TRANCSRIBED FROM NEVADA COUNTY PICAYUNE SEPTEMBER 5, 1918 p 6
U. S. S. Plattsburg, New York City,
August 24th, 1918.
Dear Friends:
If the editor will allow me space, I will endeavor to write a few lines. I am getting along fine and much dedelighted in the service. The Navy is a real home for a boy, if he hasn’t one. We get three squares a day and the work we do isn’t too much, but we must obey the rules and regulations of the Navy.
I’ve been across twice and expect to sail again soon. I like to sail if the sea isn’t too rough. We sailed into a storm coming back the last trip that lasted forty-eight hours. That wasn’t so nice. The ship rocked forty degrees. Three-fourths of the crew got sea sick. We make a trip every thirty days. Takes twelve days to go over and eight to come back. We went in a convoy of thirteen the first trip and in fifteen the last trip. After we get out of the main war zone coming back, we come alone. We have five hundred and sixty in the crew and they are from every state in the Union.
The Carpathia the rescuer of the Titanic was with us the first trip going over but was delayed by having some repairs made so we came and left her over there, and when she started back she was torpedoed off the Irish Coast and the Cruiser San Diego that conveyed us over the first trip was sunk about thirty days later of the Islay coast.
The American ships are better armed than the British. They have only one gun. We have ___ ___ _____ _____ ______We have target practice on the way back. It is real interesting. I like the other side but I’m glad I am a Yank. We can get lots to drink over there but not much to eat. There are people ___ ____ ____ ____ at a certain time. They are proud of us and treat us with much respect. They say we have got to win the war and that we aregoing to do it.
I hate to know of the home boys going to war but it is the duty of every man. It takes men to win the war and it is the duty of every one to put forth every effort possible. You can help at home in many ways as well as on the battle field.
Not so many months ago, war and the many changes in our daily lives which follow in its wake, was all an unreal dream to the great majority of us. We had read of the wars of history, as school boys. We had gloried in the deeds of Washington, of Lincoln and the other great leaders of America in war time. We had read of the awful winter at Valley Forge and thevaliant struggle at Gettysburg. We are proud to know that a race of men such as these had been our ancestors, and on every hand we saw evidence of the vast resources of America. At every street corner were idlers in plenty who could tell us of the stupendous wealth, of our great Navy, and of the invincible spirit of the American army. In our hearts we knew that to quote the collegial expression “America had the punch,” and that when the time came for us to aim that “punch” direct to the powers of oppression, it was sure to prove effective. That time has come America is at war now, fighting the most oppressive and bestial foe the world has ever known. The deciding “punch” must be delivered now, or the opportunity for obtaining world freedom may be gone forever.
This is not a time for us to glory in our past brilliancy as it is, it is not a time to sit back snugly confidently that in due time the superior resources of the Nation will assert themselves and will come out victorious. The time for talking about the war is past. The time for action is here. The same spirit which prompted the men at Valley Forge and Gettysburg must live again in each of us if America is to be the victor. “Our bit” is no longer enough. We must do “our all” every one of us. In this way, and this way only will we win the war. In this way only will we establish our right to the heritage left us by Washington and Lincoln.
Sincerely yours,
R. L. Cummings,
U. S. S. Plattsburg, care of Postmaster,
New York City, N. Y.
NOTES: Robert Lloyd Cummings was born on October 20, 1893 and died on January 12, 1978. He was medium height with brown eyes and light brown hair. He is buried in the Bluff City Cemetery, Bluff City, Arkansas Nevada County. His military headstone identifies him as Sea 2 U. S. Navy WW I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
U. S. S. Plattsburg, New York City,
August 24th, 1918.
Dear Friends:
If the editor will allow me space, I will endeavor to write a few lines. I am getting along fine and much dedelighted in the service. The Navy is a real home for a boy, if he hasn’t one. We get three squares a day and the work we do isn’t too much, but we must obey the rules and regulations of the Navy.
I’ve been across twice and expect to sail again soon. I like to sail if the sea isn’t too rough. We sailed into a storm coming back the last trip that lasted forty-eight hours. That wasn’t so nice. The ship rocked forty degrees. Three-fourths of the crew got sea sick. We make a trip every thirty days. Takes twelve days to go over and eight to come back. We went in a convoy of thirteen the first trip and in fifteen the last trip. After we get out of the main war zone coming back, we come alone. We have five hundred and sixty in the crew and they are from every state in the Union.
The Carpathia the rescuer of the Titanic was with us the first trip going over but was delayed by having some repairs made so we came and left her over there, and when she started back she was torpedoed off the Irish Coast and the Cruiser San Diego that conveyed us over the first trip was sunk about thirty days later of the Islay coast.
The American ships are better armed than the British. They have only one gun. We have ___ ___ _____ _____ ______We have target practice on the way back. It is real interesting. I like the other side but I’m glad I am a Yank. We can get lots to drink over there but not much to eat. There are people ___ ____ ____ ____ at a certain time. They are proud of us and treat us with much respect. They say we have got to win the war and that we aregoing to do it.
I hate to know of the home boys going to war but it is the duty of every man. It takes men to win the war and it is the duty of every one to put forth every effort possible. You can help at home in many ways as well as on the battle field.
Not so many months ago, war and the many changes in our daily lives which follow in its wake, was all an unreal dream to the great majority of us. We had read of the wars of history, as school boys. We had gloried in the deeds of Washington, of Lincoln and the other great leaders of America in war time. We had read of the awful winter at Valley Forge and thevaliant struggle at Gettysburg. We are proud to know that a race of men such as these had been our ancestors, and on every hand we saw evidence of the vast resources of America. At every street corner were idlers in plenty who could tell us of the stupendous wealth, of our great Navy, and of the invincible spirit of the American army. In our hearts we knew that to quote the collegial expression “America had the punch,” and that when the time came for us to aim that “punch” direct to the powers of oppression, it was sure to prove effective. That time has come America is at war now, fighting the most oppressive and bestial foe the world has ever known. The deciding “punch” must be delivered now, or the opportunity for obtaining world freedom may be gone forever.
This is not a time for us to glory in our past brilliancy as it is, it is not a time to sit back snugly confidently that in due time the superior resources of the Nation will assert themselves and will come out victorious. The time for talking about the war is past. The time for action is here. The same spirit which prompted the men at Valley Forge and Gettysburg must live again in each of us if America is to be the victor. “Our bit” is no longer enough. We must do “our all” every one of us. In this way, and this way only will we win the war. In this way only will we establish our right to the heritage left us by Washington and Lincoln.
Sincerely yours,
R. L. Cummings,
U. S. S. Plattsburg, care of Postmaster,
New York City, N. Y.
NOTES: Robert Lloyd Cummings was born on October 20, 1893 and died on January 12, 1978. He was medium height with brown eyes and light brown hair. He is buried in the Bluff City Cemetery, Bluff City, Arkansas Nevada County. His military headstone identifies him as Sea 2 U. S. Navy WW I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT