TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE DECEMBER 28, 1917 P. 2
Columbia, S. C., Dec. 21, 1917
Ladies and Gentleman, Married Men and Boys:
I wish to extend my thanks for the very best of health, which I have been enjoying.
Now what I wish to say to the boys at home: Stop, look and listen! Don’t waste your time as I have. If you are not called into the army, stay at home with your dear old mother and father, and help them in every way you can. If you do your level best, then you haven’t paid for one-half your trouble. This is the first job I ever had and couldn’t quit or get fired, but it is the best thing that ever happened to a young man. I never knew what trouble was until about 12 months ago, when hard luck struck me. I never knew what it was to want for anything--never knew how it came, or where it came from. I never appreciated one thing, but when I get out, if I ever do, I shall be a solid man. Everything else has failed, so I owe it all to my dear old mother and my Uncle Sammie. My little home town has thought I was a coward, but if I swore I would swear I don’t know the first letter of scare. I feel highly honored to get in the branch of service I am in. that is the machine gun.
To all the boys who will come here later--don’t come here expecting to find a picnic, for you will be certainly disappointed. You can make it easy or hard, so take my advice and make up your mind before you came to take the load on your shoulders and soldier like a man. Can you realize that we have been living in a world of extravagance for many years. There isn’t any of us that have ever went through with the hardships that our dear old fathers did. Can you realize what dear old liberty means to you? No, I am sure you don’t, for I never did. I was just an old lucky-go-happy kid. But listen, you will all pay as I have for your experience. I wish to speak of our modern conveniences. There are none better. For amusements we have Y. M. C. A. picture shows. The army is the only place for a boy that don’t love his home.
Dear flag of our country, whose bars are true, calls all her sons to defend her. God help us all to be true to the red, white and blue. Listen, her principles never surrender. Dear friends in reading this don’t forget the old heart-broken boy who is sending you this little ditty, and if you ever wish to drop him a few lines, if nothing but a card, it will be highly appreciated.
Good bye! Good luck! God bless you! Till we meet again. I am wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Albert Day
Co. B, 317 Mach. Gun. Batt.,
Camp Jackson, S. C.
NOTES: Day was born on January 1, 1894 and died on February 13, 1951. He is buried in the Chapel Hill Cemetery n DeQueen, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Wagoner 317 MG. Bn. 81st Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY KOBE HEAGERTY
Columbia, S. C., Dec. 21, 1917
Ladies and Gentleman, Married Men and Boys:
I wish to extend my thanks for the very best of health, which I have been enjoying.
Now what I wish to say to the boys at home: Stop, look and listen! Don’t waste your time as I have. If you are not called into the army, stay at home with your dear old mother and father, and help them in every way you can. If you do your level best, then you haven’t paid for one-half your trouble. This is the first job I ever had and couldn’t quit or get fired, but it is the best thing that ever happened to a young man. I never knew what trouble was until about 12 months ago, when hard luck struck me. I never knew what it was to want for anything--never knew how it came, or where it came from. I never appreciated one thing, but when I get out, if I ever do, I shall be a solid man. Everything else has failed, so I owe it all to my dear old mother and my Uncle Sammie. My little home town has thought I was a coward, but if I swore I would swear I don’t know the first letter of scare. I feel highly honored to get in the branch of service I am in. that is the machine gun.
To all the boys who will come here later--don’t come here expecting to find a picnic, for you will be certainly disappointed. You can make it easy or hard, so take my advice and make up your mind before you came to take the load on your shoulders and soldier like a man. Can you realize that we have been living in a world of extravagance for many years. There isn’t any of us that have ever went through with the hardships that our dear old fathers did. Can you realize what dear old liberty means to you? No, I am sure you don’t, for I never did. I was just an old lucky-go-happy kid. But listen, you will all pay as I have for your experience. I wish to speak of our modern conveniences. There are none better. For amusements we have Y. M. C. A. picture shows. The army is the only place for a boy that don’t love his home.
Dear flag of our country, whose bars are true, calls all her sons to defend her. God help us all to be true to the red, white and blue. Listen, her principles never surrender. Dear friends in reading this don’t forget the old heart-broken boy who is sending you this little ditty, and if you ever wish to drop him a few lines, if nothing but a card, it will be highly appreciated.
Good bye! Good luck! God bless you! Till we meet again. I am wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Albert Day
Co. B, 317 Mach. Gun. Batt.,
Camp Jackson, S. C.
NOTES: Day was born on January 1, 1894 and died on February 13, 1951. He is buried in the Chapel Hill Cemetery n DeQueen, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Wagoner 317 MG. Bn. 81st Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY KOBE HEAGERTY