TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER INDEX NOVEMBER 9, 1917 P. 1
While I enjoy thinking of home and the people there. I am not sorry that I am not there now, when our country needs men so badly. In my opinion the war will last for several years in at least 5,000,000 men will be needed to defeat the Germans.
I am trying to make arrangements now so that every man in my employee can be ready to go when the call comes. To do what it will be necessary for me to employ older men with families who cannot go. Every single man should go before a married man with a family is asked to serve.
Well the majority of the men here are patriotic and willing to serve their country, it is deplorable to notice that there are many who do not hold a spark of loyalty and complain of the camp life and are not ashamed to proclaim that they want to get out and go home.
I destroytd, just yesterday, the affidavits of a man who married in August and was trying to get out on the grounds of a dependent wife. We had another man who said he was a business man and had no time to be fooling his time away in the army. He finally got discharged on the grounds of “physical disability” and it was a good riddance to the government. But we gave him plenty of kitchen duty while he was with us.
The government is providing well for its soldiers; the food is wholesome and plentiful, the barracks clean and well heated and in time they will have plenty of clothes. In my opinion, none of the men in the cantonments will leave for France before spring, but by then they will be well trained.
Ever since I have been here I have been an acting non-commissioned officer. First, a corporal for a few days, and then acting first sergeant. None of us have our warrants yet, but our appointment carries with it the name authority as if we had our warrants. I have also been called upon to do quite a bit of work at headquarters of our regiment, which gives me a good inside view as to the workings of the paperwork of our army.
My duties keep me busy all the time. Sometimes I work nearly all night, and frequently run right over meal time. Whenever our major says that a certain amount of work must be out at a certain time. It must be out regardless of what also happens. However, I enjoy the work as every new thing done gives one that much more knowledge of things military.
I hope to get a little time to come home sometime soon and see all you folks. So far the time has not come when I could turn loose and leave. I have plenty of privileges but no time to take advantage of them.
NOTES: Thomas Bennett Freeman was born on Marcy 19, 1887 in Vinegard, Arkansas and died on July 29, 1988. He enlisted on September 4, 1917 and was discharged on March 11, 1919. He was cremated and the location of his remains are unknown. He was writing to a friend in Marianna, Arkansas from Camp Pike in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the head of Freeman Stores in Marianna and Blytheville, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY
While I enjoy thinking of home and the people there. I am not sorry that I am not there now, when our country needs men so badly. In my opinion the war will last for several years in at least 5,000,000 men will be needed to defeat the Germans.
I am trying to make arrangements now so that every man in my employee can be ready to go when the call comes. To do what it will be necessary for me to employ older men with families who cannot go. Every single man should go before a married man with a family is asked to serve.
Well the majority of the men here are patriotic and willing to serve their country, it is deplorable to notice that there are many who do not hold a spark of loyalty and complain of the camp life and are not ashamed to proclaim that they want to get out and go home.
I destroytd, just yesterday, the affidavits of a man who married in August and was trying to get out on the grounds of a dependent wife. We had another man who said he was a business man and had no time to be fooling his time away in the army. He finally got discharged on the grounds of “physical disability” and it was a good riddance to the government. But we gave him plenty of kitchen duty while he was with us.
The government is providing well for its soldiers; the food is wholesome and plentiful, the barracks clean and well heated and in time they will have plenty of clothes. In my opinion, none of the men in the cantonments will leave for France before spring, but by then they will be well trained.
Ever since I have been here I have been an acting non-commissioned officer. First, a corporal for a few days, and then acting first sergeant. None of us have our warrants yet, but our appointment carries with it the name authority as if we had our warrants. I have also been called upon to do quite a bit of work at headquarters of our regiment, which gives me a good inside view as to the workings of the paperwork of our army.
My duties keep me busy all the time. Sometimes I work nearly all night, and frequently run right over meal time. Whenever our major says that a certain amount of work must be out at a certain time. It must be out regardless of what also happens. However, I enjoy the work as every new thing done gives one that much more knowledge of things military.
I hope to get a little time to come home sometime soon and see all you folks. So far the time has not come when I could turn loose and leave. I have plenty of privileges but no time to take advantage of them.
NOTES: Thomas Bennett Freeman was born on Marcy 19, 1887 in Vinegard, Arkansas and died on July 29, 1988. He enlisted on September 4, 1917 and was discharged on March 11, 1919. He was cremated and the location of his remains are unknown. He was writing to a friend in Marianna, Arkansas from Camp Pike in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the head of Freeman Stores in Marianna and Blytheville, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY