TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LAMAR DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 19, 1918 P. 1
Sept. 11, 1918.
Mr. A.P. Houston and family:
I will try to write you all a few lines to let you know I am a getting along fine and hope this will find you the same, altho I nearly cashed-in. I got shot the 18th of July in the neck and shoulder and back. It paralized my right arm. I don’t know whether I ever will have full use of it or not. All I can do with it is move my fingers a little so I am getting left handed pretty quick. I am writing this with my left hand. I am sorry I could not stay over there till it was over, but I did all I could do and that is all old Mike could do, steady as he was. Dear old Mike, he sure was a faithful fellow. The ship I was on coming back sunk a submarine. We sure have got the Germans on the run and we are going to have Berline too, before long. Such a cowardly bunch of cusses I never saw before. All they will fight with is a machine gun, then when you get on them, they will up with their hand and shout kamerad. Mighty little good it does them kind.
If you want to see a German get up and highball just let him see a tank coming toward him. I got your letter, but your package never reached me. Tell the children hello, and that I was going to try to see them by Dec. if they don’t send me to New Mexico. They are sending most of the boys there that are coming back unfit for service so I expect to go there.
Well, I have written about all I can stand to write this morning for my back is hurting so, I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.
From your friend,
Percy Griffin
U.S.A. Hospital No. 1 Ellis Island, New York Harbour.
NOTE: This letter was written to his friend, A. P. Houston of Lamar, Arkansas. Griffin was wounded and was in a hospital in New York at the time the letter was written.
TRANSCRIBED BY CALEIGH PICKARD
Sept. 11, 1918.
Mr. A.P. Houston and family:
I will try to write you all a few lines to let you know I am a getting along fine and hope this will find you the same, altho I nearly cashed-in. I got shot the 18th of July in the neck and shoulder and back. It paralized my right arm. I don’t know whether I ever will have full use of it or not. All I can do with it is move my fingers a little so I am getting left handed pretty quick. I am writing this with my left hand. I am sorry I could not stay over there till it was over, but I did all I could do and that is all old Mike could do, steady as he was. Dear old Mike, he sure was a faithful fellow. The ship I was on coming back sunk a submarine. We sure have got the Germans on the run and we are going to have Berline too, before long. Such a cowardly bunch of cusses I never saw before. All they will fight with is a machine gun, then when you get on them, they will up with their hand and shout kamerad. Mighty little good it does them kind.
If you want to see a German get up and highball just let him see a tank coming toward him. I got your letter, but your package never reached me. Tell the children hello, and that I was going to try to see them by Dec. if they don’t send me to New Mexico. They are sending most of the boys there that are coming back unfit for service so I expect to go there.
Well, I have written about all I can stand to write this morning for my back is hurting so, I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.
From your friend,
Percy Griffin
U.S.A. Hospital No. 1 Ellis Island, New York Harbour.
NOTE: This letter was written to his friend, A. P. Houston of Lamar, Arkansas. Griffin was wounded and was in a hospital in New York at the time the letter was written.
TRANSCRIBED BY CALEIGH PICKARD