battalion. He departed France on May 24, 1919 onboard the General Goethals. He was serving as a Sgt. in Co. D 508 Engineers. The 508 was an African American unit.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD