TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BENTON COURIER NOVEMBER 7, 1918 P. 8
To the Benton Courier:
Dear Editor:
I will write a few lines to the Benton Courier. I am all O.K. and hope all the rest of Saline county people are well. I am pretty far away from Saline County but I might be back some time. This is a large camp here. There are 100,000 boys here in this camp and plenty of boys coming in and lots going out. I have seen one airship, plenty of cavalrymen training and making their horses jump over fences and logs and a little bit of everything. A fellow can see anything at the camp that he wants to see. I haven’t seen everything yet but as soon as the quarantine is lifted I intended to see something. I have got my uniform on now and like it fine, but don't like this camp much, as it is too far from home. I am 650 miles from Benton. It makes me homesick, but a fellow has to stay with it as I am in the army now. But I hope some day when this war is over, we can come home to see our wives, and we know the kaiser has quit and made peace. I think when they get this bunch over there they will get the kaiser for there are plenty of boys here. I don't think that there are any more boys in Arkansas, for they are all here. I came through several parts of Texas. I ate supper Thursday night in Texarkana. I can't think where we ate dinner Friday, as I came through so many parts of Texas. I stopped at Taylor, Texas, and stayed there a while. It is a pretty place. Friday night I ate supper at Camp Travis, the biggest place of all. I haven't looked at San Antonio yet. It is a large place. I crossed several rivers coming here, the Saline, the Arkansas, the Little Missouri and the Red river, and another large river. I think it was the Colorado river. I am right close to some river, but I can't tell which one. I am eighty miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I suppose we boys will go to a larger pond. I can't tell how soon, but I hope this thing will soon come to a close. I guess you people of Saline County are helping the U.S.A. by buying Liberty Bonds. The Y.M.C.A. sure is a fine place and a good thing too for the soldier boys. You people of Saline County keep the church in order. The Y.M.C.A. has given me a Testament. The best thing to do is to live with it too. Well, since this is my first letter to the Courier I will close. If you people don't like this don't blame Uncle Sam. When the war is over and we all get back and hear of the kaiser balling the jack, for he has got to be licked and you just as well stand to whip the kaiser and join the military band.
Yours, as a private,
Autie B. Cash
38 to 165 D. R. Camp Travis, Texas
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
To the Benton Courier:
Dear Editor:
I will write a few lines to the Benton Courier. I am all O.K. and hope all the rest of Saline county people are well. I am pretty far away from Saline County but I might be back some time. This is a large camp here. There are 100,000 boys here in this camp and plenty of boys coming in and lots going out. I have seen one airship, plenty of cavalrymen training and making their horses jump over fences and logs and a little bit of everything. A fellow can see anything at the camp that he wants to see. I haven’t seen everything yet but as soon as the quarantine is lifted I intended to see something. I have got my uniform on now and like it fine, but don't like this camp much, as it is too far from home. I am 650 miles from Benton. It makes me homesick, but a fellow has to stay with it as I am in the army now. But I hope some day when this war is over, we can come home to see our wives, and we know the kaiser has quit and made peace. I think when they get this bunch over there they will get the kaiser for there are plenty of boys here. I don't think that there are any more boys in Arkansas, for they are all here. I came through several parts of Texas. I ate supper Thursday night in Texarkana. I can't think where we ate dinner Friday, as I came through so many parts of Texas. I stopped at Taylor, Texas, and stayed there a while. It is a pretty place. Friday night I ate supper at Camp Travis, the biggest place of all. I haven't looked at San Antonio yet. It is a large place. I crossed several rivers coming here, the Saline, the Arkansas, the Little Missouri and the Red river, and another large river. I think it was the Colorado river. I am right close to some river, but I can't tell which one. I am eighty miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I suppose we boys will go to a larger pond. I can't tell how soon, but I hope this thing will soon come to a close. I guess you people of Saline County are helping the U.S.A. by buying Liberty Bonds. The Y.M.C.A. sure is a fine place and a good thing too for the soldier boys. You people of Saline County keep the church in order. The Y.M.C.A. has given me a Testament. The best thing to do is to live with it too. Well, since this is my first letter to the Courier I will close. If you people don't like this don't blame Uncle Sam. When the war is over and we all get back and hear of the kaiser balling the jack, for he has got to be licked and you just as well stand to whip the kaiser and join the military band.
Yours, as a private,
Autie B. Cash
38 to 165 D. R. Camp Travis, Texas
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD