TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT NOVEMBER 1, 1917 P. 1
Some American mothers may think it hard and not right for their sons to die on a foreign battle field, but if they could see what I have seen and realize what a hell on earth the Huns have made this peaceful country (France) they would be more than thankful to know they are safe from such atrocities and that we have the chance to help free for all time the world from such despotism in a land other than ours.
If Americans could see what the women and children had suffered they would not hesitate to give ten million of their men to save their women and children from the same suffering.
Americans think they want to fight but when they get over here they know they want to fight. After a few days in the trenches one gets used to the whine of the bullets and the scream of the bombs. The men in the lines are the least concerned.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Sgt. Victor Hershel Conley of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He was born on April 4, 1889 and died on September 20, 1917. He was the son of Zachary Taylor and Ella Conley. Conley enlisted in the Australian military in 1915 and served in the Australian Machine Gun Corps. He was killed in action on September 10, 1917 in Belgium. He is memoralized at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Ypres, Belgium. There is also a stone placed in his memory in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Spring. The stone inscription states “In Memory of Victor Hershel Conley-Killed in Action at Westholk Ridge Belgium for the Freedom of the World.” Upon his death a single memorial services was conducted by the churches of the Arkansas town. All store were also closed for one hour.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUE HOWARD
Some American mothers may think it hard and not right for their sons to die on a foreign battle field, but if they could see what I have seen and realize what a hell on earth the Huns have made this peaceful country (France) they would be more than thankful to know they are safe from such atrocities and that we have the chance to help free for all time the world from such despotism in a land other than ours.
If Americans could see what the women and children had suffered they would not hesitate to give ten million of their men to save their women and children from the same suffering.
Americans think they want to fight but when they get over here they know they want to fight. After a few days in the trenches one gets used to the whine of the bullets and the scream of the bombs. The men in the lines are the least concerned.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Sgt. Victor Hershel Conley of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He was born on April 4, 1889 and died on September 20, 1917. He was the son of Zachary Taylor and Ella Conley. Conley enlisted in the Australian military in 1915 and served in the Australian Machine Gun Corps. He was killed in action on September 10, 1917 in Belgium. He is memoralized at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Ypres, Belgium. There is also a stone placed in his memory in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Spring. The stone inscription states “In Memory of Victor Hershel Conley-Killed in Action at Westholk Ridge Belgium for the Freedom of the World.” Upon his death a single memorial services was conducted by the churches of the Arkansas town. All store were also closed for one hour.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUE HOWARD