TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JONESBORO DAILY TRIBUNE APRIL 27, 1918 p 1
Somewhere in France,
April 5th, 1918,
Mr. Harry Williams,
Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Dear Sir:
I suppose by this time you have received numerous letters from different Jonesboro boys at the front.
Owing to strict censorship I am unable to write you many things that would be of great interest to you and our readers. Some time after my arrival here I had a slight attack of lagrippe and was sent to the base hospital where I received excellent treatment. On my return back here I found Jake had been sent to (CENSORED). Cundiff is still here with me and we work side by side. Every day we hope we will be able to stick together all through the war.
Navy life is quite different from civil life. At 5 a.m. (your time 4 a.m.) revelle blows, at 6 a.m. we fall in for “chow” (breakfast,) at 6:45 a.m. we fall in for muster at 7 a.m. we start to work, 12 p.m. we have our noon “chow” promptly 6 p.m. we have our evening “mess” (supper), and taps at 9:30 p.m., so one can see that our time is neither wasted nor spent doing nothing and at the same time our hours are very regular. We are able to do many things in this navy life that would seem practically impossible on the out side. Just a few words about France proper. Of course it is quite different from America and especially our part of the world. The surrounding country is more developed than ours. Every acre is in cultivation and every two or three miles one will find a small village. The roads are wonderful and in fine shape considering the war condition. The Chateaus (homes of landlords) are wonderful works of art. Many such places have been turned over to the Red Cross for hospitals.
The French people are becoming more Americanized every day. For example—a bottle of wine that used to cost six cents we pay thirty cents for it now and so it is with everything but this is due to the extravagance of the soldiers and sailors themselves. I hope to have many exciting things to relate on my return back home. Would like very much to write of many experiences I have already had but it would be useless for it would not pass the censor.
I hope that this will find each and every one of my friends just as well and happy as I am.
With best wishes for you and yours, I am,
Yours truly,
HENRY BERRY.
P. S. –Cundiff and I would appreciate very much if some of the good people of Jonesboro would send us the Commercial Appeal and the Tribune after they have finished it. (Note.—We have placed the boys on our mailing list and the Tribune will be sent each day.)
NOTES: Henry Berry was writing to the editor of the Jonesboro Tribune. He was born April 17, 1889. He married Sybil Sarah Hickey, December 10, 1910. When he joined the navy, he was medium height and medium build. He had brown eyes and black hair. He died August 15, 1968, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Jonesboro, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a MM1, US Navy.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Somewhere in France,
April 5th, 1918,
Mr. Harry Williams,
Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Dear Sir:
I suppose by this time you have received numerous letters from different Jonesboro boys at the front.
Owing to strict censorship I am unable to write you many things that would be of great interest to you and our readers. Some time after my arrival here I had a slight attack of lagrippe and was sent to the base hospital where I received excellent treatment. On my return back here I found Jake had been sent to (CENSORED). Cundiff is still here with me and we work side by side. Every day we hope we will be able to stick together all through the war.
Navy life is quite different from civil life. At 5 a.m. (your time 4 a.m.) revelle blows, at 6 a.m. we fall in for “chow” (breakfast,) at 6:45 a.m. we fall in for muster at 7 a.m. we start to work, 12 p.m. we have our noon “chow” promptly 6 p.m. we have our evening “mess” (supper), and taps at 9:30 p.m., so one can see that our time is neither wasted nor spent doing nothing and at the same time our hours are very regular. We are able to do many things in this navy life that would seem practically impossible on the out side. Just a few words about France proper. Of course it is quite different from America and especially our part of the world. The surrounding country is more developed than ours. Every acre is in cultivation and every two or three miles one will find a small village. The roads are wonderful and in fine shape considering the war condition. The Chateaus (homes of landlords) are wonderful works of art. Many such places have been turned over to the Red Cross for hospitals.
The French people are becoming more Americanized every day. For example—a bottle of wine that used to cost six cents we pay thirty cents for it now and so it is with everything but this is due to the extravagance of the soldiers and sailors themselves. I hope to have many exciting things to relate on my return back home. Would like very much to write of many experiences I have already had but it would be useless for it would not pass the censor.
I hope that this will find each and every one of my friends just as well and happy as I am.
With best wishes for you and yours, I am,
Yours truly,
HENRY BERRY.
P. S. –Cundiff and I would appreciate very much if some of the good people of Jonesboro would send us the Commercial Appeal and the Tribune after they have finished it. (Note.—We have placed the boys on our mailing list and the Tribune will be sent each day.)
NOTES: Henry Berry was writing to the editor of the Jonesboro Tribune. He was born April 17, 1889. He married Sybil Sarah Hickey, December 10, 1910. When he joined the navy, he was medium height and medium build. He had brown eyes and black hair. He died August 15, 1968, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Jonesboro, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a MM1, US Navy.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT