TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LITTLE RIVER NEWS AUGUST 21, 1918 P. 1
July 21, 1918.
My Dear Papa and Mamma:
I will write you a few lines to let you hear from me. This leaves me well and I hope will find you the same. I guess you are having a time now eating watermelons ain’t you? Also fried chicken. I wish I was at home to help you. I think I will be home by Christmas if not before. Hope so anyway. Papa, if you could only see what the U.S.A. boys have done you would think we would be home in a short time and I think we all will reach the U.S.A. in a short time, by hog killing time, hope so. They have captured 20,000 Germans and killed (APPARENTLY CENSORED) so you know the Germans are going some and we have still got them on the run, and I think I will be home by Christmas, don’t you? Well Papa I don’t know that this letter will ever reach you but will write you.
Jesse Butler
NOTES: Jessie Butler (the newspaper misspelled his first name) was born in Ashdown, Arkansas on August 28, 1894 and died on June 30, 1978. He is buried in the Peytonville Cemetery. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed Hoboken, NJ on March 12, 1918 onboard Ship 537. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Jackson Replacement Draft March 1st Company. He departed Brest, France on April 19, 1919 onboard the Koningin der Nederlander. He was listed as a private serving in Co D 117th Ammunition Train. He was writing to his parents Perry and Mary Butler.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
July 21, 1918.
My Dear Papa and Mamma:
I will write you a few lines to let you hear from me. This leaves me well and I hope will find you the same. I guess you are having a time now eating watermelons ain’t you? Also fried chicken. I wish I was at home to help you. I think I will be home by Christmas if not before. Hope so anyway. Papa, if you could only see what the U.S.A. boys have done you would think we would be home in a short time and I think we all will reach the U.S.A. in a short time, by hog killing time, hope so. They have captured 20,000 Germans and killed (APPARENTLY CENSORED) so you know the Germans are going some and we have still got them on the run, and I think I will be home by Christmas, don’t you? Well Papa I don’t know that this letter will ever reach you but will write you.
Jesse Butler
NOTES: Jessie Butler (the newspaper misspelled his first name) was born in Ashdown, Arkansas on August 28, 1894 and died on June 30, 1978. He is buried in the Peytonville Cemetery. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed Hoboken, NJ on March 12, 1918 onboard Ship 537. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Jackson Replacement Draft March 1st Company. He departed Brest, France on April 19, 1919 onboard the Koningin der Nederlander. He was listed as a private serving in Co D 117th Ammunition Train. He was writing to his parents Perry and Mary Butler.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON