TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MODERN NEWS SEPTEMBER 13, 1918 P. 7
We arrived this afternoon at 2:30, but are still abroad the ship; are due to unload at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. Will be busy all night unloading the cargo. I never had any idea one of these boats would carry so much stuff, and besides all this frieght we had nearley 5,000 men. The ship we sailed on is now the U. S. S. Huron, but used to be the Kaiser’s pleasure boat, the Fredericke der Gross. Is some big joint. I haven’t been ashore yet, but from where we are this is the prettiest place I have ever seen. The city is hill and terraced, the buildings are all of white stone and are quaint and antique. I for one am glad I made this trip. We had a fine trip across the sea. Our fifth day out from the states a storm came up and lasted two days and nights. This old boat rocked until it seemed to me it would surely turn over, but the sailors all said it wasn’t rocking bad at all. We had no trouble with the Subs: impossible for them to get to us, being guarded all the way across by battleships, chasers, and everything else. There is no danger at all in crossing the pond. More danger in the trip from Beaureguard to the port than from the port here. We also had a wonderful time on that trip and saw many interesting things. I am sitting in such a cramped position I will have to quit, can’t tell everything at one time anyhow. Don’t think we will we will have to be over here so awfully long and the people here at this part don’t think so either.
NOTES: This letter was written on August 18, 1918. Russell Ray Bettis was born at Harrisburg, Arkansas on June 26, 1894 and died on December 4, 1965. He is buried in the Goodman Cemetery in Goodman, Mississippi. His military headstone identifies him as a Mech. in Co. A. 109th Infantry. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bettis. He departed for France on August 6, 1918 from Newport News, Virginia. He was listed as a mechanic serving in Co. G. 153rd Infantry, 39th Division. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on board the Maui on April 21, 1919 and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 8. 1919. He was listed as serving in Co. E. 109th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
We arrived this afternoon at 2:30, but are still abroad the ship; are due to unload at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. Will be busy all night unloading the cargo. I never had any idea one of these boats would carry so much stuff, and besides all this frieght we had nearley 5,000 men. The ship we sailed on is now the U. S. S. Huron, but used to be the Kaiser’s pleasure boat, the Fredericke der Gross. Is some big joint. I haven’t been ashore yet, but from where we are this is the prettiest place I have ever seen. The city is hill and terraced, the buildings are all of white stone and are quaint and antique. I for one am glad I made this trip. We had a fine trip across the sea. Our fifth day out from the states a storm came up and lasted two days and nights. This old boat rocked until it seemed to me it would surely turn over, but the sailors all said it wasn’t rocking bad at all. We had no trouble with the Subs: impossible for them to get to us, being guarded all the way across by battleships, chasers, and everything else. There is no danger at all in crossing the pond. More danger in the trip from Beaureguard to the port than from the port here. We also had a wonderful time on that trip and saw many interesting things. I am sitting in such a cramped position I will have to quit, can’t tell everything at one time anyhow. Don’t think we will we will have to be over here so awfully long and the people here at this part don’t think so either.
NOTES: This letter was written on August 18, 1918. Russell Ray Bettis was born at Harrisburg, Arkansas on June 26, 1894 and died on December 4, 1965. He is buried in the Goodman Cemetery in Goodman, Mississippi. His military headstone identifies him as a Mech. in Co. A. 109th Infantry. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bettis. He departed for France on August 6, 1918 from Newport News, Virginia. He was listed as a mechanic serving in Co. G. 153rd Infantry, 39th Division. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on board the Maui on April 21, 1919 and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 8. 1919. He was listed as serving in Co. E. 109th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS