TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD OCTOBER 18, 1918 P. 3
Bloomington, Ind., Oct. 11, 1918.
Dear Editor:
Will you allow me enough space in the “Old Reliable” to give my many friends in Randolph county some information about how I am getting along in this man’s army?
Some of you will remember that I was called to Tulane University, on the fourteenth of July, for special training with three other boys, Tom Clayton, Elbert Bly and Dot Byrd. Well, we have been getting the special training, and I am liking the work fine. I must say that our training is one of those, that victory depends on, and that Kaiser Bill can’t sleep good for wondering what it is. When he does find out, he will blink his eyes like a frog swallowing fire. I rather think he has found out what it means to him, already.
You will learn from this letter that I have been transferred from Tulane to the Indiana University. Tom Clayton is here also. I have never learned, where the other two Randolph boys were sent. There are sixty-eight of us from Tulane, who arrived here the 15th of September.
I’ll never forget the city of New Orleans, for the people there were so nice to us. The 12th day of September was Soldiers and Sailor’s Day, and we certainly had a grand time. If one didn’t enjoy himself, he was a soldier out of luck. At 10 a. m. all men from the different camps were assembled at Canal and Claiborne Avenues. From that point, the parade was started. It was one of the largest exhibitions ever seen in New Orleans. The afternoon events were concerts by military bands, singing, fireworks, and free refreshments for soldiers and sailors. The night events were similar to those of the evening. Canal St. was cleared of cars and street traffic, so that vaudeville, boxing contests, moving pictures and general sociability could be enjoyed by everyone. We also had invitations for dinner on that day from the people of the city.
Well, I will leave New Orleans, and tell something of the north. On our way to Bloomington, we were held over at Effingham, Ill, from 8 a. m. ’till 2 p. m. There we were given a nice dinner by the Red Cross. Really, I didn’t know what the Red Cross was and what the war was about until I got in this “man’s army.” I am equal to “Long Boy.”
On our arrival in Bloomington, we were made to believe that we were welcome. Invitations to a social, that evening, and for dinner the next day, were given us. Sure, that word, dinner, never gets by me. To prove it—I have gained 10 pounds in weight, during the last two weeks; that means we are being well fed.
Now, about the way some of us feel at present. No one feels real good and about half of our bunch is in the hospital with the “flu.” I haven’t had it yet; but when anything “runs in the family,” that way, you can’t tell when you’ll get it. I am rather “hard boiled” anyhow; I may not have it. It is some disease. The boys, who are falling out with it, remind me of mother’s chickens last spring, when they had the limberneck. We are quarantined from school and public places, until farther notice.
This University, being one of the 500 of the United States for special training, has about 2,000 boys on roll. There are about 1,500 college girls; so you see Bloomington is quite a college town.
People, I will not take up too much space, asking you to kindly remember and keep the home fires burning till we come home.
Respectfully,
Alvin L. Bryan
Alpha Hall I. U.
NOTES: Alvin Luther Bryan on March 6, 1982 at Dalton, Arkansas and died on March 27, 1967 in Denver, Colorado. He is buried in the Stubblefield Cemetery at Dalton.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Bloomington, Ind., Oct. 11, 1918.
Dear Editor:
Will you allow me enough space in the “Old Reliable” to give my many friends in Randolph county some information about how I am getting along in this man’s army?
Some of you will remember that I was called to Tulane University, on the fourteenth of July, for special training with three other boys, Tom Clayton, Elbert Bly and Dot Byrd. Well, we have been getting the special training, and I am liking the work fine. I must say that our training is one of those, that victory depends on, and that Kaiser Bill can’t sleep good for wondering what it is. When he does find out, he will blink his eyes like a frog swallowing fire. I rather think he has found out what it means to him, already.
You will learn from this letter that I have been transferred from Tulane to the Indiana University. Tom Clayton is here also. I have never learned, where the other two Randolph boys were sent. There are sixty-eight of us from Tulane, who arrived here the 15th of September.
I’ll never forget the city of New Orleans, for the people there were so nice to us. The 12th day of September was Soldiers and Sailor’s Day, and we certainly had a grand time. If one didn’t enjoy himself, he was a soldier out of luck. At 10 a. m. all men from the different camps were assembled at Canal and Claiborne Avenues. From that point, the parade was started. It was one of the largest exhibitions ever seen in New Orleans. The afternoon events were concerts by military bands, singing, fireworks, and free refreshments for soldiers and sailors. The night events were similar to those of the evening. Canal St. was cleared of cars and street traffic, so that vaudeville, boxing contests, moving pictures and general sociability could be enjoyed by everyone. We also had invitations for dinner on that day from the people of the city.
Well, I will leave New Orleans, and tell something of the north. On our way to Bloomington, we were held over at Effingham, Ill, from 8 a. m. ’till 2 p. m. There we were given a nice dinner by the Red Cross. Really, I didn’t know what the Red Cross was and what the war was about until I got in this “man’s army.” I am equal to “Long Boy.”
On our arrival in Bloomington, we were made to believe that we were welcome. Invitations to a social, that evening, and for dinner the next day, were given us. Sure, that word, dinner, never gets by me. To prove it—I have gained 10 pounds in weight, during the last two weeks; that means we are being well fed.
Now, about the way some of us feel at present. No one feels real good and about half of our bunch is in the hospital with the “flu.” I haven’t had it yet; but when anything “runs in the family,” that way, you can’t tell when you’ll get it. I am rather “hard boiled” anyhow; I may not have it. It is some disease. The boys, who are falling out with it, remind me of mother’s chickens last spring, when they had the limberneck. We are quarantined from school and public places, until farther notice.
This University, being one of the 500 of the United States for special training, has about 2,000 boys on roll. There are about 1,500 college girls; so you see Bloomington is quite a college town.
People, I will not take up too much space, asking you to kindly remember and keep the home fires burning till we come home.
Respectfully,
Alvin L. Bryan
Alpha Hall I. U.
NOTES: Alvin Luther Bryan on March 6, 1982 at Dalton, Arkansas and died on March 27, 1967 in Denver, Colorado. He is buried in the Stubblefield Cemetery at Dalton.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS