TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MENA WEEKLY STAR JANUARY 23, 1919 P. 4
I am still alive and in pretty good health. I have got back to France, but have been in Belgium the last month. I have been under shell fire three times and would have gone over the top if it had lasted twelve hours longer. It was a happy bunch when we heard the armistice was signed. I haven’t heard from home since I was in Contres, about two months ago. I think I will be home in about a month or two. You will have to excuse me for not writing sooner, but this is my first chance, as I didn’t have any paper. I had to walk two miles after this. Don’t laugh about my home. I live in a barn with cows and horses and most everything else.
NOTES: James Tellie Gateley was born in Egger, Arkansas on September 9, 1893 and died on May 28, 1989. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 13, 1918 onboard the Victoria. He was listed as Private serving in the infantry Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co. #17. He departed Brest, France on March 15, 1919 onboard the Von Steuben. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Pike Detachment 147th Infantry. This partial letter was written to his mother Louisa Gateley of Mena, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
I am still alive and in pretty good health. I have got back to France, but have been in Belgium the last month. I have been under shell fire three times and would have gone over the top if it had lasted twelve hours longer. It was a happy bunch when we heard the armistice was signed. I haven’t heard from home since I was in Contres, about two months ago. I think I will be home in about a month or two. You will have to excuse me for not writing sooner, but this is my first chance, as I didn’t have any paper. I had to walk two miles after this. Don’t laugh about my home. I live in a barn with cows and horses and most everything else.
NOTES: James Tellie Gateley was born in Egger, Arkansas on September 9, 1893 and died on May 28, 1989. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 13, 1918 onboard the Victoria. He was listed as Private serving in the infantry Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co. #17. He departed Brest, France on March 15, 1919 onboard the Von Steuben. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Pike Detachment 147th Infantry. This partial letter was written to his mother Louisa Gateley of Mena, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON