TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BENTON COURIER AUGUST 19, 1918 P. 7
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. DuVall:
Dear Parents:
As I have arrived at my destination for the time being I'll try and write you this a.m.
We left Camp Pike, Arkansas, last Friday morning at 11:00, got to Poplar Bluff that evening, and there we unloaded and marched to the outskirts of the city and took some physical drills, after which we returned to our train and continued to ride. We next stopped at Matoon, Ill., for a short time only. We passed through East St. Louis Friday night. On Saturday we were speeding through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. We stopped off at Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday eve and took a bath, which was highly appreciated. After we got back to the depot we were, each of us, presented a lunch and post card by the Red Cross ladies. After leaving Indianapolis, the next important town was Springfield, Ohio, which is certainly a beautiful city. We were also served with lunches, etc., there. From there we went to Cleveland which is some city, believe me. Sunday a.m. we passed through Erie, Pa., Dunkirk, N.Y., Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, where we again landed, marched up to the Y.M.C.A., and took another plunge. Going from Buffalo to Rochester we were in sight of Lake Erie. This was a most fascinating view. One can look as far as their eyes can distinguish an object, yet the water and the sky seem to merge into each other. How I would have enjoyed a boat ride upon the lake. From Syracuse we went to Utica, where we spent an hour or so. At Utica we took a road leading in a southeasterly direction. We passed through Norwich, N.Y., a small town, but there are certainly some pretty girls who live there. Oh, oh.
The people on the entire trip manifested their appreciation by treating us royally. There will always be a longing in my heart to visit in the East until I return and satisfy it. Such beautiful scenery, you can't imagine. From Norwich, or a few miles below there, we came within view of the Hudson River. We continued to speed on the Hudson on one side and on the opposite side the most beautiful mountains. On the trip down the Hudson we passed West Point. There we saw several soldiers ready for target practice. After leaving West Point it was not far to where we ceased our journey. We got off at Dumont, N.J. It is only about a mile from Dumont to Camp Merritt, N.J. We are about fourteen miles from New York City. I understand each of we soldier boys will be granted twenty four hour leaves of absence to visit New York City, if we desire to do so.
The scenery here is most beautiful. The climate is somewhat cooler here than in "dear old Arkansas," though there is not a great deal of difference in temperature. It is foggy here every morning until up in the day and then it clears up.
I worked until 3:00 a.m. this morning checking each man's slip for overseas equipment. As we just landed here yesterday about 10:00 a.m. I have not had time to explore Camp Merritt. Some of the boys say it is a large camp. We are not under quarantine and I am going to walk all through it some of these days.
There was a lot of boys left here last night for France. I was talking with some of the boys yesterday and they said they had not been here but ten or fifteen days. We will not drill any here, as this is an embarkation camp. I understand we will take hikes every day.
I have just read the New York World and from its columns it seems like the Huns are getting the devil, which they justly deserve. I expect that I will be on my way over there within two weeks. I am wanting to get on over there, complete my training and get in the game and play my hand.
If I only had time I could sit right here a week and still be writing you all of the things I observed on my trip, but as I want to hear from you all once more before leaving America, I must close.
Write me a long letter as soon as you receive this.
Trusting that you are all enjoying good health and that the good Lord will protect and keep you all from sin and harm. I am, your son,
Alf.
12th Co. J.A.P.D. Overseas Casual, Camp Merritt, New Jersey.
NOTES: Edwin Alfred DuVall was born on December 23, 1891 in Haskell, Arkansas and died on November 25, 1953. He is buried in the Mount Harmony Cemetery in Haskell, Arkansas. He departed from New York on August 13, 1918 onboard the Armagh. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft, Co. 12. He returned from Le Havre, France on April 4, 1919 onboard the Rochambeau. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on April 14, 1919. he was serving as a Private in the Quartermaster Battalion.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. DuVall:
Dear Parents:
As I have arrived at my destination for the time being I'll try and write you this a.m.
We left Camp Pike, Arkansas, last Friday morning at 11:00, got to Poplar Bluff that evening, and there we unloaded and marched to the outskirts of the city and took some physical drills, after which we returned to our train and continued to ride. We next stopped at Matoon, Ill., for a short time only. We passed through East St. Louis Friday night. On Saturday we were speeding through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. We stopped off at Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday eve and took a bath, which was highly appreciated. After we got back to the depot we were, each of us, presented a lunch and post card by the Red Cross ladies. After leaving Indianapolis, the next important town was Springfield, Ohio, which is certainly a beautiful city. We were also served with lunches, etc., there. From there we went to Cleveland which is some city, believe me. Sunday a.m. we passed through Erie, Pa., Dunkirk, N.Y., Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, where we again landed, marched up to the Y.M.C.A., and took another plunge. Going from Buffalo to Rochester we were in sight of Lake Erie. This was a most fascinating view. One can look as far as their eyes can distinguish an object, yet the water and the sky seem to merge into each other. How I would have enjoyed a boat ride upon the lake. From Syracuse we went to Utica, where we spent an hour or so. At Utica we took a road leading in a southeasterly direction. We passed through Norwich, N.Y., a small town, but there are certainly some pretty girls who live there. Oh, oh.
The people on the entire trip manifested their appreciation by treating us royally. There will always be a longing in my heart to visit in the East until I return and satisfy it. Such beautiful scenery, you can't imagine. From Norwich, or a few miles below there, we came within view of the Hudson River. We continued to speed on the Hudson on one side and on the opposite side the most beautiful mountains. On the trip down the Hudson we passed West Point. There we saw several soldiers ready for target practice. After leaving West Point it was not far to where we ceased our journey. We got off at Dumont, N.J. It is only about a mile from Dumont to Camp Merritt, N.J. We are about fourteen miles from New York City. I understand each of we soldier boys will be granted twenty four hour leaves of absence to visit New York City, if we desire to do so.
The scenery here is most beautiful. The climate is somewhat cooler here than in "dear old Arkansas," though there is not a great deal of difference in temperature. It is foggy here every morning until up in the day and then it clears up.
I worked until 3:00 a.m. this morning checking each man's slip for overseas equipment. As we just landed here yesterday about 10:00 a.m. I have not had time to explore Camp Merritt. Some of the boys say it is a large camp. We are not under quarantine and I am going to walk all through it some of these days.
There was a lot of boys left here last night for France. I was talking with some of the boys yesterday and they said they had not been here but ten or fifteen days. We will not drill any here, as this is an embarkation camp. I understand we will take hikes every day.
I have just read the New York World and from its columns it seems like the Huns are getting the devil, which they justly deserve. I expect that I will be on my way over there within two weeks. I am wanting to get on over there, complete my training and get in the game and play my hand.
If I only had time I could sit right here a week and still be writing you all of the things I observed on my trip, but as I want to hear from you all once more before leaving America, I must close.
Write me a long letter as soon as you receive this.
Trusting that you are all enjoying good health and that the good Lord will protect and keep you all from sin and harm. I am, your son,
Alf.
12th Co. J.A.P.D. Overseas Casual, Camp Merritt, New Jersey.
NOTES: Edwin Alfred DuVall was born on December 23, 1891 in Haskell, Arkansas and died on November 25, 1953. He is buried in the Mount Harmony Cemetery in Haskell, Arkansas. He departed from New York on August 13, 1918 onboard the Armagh. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft, Co. 12. He returned from Le Havre, France on April 4, 1919 onboard the Rochambeau. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on April 14, 1919. he was serving as a Private in the Quartermaster Battalion.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD