TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 14, 1919 P. 2
Dec. 13, 1918.
Dear Father:
Your letter read a short time ago. Was sure glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well.
Your letter and Eunice's was the only mail I have had since I have been in the hospital. You asked me to write and tell you more about my wound, and if I thought I would be crippled. I got two wounds in the foot. One of them has healed up. My foot will be as good as ever in two or three months. A Hun hit me with a grenade as we went over the top on the Verdun front.
You said you supposed I would be coming home pretty soon. I can't say for sure about that, but I hope so. France is a nice country, but America for me--the best nation in the world.
This hospital is only three or four miles from Paris. I have not been there yet, but think I will be able to go pretty soon. I hear some big guns shooting this morning in honor of President Wilson.
Papa, you all don't worry about me. It is nothing serious and we get good treatment, plenty to eat and smoke. The Red Cross ladies bring us something every day.
Papa, this is all for this time. I will close, wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
As ever your son,
Walter Earp.
Base Hospital No. 41, A. P. O. 708. France.
NOTES: Walter William Earp was writing to his father Lorenzo Earp. Walter was born in Ozark, Arkansas on November 14, 1896 and died on December 29, 1963. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private serving in Co. E 104th Inf. 26th Division. It also identifies him as receiving the Purple Heart. He departed Brest, France on February 22, 1919 onboard the Great Northern and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 3, 1919. He was listed as a private serving in the infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dec. 13, 1918.
Dear Father:
Your letter read a short time ago. Was sure glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well.
Your letter and Eunice's was the only mail I have had since I have been in the hospital. You asked me to write and tell you more about my wound, and if I thought I would be crippled. I got two wounds in the foot. One of them has healed up. My foot will be as good as ever in two or three months. A Hun hit me with a grenade as we went over the top on the Verdun front.
You said you supposed I would be coming home pretty soon. I can't say for sure about that, but I hope so. France is a nice country, but America for me--the best nation in the world.
This hospital is only three or four miles from Paris. I have not been there yet, but think I will be able to go pretty soon. I hear some big guns shooting this morning in honor of President Wilson.
Papa, you all don't worry about me. It is nothing serious and we get good treatment, plenty to eat and smoke. The Red Cross ladies bring us something every day.
Papa, this is all for this time. I will close, wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
As ever your son,
Walter Earp.
Base Hospital No. 41, A. P. O. 708. France.
NOTES: Walter William Earp was writing to his father Lorenzo Earp. Walter was born in Ozark, Arkansas on November 14, 1896 and died on December 29, 1963. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private serving in Co. E 104th Inf. 26th Division. It also identifies him as receiving the Purple Heart. He departed Brest, France on February 22, 1919 onboard the Great Northern and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 3, 1919. He was listed as a private serving in the infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD