TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS APRIL 25, 1919 P. 7
Neidermendig,Germany, March 24, 1919.
Dear Friend Edna:
I received your letter today and was so glad to hear from you. I am always extremely glad to hear from anyone back home.
I have been away from the States only 18 months, but after a fellow goes thru with what we have gone thru with since we have been in Europe it seems like a long time.
I hear Ottis Key is home. Ottis and I were in the same Company and have been ever since we have been in the army. Ottis, Andrew and I were all together until the 12th of last July and I took the flu and went to the Hospital, and Andrew was shot the 15th of July and died in the Hospital one month later. I certainly was sorry to hear of Andrews death for he sure was a fine boy and a brave soldier and was shot fighting for his country.
You ask if I ever see John Downum. I saw him once that was last September he had just landed in France. He is now located at Burdenback, Germany, with the 32nd Division and says they are going to sail for the States in April. I receive a letter from him most every week. I received a letter from John King about a month ago. He is in Germany with the 1st Division. I think the National Guard Division will go home first, so I guess John K. and I will not get home soon, as he is in the 1st Division and I am in the 3rd, both in Regular Army Divisions.
I suppose you have read quite a bit of "The Rock of the Marne" haven't you? I am a chip off the Rock. I have been on three different fronts the Marne, the Saint Mihiel and the Argonne. I believe the Argonne was the toughest place we struck. We were on that front for 30 days and were under shell and machine gun fire all the time.
Edna I am so glad to get Carl's address. I am going to write to him this afternoon, as there is no drill this afternoon so I am going to take advantage and answer some letters. I certainly have been flooded with letters the last two weeks, but I am always glad to get them. Edna, I certainly would be glad to get home for the third Sunday in June, but I guess it will be impossible this year. Perhaps I will be there in 1930.
You must have an interesting position. You have a chance to know who is getting along and who is not.
No Edna, I haven't found me any French girl. I did not have much chance while in France, to look around for one. Yes, it is true about France being one hundred years behind the United States.
I must close. Answer real soon. I remain your friend,
Daria Hairston.
Co. B. 38 Inf. A.E.F., A.P.O.740.
NOTES: Private Daria Arvil Hairston of Springdale, Arkansas is writing to his friend Edna Phelan. Hairston was born on December 30, 1893 and died on February 3, 1917. He is buried in the Elm Springs Cemetery in Elm Springs, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving as a Mech. in Co. B. of the 38th Infantry during WWI. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on September 2, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Neidermendig,Germany, March 24, 1919.
Dear Friend Edna:
I received your letter today and was so glad to hear from you. I am always extremely glad to hear from anyone back home.
I have been away from the States only 18 months, but after a fellow goes thru with what we have gone thru with since we have been in Europe it seems like a long time.
I hear Ottis Key is home. Ottis and I were in the same Company and have been ever since we have been in the army. Ottis, Andrew and I were all together until the 12th of last July and I took the flu and went to the Hospital, and Andrew was shot the 15th of July and died in the Hospital one month later. I certainly was sorry to hear of Andrews death for he sure was a fine boy and a brave soldier and was shot fighting for his country.
You ask if I ever see John Downum. I saw him once that was last September he had just landed in France. He is now located at Burdenback, Germany, with the 32nd Division and says they are going to sail for the States in April. I receive a letter from him most every week. I received a letter from John King about a month ago. He is in Germany with the 1st Division. I think the National Guard Division will go home first, so I guess John K. and I will not get home soon, as he is in the 1st Division and I am in the 3rd, both in Regular Army Divisions.
I suppose you have read quite a bit of "The Rock of the Marne" haven't you? I am a chip off the Rock. I have been on three different fronts the Marne, the Saint Mihiel and the Argonne. I believe the Argonne was the toughest place we struck. We were on that front for 30 days and were under shell and machine gun fire all the time.
Edna I am so glad to get Carl's address. I am going to write to him this afternoon, as there is no drill this afternoon so I am going to take advantage and answer some letters. I certainly have been flooded with letters the last two weeks, but I am always glad to get them. Edna, I certainly would be glad to get home for the third Sunday in June, but I guess it will be impossible this year. Perhaps I will be there in 1930.
You must have an interesting position. You have a chance to know who is getting along and who is not.
No Edna, I haven't found me any French girl. I did not have much chance while in France, to look around for one. Yes, it is true about France being one hundred years behind the United States.
I must close. Answer real soon. I remain your friend,
Daria Hairston.
Co. B. 38 Inf. A.E.F., A.P.O.740.
NOTES: Private Daria Arvil Hairston of Springdale, Arkansas is writing to his friend Edna Phelan. Hairston was born on December 30, 1893 and died on February 3, 1917. He is buried in the Elm Springs Cemetery in Elm Springs, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving as a Mech. in Co. B. of the 38th Infantry during WWI. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on September 2, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD