TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHARP COUNTY RECORD SEPTEMBER 27, 1918 P. 1
Editor Record:
Allow me space in your good old paper for a few lines to my friends. Om the 21st of August I left Evening Shade with fourteen other Sharp county boys for Camp Pike. We landed in camp at 11:30 that night, and were led by a soldier to a room where we spent the remainder of the night. Some of the boys got cots, while others had to sleep on the floor. Next morning we were led across the street for breakfast, and you may be sure there were some blue boys in the bunch and that I was one of them. After mess a large number were placed into lines and in lining up I became separated from two of my home boys, George Goff and Tom Spotts, whom I wished most to be with. My lot was cast with Casual Co. 67, and where the other boys went I do not know.
We got to our company about 9:30 in the morning of August 22, and the first thing we had to do was to police the grounds. That is we had to pick up every scrap of paper, every cigarette butt, etc., and, believe me, I was sure enough blue then.
You may see all kinds of people in the army; some crying to go home, some swearing and lots of gambling. Gambling seems to be the main employment of many boys when they are not on duty. Many good boys enter the army, but are led on from one bad thing to another until they become total wrecks. It is hard to lead a clean life in the army, because there are all sorts of temptations here. Of course you can shun these things if you will. As for me, I have been attending church twice a week and mean to lead a clean life.
The Y.M.C.A. is one of the best things we have in the army, and is doing a wonderful work for the comfort of the soldier boys. It furnishes amusements and recreations, paper and envelopes, and a Testament to each boy.
There are certainly lots of boys here. They are coming in and going out on every train. Army life is a great life, and will make a man out of you if you will do your part. I have been here four weeks and never felt better in my life. I don’t think I shall stay here long, because I have been passed for overseas duty. I am glad to know that I am a sound man.
We have the “blues” sometimes, for it is impossible for a soldier to stay in good spirits all of the time. But when we consider the matter properly we know that there are thousands of others away from their homes as we are, and then we cheer up and go about our work with a smile. Down deep in our hearts is the thought that someday we will return to our homes and friends sound and well. It seems hard to have to leave our homes and loved ones, but our forefathers did that, and why should we not shoulder the rifle and take up the sword and follow in their footsteps? The quicker we “cross the pond” and get the Kaiser the quicker we will get to return home. For my part, I am more than willing to go over and do my little bit for my country, and I believe that every American soldier will do the same. If that is true we are going to lick the Kaiser in a short time and come home rejoicing. But if we should fail in the foreign land, and God only knows about that, we shall die bravely and for a good cause.
I send love and best wishes to my Sharp county friends, all of whom I hope to see again someday.
Barney Freeman
Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY JORDAN HOLYFIELD
Editor Record:
Allow me space in your good old paper for a few lines to my friends. Om the 21st of August I left Evening Shade with fourteen other Sharp county boys for Camp Pike. We landed in camp at 11:30 that night, and were led by a soldier to a room where we spent the remainder of the night. Some of the boys got cots, while others had to sleep on the floor. Next morning we were led across the street for breakfast, and you may be sure there were some blue boys in the bunch and that I was one of them. After mess a large number were placed into lines and in lining up I became separated from two of my home boys, George Goff and Tom Spotts, whom I wished most to be with. My lot was cast with Casual Co. 67, and where the other boys went I do not know.
We got to our company about 9:30 in the morning of August 22, and the first thing we had to do was to police the grounds. That is we had to pick up every scrap of paper, every cigarette butt, etc., and, believe me, I was sure enough blue then.
You may see all kinds of people in the army; some crying to go home, some swearing and lots of gambling. Gambling seems to be the main employment of many boys when they are not on duty. Many good boys enter the army, but are led on from one bad thing to another until they become total wrecks. It is hard to lead a clean life in the army, because there are all sorts of temptations here. Of course you can shun these things if you will. As for me, I have been attending church twice a week and mean to lead a clean life.
The Y.M.C.A. is one of the best things we have in the army, and is doing a wonderful work for the comfort of the soldier boys. It furnishes amusements and recreations, paper and envelopes, and a Testament to each boy.
There are certainly lots of boys here. They are coming in and going out on every train. Army life is a great life, and will make a man out of you if you will do your part. I have been here four weeks and never felt better in my life. I don’t think I shall stay here long, because I have been passed for overseas duty. I am glad to know that I am a sound man.
We have the “blues” sometimes, for it is impossible for a soldier to stay in good spirits all of the time. But when we consider the matter properly we know that there are thousands of others away from their homes as we are, and then we cheer up and go about our work with a smile. Down deep in our hearts is the thought that someday we will return to our homes and friends sound and well. It seems hard to have to leave our homes and loved ones, but our forefathers did that, and why should we not shoulder the rifle and take up the sword and follow in their footsteps? The quicker we “cross the pond” and get the Kaiser the quicker we will get to return home. For my part, I am more than willing to go over and do my little bit for my country, and I believe that every American soldier will do the same. If that is true we are going to lick the Kaiser in a short time and come home rejoicing. But if we should fail in the foreign land, and God only knows about that, we shall die bravely and for a good cause.
I send love and best wishes to my Sharp county friends, all of whom I hope to see again someday.
Barney Freeman
Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY JORDAN HOLYFIELD