TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE NOVEMBER 15, 1918 P. 5
I wanted to write you from France and tell you something of the work done by the Y.M.C.A. for our boys over there, but I was so busy, we were hiking so much of the time, chasing the Hun out of France, that there was little opportunity to write anyone. Late in October I came home to enter Officers’ Training Camp, and I want you to know a few things that the association did with the Third Division of the American army.
The division, which has made a wonderful name for itself, spent five weeks in a training camp in France, and there the “Y” had a fine hut, good reading room, plenty of magazines and books, a well stocked canteen; entertainments were furnished, the very best of talent came to us and there were many enjoyable movie shows put on. Our religious services were always impressive and well attended. The hut was always filled when the boys were not drilling. We opened a Send Money Home Department, and many thousands of dollars were sent back to the states, as the boys have very little need of money over there. I have noticed that it was generally the buck private, the greatest chap in the world, who sent his money home.
The training period came to an end rather suddenly. Word came that we were to go to the front. I shall never forget our last night in camp. The chaplain held a communion service. He asked me to arrange for the deacons. I did. There were four, a Jew, a Catholic, and two Protestants. Only one or two of the boys refused to commune. I’ve been present at many impressive services, but none quite like that one. Religious creeds and differences were forgotten. We were all brothers, going out to face the unknown, and we were all putting our trust in the one God.
The battalion that I served went at once to the front, and there was no question about my going. The “Y” does not follow the troops—it goes with them. We hiked over the roads of France, and found much to do along the way. Food supplies were hard to obtain, and there the “Y” came in. Cakes of chocolate were given to the tired and hungry boys, as one of them remarked, “gave me a new lease on life.”
The battalion’s first experience in the line resulted in heavy losses, and there was an opportunity for service. Working with the medical corps, we were able to assist in giving first aid to the wounded, and disposing of the dead. It is part of the “Y” man’s work to cheer up the boys along the way.
That isn’t a hard matter, for the average doughboy is usually a cheerful individual. I recall we were hiking through the mud and rain—it always rains in France—the mud came up over our ankles, and it was as dark a night as one has ever seen. All at once we heard the first gun of a big American offensive. A lad shouted to his pal, “Cheer up, Sam—it’s all for democracy,” “Sure,” yelled Sam, “we’ll make this a fit place for Democrats to live in”—Sam is an American boy.
The “Y” man never has a minute to himself—there is always something he can do for the boys someone of them to talk of home and the deeper things of life. He becomes a warm friend of nearly every chap in his battalion, and when, after a battle, he can help with the wounded, and assist in giving a Christian burial to the dead, and still serve the boys in the line who are ready to make the supreme sacrifice, he feels that it was well worth his while to cross the ocean and join the forces of the association in their good work.
The work in the Third Division was so well arranged by the Y.M.C.A. that there was no need of the other war work organizations, but in other division the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare Board, and others are doing wonderful things. The Salvation Army lassie with her doughnuts and coffee is making a wonderful hit with the boys.
I hope that there will be no slump in the War Work campaign because the war, the actual fighting has ceased. The need is greater now for all the war work organizations. There will be much leisure time for the boys now—we cannot hope to have them back with us for a long, long time—they will need looking after more than ever before, and it is up to the people at home to see that the necessary funds are raised to support the organizations that are doing such a noble work. Our boys will come home cleaner and better for having gone over, provided the home influence supplied by these war work agencies can continue until the last lad comes marching home. America has always done her part and more in all the war drives—I know she will not fail in this critical time.
NOTES: Stephen R Brown was writing to his uncle John Claridge of Little Rock, Arkansas. Brown was from Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I wanted to write you from France and tell you something of the work done by the Y.M.C.A. for our boys over there, but I was so busy, we were hiking so much of the time, chasing the Hun out of France, that there was little opportunity to write anyone. Late in October I came home to enter Officers’ Training Camp, and I want you to know a few things that the association did with the Third Division of the American army.
The division, which has made a wonderful name for itself, spent five weeks in a training camp in France, and there the “Y” had a fine hut, good reading room, plenty of magazines and books, a well stocked canteen; entertainments were furnished, the very best of talent came to us and there were many enjoyable movie shows put on. Our religious services were always impressive and well attended. The hut was always filled when the boys were not drilling. We opened a Send Money Home Department, and many thousands of dollars were sent back to the states, as the boys have very little need of money over there. I have noticed that it was generally the buck private, the greatest chap in the world, who sent his money home.
The training period came to an end rather suddenly. Word came that we were to go to the front. I shall never forget our last night in camp. The chaplain held a communion service. He asked me to arrange for the deacons. I did. There were four, a Jew, a Catholic, and two Protestants. Only one or two of the boys refused to commune. I’ve been present at many impressive services, but none quite like that one. Religious creeds and differences were forgotten. We were all brothers, going out to face the unknown, and we were all putting our trust in the one God.
The battalion that I served went at once to the front, and there was no question about my going. The “Y” does not follow the troops—it goes with them. We hiked over the roads of France, and found much to do along the way. Food supplies were hard to obtain, and there the “Y” came in. Cakes of chocolate were given to the tired and hungry boys, as one of them remarked, “gave me a new lease on life.”
The battalion’s first experience in the line resulted in heavy losses, and there was an opportunity for service. Working with the medical corps, we were able to assist in giving first aid to the wounded, and disposing of the dead. It is part of the “Y” man’s work to cheer up the boys along the way.
That isn’t a hard matter, for the average doughboy is usually a cheerful individual. I recall we were hiking through the mud and rain—it always rains in France—the mud came up over our ankles, and it was as dark a night as one has ever seen. All at once we heard the first gun of a big American offensive. A lad shouted to his pal, “Cheer up, Sam—it’s all for democracy,” “Sure,” yelled Sam, “we’ll make this a fit place for Democrats to live in”—Sam is an American boy.
The “Y” man never has a minute to himself—there is always something he can do for the boys someone of them to talk of home and the deeper things of life. He becomes a warm friend of nearly every chap in his battalion, and when, after a battle, he can help with the wounded, and assist in giving a Christian burial to the dead, and still serve the boys in the line who are ready to make the supreme sacrifice, he feels that it was well worth his while to cross the ocean and join the forces of the association in their good work.
The work in the Third Division was so well arranged by the Y.M.C.A. that there was no need of the other war work organizations, but in other division the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare Board, and others are doing wonderful things. The Salvation Army lassie with her doughnuts and coffee is making a wonderful hit with the boys.
I hope that there will be no slump in the War Work campaign because the war, the actual fighting has ceased. The need is greater now for all the war work organizations. There will be much leisure time for the boys now—we cannot hope to have them back with us for a long, long time—they will need looking after more than ever before, and it is up to the people at home to see that the necessary funds are raised to support the organizations that are doing such a noble work. Our boys will come home cleaner and better for having gone over, provided the home influence supplied by these war work agencies can continue until the last lad comes marching home. America has always done her part and more in all the war drives—I know she will not fail in this critical time.
NOTES: Stephen R Brown was writing to his uncle John Claridge of Little Rock, Arkansas. Brown was from Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT