TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE SEPTEMBER 27, 1918 P. 2
Sept. 15, 1918, Camp Mills, N. Y.
Well, as I have moved again I will try to write to the Bee and let you all know where I am. I am going to look for a long letter from friends in a few days, for I haven’t got time to write you all personally. Don’t wait for me to write to you, but write me at once, for we won’t be here but a short time. We are going to see Mr. Bill Kaiser and see how long he can last in the Cyclone Division. That is our new name. Well, this leaves me all O. K., except I’ve got a bad cold, but couldn’t expect anything else, for we were on the road 48 hours coming over here, and say it was some trip, too, believe me. We sure did see some pretty towns, and some of the country, too. Thank God that we have got such a pretty world to fight for. It would never do to let the Kaiser land on this side.
I can’t attempt to tell you what the Red Cross is doing for the Yank. They would meet the train in most every town with some candy, fruit and cigarettes, matches and cigars and postcards, and we would get off in several places to take exercise, and they would serve coffee and cake. May God bless them and give us more of such girls in our great world war, for that’s what it is going to take to win the war. We are going to win it for I feel that God is with us each and every day. So come on boys, it won’t take us long.
Washington, Philadelphia and New Jersey and New York are some cities. But it will take up much space to ask for in the dear, old De Queen Bee to mention all of the names of the towns.
Well, a word to my dear folks at home. I claim to be a soldier and a first-class one, too, and the Dutchman that gets me will have to be some quick, for I am going across to come back. When we lick the Kaiser and I don’t think that will be very long off, for it’s just like I said before when I wrote to the Bee, when the Division got across, it’s good bye Germany. It is like this, “We’re coming over, we’re coming over and we won’t come back till it’s over over there.” So pray for us till we come marching back home. And don’t worry about me, for I am alright. God is with me, day and night; and he has said this in His good book; That he would be with me six days and he would not forsake us on the seventh.
I have to close for this time. We are on Long Island, just across from New York.
We had plenty of frost here last night and we came out of bed and dressed and got our overcoats and put them on. So you can guess how warm it will be here when winter comes. I remain as ever, your for a better U. S. A., Sammy on duty at Camp Mills, New York.
Arthur Lee Bourns,
Co. E., 149th Inf.
Camp Mills, New York.
NOTES: Bourns was born on August 18, 1893 and died on July 6, 1957. He is buried in the Lone Grove Cemetery at Lone Grove, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Pvt. In Company E of the 149th Infantry. The stone also lists him as an Oklahoma soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACOB GREEN
Sept. 15, 1918, Camp Mills, N. Y.
Well, as I have moved again I will try to write to the Bee and let you all know where I am. I am going to look for a long letter from friends in a few days, for I haven’t got time to write you all personally. Don’t wait for me to write to you, but write me at once, for we won’t be here but a short time. We are going to see Mr. Bill Kaiser and see how long he can last in the Cyclone Division. That is our new name. Well, this leaves me all O. K., except I’ve got a bad cold, but couldn’t expect anything else, for we were on the road 48 hours coming over here, and say it was some trip, too, believe me. We sure did see some pretty towns, and some of the country, too. Thank God that we have got such a pretty world to fight for. It would never do to let the Kaiser land on this side.
I can’t attempt to tell you what the Red Cross is doing for the Yank. They would meet the train in most every town with some candy, fruit and cigarettes, matches and cigars and postcards, and we would get off in several places to take exercise, and they would serve coffee and cake. May God bless them and give us more of such girls in our great world war, for that’s what it is going to take to win the war. We are going to win it for I feel that God is with us each and every day. So come on boys, it won’t take us long.
Washington, Philadelphia and New Jersey and New York are some cities. But it will take up much space to ask for in the dear, old De Queen Bee to mention all of the names of the towns.
Well, a word to my dear folks at home. I claim to be a soldier and a first-class one, too, and the Dutchman that gets me will have to be some quick, for I am going across to come back. When we lick the Kaiser and I don’t think that will be very long off, for it’s just like I said before when I wrote to the Bee, when the Division got across, it’s good bye Germany. It is like this, “We’re coming over, we’re coming over and we won’t come back till it’s over over there.” So pray for us till we come marching back home. And don’t worry about me, for I am alright. God is with me, day and night; and he has said this in His good book; That he would be with me six days and he would not forsake us on the seventh.
I have to close for this time. We are on Long Island, just across from New York.
We had plenty of frost here last night and we came out of bed and dressed and got our overcoats and put them on. So you can guess how warm it will be here when winter comes. I remain as ever, your for a better U. S. A., Sammy on duty at Camp Mills, New York.
Arthur Lee Bourns,
Co. E., 149th Inf.
Camp Mills, New York.
NOTES: Bourns was born on August 18, 1893 and died on July 6, 1957. He is buried in the Lone Grove Cemetery at Lone Grove, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Pvt. In Company E of the 149th Infantry. The stone also lists him as an Oklahoma soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACOB GREEN