TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT JANUARY 1, 1918 P 17
I am a member of the A.E.F. and a Regiment of Engineers (Railway). Our regiment is operating a piece of French railroad behind the battle front, but I must not tell you just how far. When a big drive is being made we can easily hear the continual thundering of the cannon on the battle front, and can distinguish the different caliber cannons. We are sometimes visited by German aeroplanes after night. One night a Boche dropped a bomb in less than one hundred yards of the barracks in which I was in bed (not asleep at just that time!), but did no harm, only blew a hole in the ground large enough to easily bury the largest horse in Little Rock. I have seen at a distance at least two German aeroplanes shot down by auto aircraft guns, one of which fell in a big heap from a height of 6,000 feet. Aeroplanes are as common as any other bird.
At times there are what a stranger would no doubt think very exciting times, but we have long since gotten used to it, and seldom think much of or pay much attention to it. This is a great experience.
I am well and doing fine, and am more than glad I came when I did. I came through England, and was in London three days. Four regiments of engineers paraded in London on August 15, and were the first American troops ever there, and the first foreign troops to parade in London since the year 1066. To know that I was one of them is a great pleasure to me.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Ernest L Calk to relatives. He was born on January 24, 1889 in Arkansas and died on August 10, 1955 at Los Angeles, California. He is buried in the Bayou Meto Cemetery, Jacksonville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Ark. Pfc. Co. B 13 RR Engrs. serving in WW I. He was the son of S.L. Calk of Little Rock.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I am a member of the A.E.F. and a Regiment of Engineers (Railway). Our regiment is operating a piece of French railroad behind the battle front, but I must not tell you just how far. When a big drive is being made we can easily hear the continual thundering of the cannon on the battle front, and can distinguish the different caliber cannons. We are sometimes visited by German aeroplanes after night. One night a Boche dropped a bomb in less than one hundred yards of the barracks in which I was in bed (not asleep at just that time!), but did no harm, only blew a hole in the ground large enough to easily bury the largest horse in Little Rock. I have seen at a distance at least two German aeroplanes shot down by auto aircraft guns, one of which fell in a big heap from a height of 6,000 feet. Aeroplanes are as common as any other bird.
At times there are what a stranger would no doubt think very exciting times, but we have long since gotten used to it, and seldom think much of or pay much attention to it. This is a great experience.
I am well and doing fine, and am more than glad I came when I did. I came through England, and was in London three days. Four regiments of engineers paraded in London on August 15, and were the first American troops ever there, and the first foreign troops to parade in London since the year 1066. To know that I was one of them is a great pleasure to me.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Ernest L Calk to relatives. He was born on January 24, 1889 in Arkansas and died on August 10, 1955 at Los Angeles, California. He is buried in the Bayou Meto Cemetery, Jacksonville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Ark. Pfc. Co. B 13 RR Engrs. serving in WW I. He was the son of S.L. Calk of Little Rock.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT