TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER MARCH 6, 1918 P. 4
Washington, D. C. Feb. 25, 1918
Co. B 9th Btn. 20th Engineers Corps.
Editor of the Banner,
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Sir:
I will try and write a few lines to the good people of Columbia county. I am at Camp American University, Washington, D. C. an equipment station for overseas troops. Boys coming in every day and being equipped and passing on to make room for more. There are at present about 18 or 20 Company K boys here. About 15 in Co. F of the 8th, Bn. 20th Engineer, three in Co. B of the 9th Bn. 20th Engineer, 1 in Co. C 41st Engineer also Morgan Smith in Co C 41st Engineer. We all like here fine. It is just heaven with what we boys passed through with at Beauregard.
We are drilling a little while being equipped. All the officers that I have met here are simply grand and treat you fine.
Miss McMorella is here with the boys and you cannot imagine how glad they all were to see her. She carried 14 of the boys to the Raleigh to dine on the night of the 21st, and believe me it was some swell dinner. Everything on the table that you could wish, and the way us boys did eat was a sight, but we enjoyed it to the limit and then was conducted to a nice show by Miss Bettie where we spent the rest of the evening in a very enjoyable way. When we all left for camp, all voted that it was one of the most enjoyable evenings of our lives and that Miss McMorella was the most ideal hostess ever.
The boys are all anxious to cross over now, since we are this close and know that it is just a question of days and minutes before we are on the watery highway.
Would like to see all the good people of Magnolia and Columbia county and my Sunday school class especially.
Miss Bettie is telling the boys goodbye today and will leave in the morning for Magnolia. Now take good care of Miss Bettie, the mother of Company K, and their best friend, is the wishes of every one.
I am as ever,
Frank O. Hamm.
NOTES: Frank Orvis Hamm first joined the Arkansas state troops. He was later transferred to the 20th Engineers (Forestry). He was born on April 3, 1877 and died on March 5, 1962 at the Veterans Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is buried in the Magnolia City Cemetery in Magnolia, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Washington, D. C. Feb. 25, 1918
Co. B 9th Btn. 20th Engineers Corps.
Editor of the Banner,
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Sir:
I will try and write a few lines to the good people of Columbia county. I am at Camp American University, Washington, D. C. an equipment station for overseas troops. Boys coming in every day and being equipped and passing on to make room for more. There are at present about 18 or 20 Company K boys here. About 15 in Co. F of the 8th, Bn. 20th Engineer, three in Co. B of the 9th Bn. 20th Engineer, 1 in Co. C 41st Engineer also Morgan Smith in Co C 41st Engineer. We all like here fine. It is just heaven with what we boys passed through with at Beauregard.
We are drilling a little while being equipped. All the officers that I have met here are simply grand and treat you fine.
Miss McMorella is here with the boys and you cannot imagine how glad they all were to see her. She carried 14 of the boys to the Raleigh to dine on the night of the 21st, and believe me it was some swell dinner. Everything on the table that you could wish, and the way us boys did eat was a sight, but we enjoyed it to the limit and then was conducted to a nice show by Miss Bettie where we spent the rest of the evening in a very enjoyable way. When we all left for camp, all voted that it was one of the most enjoyable evenings of our lives and that Miss McMorella was the most ideal hostess ever.
The boys are all anxious to cross over now, since we are this close and know that it is just a question of days and minutes before we are on the watery highway.
Would like to see all the good people of Magnolia and Columbia county and my Sunday school class especially.
Miss Bettie is telling the boys goodbye today and will leave in the morning for Magnolia. Now take good care of Miss Bettie, the mother of Company K, and their best friend, is the wishes of every one.
I am as ever,
Frank O. Hamm.
NOTES: Frank Orvis Hamm first joined the Arkansas state troops. He was later transferred to the 20th Engineers (Forestry). He was born on April 3, 1877 and died on March 5, 1962 at the Veterans Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is buried in the Magnolia City Cemetery in Magnolia, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT