TRANSCRIBED FROM THE WHITE RIVER JOURNAL DECEMBER 12, 1918 P. 4
Oct. 26, 1918.
Mrs. Bessis Boatman, My Dear Wife:
While at resting camp I will write to you again. How are you by now? All O.K. is the wish from your husband. This leaves me well at present.
Wife, I have been over the top, and the Lord saw fit to let me come out unhurt. Thank God! Don’t you worry about me. I’m quite a different boy all together since leaving the dear old U.S.
Don’t think it will take us much longer to whip these Dutch. Then I can come home to stay with my precious wife in a free country. How is the crops this time? I hear they are all burned up. I hope it is a mistake.
I sure do wish I was there to help gather the crops. But I am doing my bit over here; are trying it any way. How is the rest of the folks? Tell them hello and to write. Yes wife, you can send me a box. Send whatever you wish. Can’t be any larger than 9 inches long, 4 in. wide and 3 in. deep. The weight must not be over 3 lbs. Here is a Xmas coupon you be sure and paste it on the box you send so I can be sure to get it.
Say, what is Old Ella doing? Tell her I am going to bring her a France fellow when I come home. Say wife, tell Nora Lee her WYATT sweetheart is anxious to hear from her. Well as news is scarce I will close.
Ans real soon for I am anxious to hear from you. By by, be good until we meet again.
From your Husband,
James Riley Boatman
Some where in Sunny France.
NOTES: James Riley Boatman was born on June 30, 1895 in Des Arc, Arkansas and died on December 14, 1933. He is buried in the McBee Cemetery in Des Arc. He headstone application shows he served as a Pvt. in Co. G, 355th Infantry. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 22, 1918 onboard the Rijndam. He was listed as a Pvt. in Co. I, 155th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on May 15, 1919 onboard the Leviathan. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on May 22, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Co. G, 355th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Oct. 26, 1918.
Mrs. Bessis Boatman, My Dear Wife:
While at resting camp I will write to you again. How are you by now? All O.K. is the wish from your husband. This leaves me well at present.
Wife, I have been over the top, and the Lord saw fit to let me come out unhurt. Thank God! Don’t you worry about me. I’m quite a different boy all together since leaving the dear old U.S.
Don’t think it will take us much longer to whip these Dutch. Then I can come home to stay with my precious wife in a free country. How is the crops this time? I hear they are all burned up. I hope it is a mistake.
I sure do wish I was there to help gather the crops. But I am doing my bit over here; are trying it any way. How is the rest of the folks? Tell them hello and to write. Yes wife, you can send me a box. Send whatever you wish. Can’t be any larger than 9 inches long, 4 in. wide and 3 in. deep. The weight must not be over 3 lbs. Here is a Xmas coupon you be sure and paste it on the box you send so I can be sure to get it.
Say, what is Old Ella doing? Tell her I am going to bring her a France fellow when I come home. Say wife, tell Nora Lee her WYATT sweetheart is anxious to hear from her. Well as news is scarce I will close.
Ans real soon for I am anxious to hear from you. By by, be good until we meet again.
From your Husband,
James Riley Boatman
Some where in Sunny France.
NOTES: James Riley Boatman was born on June 30, 1895 in Des Arc, Arkansas and died on December 14, 1933. He is buried in the McBee Cemetery in Des Arc. He headstone application shows he served as a Pvt. in Co. G, 355th Infantry. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 22, 1918 onboard the Rijndam. He was listed as a Pvt. in Co. I, 155th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on May 15, 1919 onboard the Leviathan. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on May 22, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Co. G, 355th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD