TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT JUNE 27, 1918 P. 1
Camp Beauregard, June 20th.
Mr. Erwin Funk,
Camp Pike, Arkansas:
Well, I will write to you this morning as I am about caught up on my "rush work." I am out on the rifle range now as Assistant Range Officer for the Division. At times it is pretty strenuous work, but it is work that I am familiar with and I like it first rate. At the present time I am repairing the range, the buttes, firing points, trenches, etc. I think that I will get thru about next week some time, and if I can I am going to try and get a leave of absence. You get that TRY don't you? It will be very much like pulling a hen's teeth but you know a fellow never knows what he can do until he tries, so I'm at least going to try.
We are getting in 10,000 new men this week. The majority I think are from Illinois and Kentucky. I've only seen a few of them and they are a fine looking bunch of me: big strapping husky fellows.
I was talking to Major Bradford the other day, and he told me that he had seen you and that you had been inquiring about me. I am getting along the best in the world. A lot of officers are being let out; almost every day sees one of them discharged, but they haven't got me yet and before they do I am going to give them a run for their money. It seems rather funny to me that some of the best officers we had in the Infantry could not make good in the Artillery, and instead of sending them back to the Infantry or to some other branch of the service they discharged them. I suppose there is some good reason for it.
I have put in my request for a transfer to the 114th Supply Train. You see I have been out here on the range since the 18th of April and I am losing out on the study and instruction that the other officers are getting in my regiment, and as it is work I am to a certain extent familiar with and that will help when I get out of the army, I think it is the right thing to do. Col Owenby says he thinks it is the best thing to do. If I get the transfer I will probably go to Detroit right away and enter the shops of the Liberty motor people there to remain until some time in September. The train itself is in Detroit I understand and I hope to be able to join them there in a day or two.
Well, that is all for this time. Let me hear from you whenever you can find time.
RICHMOND J. GIPPLE,
1st Lieut., 142nd F.A., A.R.O.
NOTES: This letter was written by Richmond J. Gipple. He was born in Audubon, Iowa in 1892 and died on January 17, 1934. He is buried in the Los Angles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to near Bentonville, Arkansas when he was young. The family operated Gipple Orchards. He also served in the Mexican Border dispute in 1916.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Beauregard, June 20th.
Mr. Erwin Funk,
Camp Pike, Arkansas:
Well, I will write to you this morning as I am about caught up on my "rush work." I am out on the rifle range now as Assistant Range Officer for the Division. At times it is pretty strenuous work, but it is work that I am familiar with and I like it first rate. At the present time I am repairing the range, the buttes, firing points, trenches, etc. I think that I will get thru about next week some time, and if I can I am going to try and get a leave of absence. You get that TRY don't you? It will be very much like pulling a hen's teeth but you know a fellow never knows what he can do until he tries, so I'm at least going to try.
We are getting in 10,000 new men this week. The majority I think are from Illinois and Kentucky. I've only seen a few of them and they are a fine looking bunch of me: big strapping husky fellows.
I was talking to Major Bradford the other day, and he told me that he had seen you and that you had been inquiring about me. I am getting along the best in the world. A lot of officers are being let out; almost every day sees one of them discharged, but they haven't got me yet and before they do I am going to give them a run for their money. It seems rather funny to me that some of the best officers we had in the Infantry could not make good in the Artillery, and instead of sending them back to the Infantry or to some other branch of the service they discharged them. I suppose there is some good reason for it.
I have put in my request for a transfer to the 114th Supply Train. You see I have been out here on the range since the 18th of April and I am losing out on the study and instruction that the other officers are getting in my regiment, and as it is work I am to a certain extent familiar with and that will help when I get out of the army, I think it is the right thing to do. Col Owenby says he thinks it is the best thing to do. If I get the transfer I will probably go to Detroit right away and enter the shops of the Liberty motor people there to remain until some time in September. The train itself is in Detroit I understand and I hope to be able to join them there in a day or two.
Well, that is all for this time. Let me hear from you whenever you can find time.
RICHMOND J. GIPPLE,
1st Lieut., 142nd F.A., A.R.O.
NOTES: This letter was written by Richmond J. Gipple. He was born in Audubon, Iowa in 1892 and died on January 17, 1934. He is buried in the Los Angles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to near Bentonville, Arkansas when he was young. The family operated Gipple Orchards. He also served in the Mexican Border dispute in 1916.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD