TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD JANUARY 10, 1919 P. 2
France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Mrs. Julia Baily,
Ravenden Springs, Ark.,
Dear Sis:
I will write you a letter this Thanksgiving day and I know you would be thankful to hear from me on this day. I am thankful that God has taken care of me in the great war. Well sis, I am fine as can be and am well of my wound. It did not leave but a small scar, which will be a good souvenir, wont it? Oh, well I only lost twelve days of battle on the last. I went on the front in July and never got out until I was hurt, but I sure hated to leave the boys when I did. I have tried to get back to the lines, but they have not let me get back yet. I have not been with my company in four weeks and have not had any mail. I may not get back to my company any more, as some are being sent home now. I will have to come back with my Division. My Division has been recommended to General Pershing for a medal for hard fighting and bravery.
Well Sis, I am in the city of Paris now. Not many of the boys have the privilege of staying in Paris. It is some town, too.
Well, I am wondering when the boat starts that takes me to my home. You know I would like to get home again. I think I will stay at home when I get back and help papa on the farm. I have been rambling for over three years now, and I think there is no place any better than my old home on the farm.
I guess you wonder why I dont tell you of the country and the war. Well I am going to save that and tell you when I get home. I have seen several boys that did not get to the front and they ought to be proud they did not go, for we were not there knitting socks, or anything like that. I don’t know whether the censor will care for me telling you how many times I went over the top or not. I have been over six times and have made as many as seven miles on one time. I was wounded on the battle front, that is read of all over the world. I don’t know whether you follow up the papers or not, but it was the one that we had real fighting on, hand to hand sometimes.
How is Millard? Fine, I hope. Tell him his uncle Oscar will be back before long to see him. Tell him hello!
Will close for this time. From your loving brother,
Bugler Oscar Bowen.
358 Inf. Co. L. A. E. F.
NOTES: Oscar G. Bowen was born on October 26, 1893 in Ravenden Springs, Arkansas and died on April 13, 1971. He is buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Cushing, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Corp serving in Co. L, 358 Infantry in World War I. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on May 28, 1919 onboard the Edgar F. Lukenbach. He arrived in Boston, Mass. On June 8, 1919. He was listed as a Corp. in Company L, 358th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Mrs. Julia Baily,
Ravenden Springs, Ark.,
Dear Sis:
I will write you a letter this Thanksgiving day and I know you would be thankful to hear from me on this day. I am thankful that God has taken care of me in the great war. Well sis, I am fine as can be and am well of my wound. It did not leave but a small scar, which will be a good souvenir, wont it? Oh, well I only lost twelve days of battle on the last. I went on the front in July and never got out until I was hurt, but I sure hated to leave the boys when I did. I have tried to get back to the lines, but they have not let me get back yet. I have not been with my company in four weeks and have not had any mail. I may not get back to my company any more, as some are being sent home now. I will have to come back with my Division. My Division has been recommended to General Pershing for a medal for hard fighting and bravery.
Well Sis, I am in the city of Paris now. Not many of the boys have the privilege of staying in Paris. It is some town, too.
Well, I am wondering when the boat starts that takes me to my home. You know I would like to get home again. I think I will stay at home when I get back and help papa on the farm. I have been rambling for over three years now, and I think there is no place any better than my old home on the farm.
I guess you wonder why I dont tell you of the country and the war. Well I am going to save that and tell you when I get home. I have seen several boys that did not get to the front and they ought to be proud they did not go, for we were not there knitting socks, or anything like that. I don’t know whether the censor will care for me telling you how many times I went over the top or not. I have been over six times and have made as many as seven miles on one time. I was wounded on the battle front, that is read of all over the world. I don’t know whether you follow up the papers or not, but it was the one that we had real fighting on, hand to hand sometimes.
How is Millard? Fine, I hope. Tell him his uncle Oscar will be back before long to see him. Tell him hello!
Will close for this time. From your loving brother,
Bugler Oscar Bowen.
358 Inf. Co. L. A. E. F.
NOTES: Oscar G. Bowen was born on October 26, 1893 in Ravenden Springs, Arkansas and died on April 13, 1971. He is buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Cushing, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Corp serving in Co. L, 358 Infantry in World War I. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on May 28, 1919 onboard the Edgar F. Lukenbach. He arrived in Boston, Mass. On June 8, 1919. He was listed as a Corp. in Company L, 358th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS