TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL 26, 1918 PP. 1, 2
Dear Sovereigns:
For me to undertake a personal letter to each one of you would be out of the question but in this manner I can reach you all. I cannot begin to tell all I have seen since taking leave of you. Upon my arrival at Little Rock "Uncle Sam" put me up at the Grand Central Hotel, which was my headquarters until mustered into service the Sunday evening following.
Just before leaving Little Rock we were given a banquet by the Red Cross, which also supplied us with a lunch for breakfast the following morning and a Red Cross sweater. Both came in mighty handy. We (there were 23 in the party leaving Little Rock) reached St. Louis about 8 o'clock, traveling in a pullman. This pullman went direct through to New York and after leaving St. Louis we obtained our meals on the train. So you see the trip could not have been otherwise than pleasant.
We passed through many of the principal cities of the East, including Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Trenton and New York. As a farming country I like Illinois and Indiana better than any other through which I passed. Through Ohio and Pennsylvania the scenery is fine. After leaving Pittsburgh it is like passing through one big city all the way to New York. At New York we went aboard a ship for Newport. It sure was some sight to me. We were thirteen hours making the trip and eight of these we were out of sight of land. We passed some towns enroute but could not tell how they looked only by the use of a field glass.
In all we were on the road three days and nights and the longest stop made was two hours at New York. I had got so accustomed to riding that when we finally landed and I got still I would find myself bracing to keep in motion of the train. Enroute from St. Louis to New York we made an average of 70 miles the hour. That may sound "fishy" to you and I would hardly believe it if I had not have experienced it. From Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, a distance of 400 miles, we made in six hours. You tell 'em, we were goin' some.
I was called away rather abruptly just now. When we have fire drill, if you are in bed, eating, writing or doing anything else you have to run like the devil to headquarters for further orders. If there is a fire in camp you go immediately to the scene; if it is only a drill you go back to your own quarters--it is just training, that's all. This time it was only a drill. I only have to drill four hours a day now. I stood examination the other day for Landsman's mate in the machinist's school for the aviation corps and made good, so far. If I get through I will go to Norfolk, Va., and will then draw $60 per. All you have to do here to get by is to have confidence in yourself and tell them you can do anything.
Say, wish some of you could have been with me yesterday. We went out on a short cruise in the bay and had a dandy time. They showed us all about how it works. I sure will be glad when we are assigned to a ship. It is much nicer. I never saw a house that was as nice on the inside as was that ship. It was the Man of War Massachusetts. We sure are taken good care of here. Our quarters are nice and comfortable and each man has a hammock, mattress and three blankets to sleep on. We have everything to eat that one could wish and I am getting as fat as a hog. The only thing that I have against this place is that it is so cold. It is sleeting right along now.
Say, I meet lots of W.O.W. here. My commander it one, but Masonry is the go. If I ever get a chance I am going to join them and I would advise any man to join before joining the navy. Tell all the boys in class one, who can, to get in the navy for I am sure it is better. We are better cared for every way than the soldier boys.
I heard a captain lecture this afternoon that has been in the war zone since the war began and he sure can tell some exciting stories about the service. He is commanding a sub-destroyer here in the bay to drill men with. It sure is a sight to see them chase one another. The landing here is fortified with 14-inch guns and it would be almost impossible for an enemy to land here. Well, guess you're tired of this so I will close for this time. Would be glad to have a letter from anyone of you.
Yours fraternally,
James H. Harper
Newport, RI U.S.N.T.S. 5 Reg. 5 Co.
NOTES: James Hillery Harper of Shirley, Arkansas was in training at the naval station in Newport, RI when he wrote this letter to the Linwood Camp of the Woodmen of the World. He was born on July 22, 1892 in Shirley, Arkansas and died in December 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He is buried in the Weaver Cemetery in Van Buren County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Sovereigns:
For me to undertake a personal letter to each one of you would be out of the question but in this manner I can reach you all. I cannot begin to tell all I have seen since taking leave of you. Upon my arrival at Little Rock "Uncle Sam" put me up at the Grand Central Hotel, which was my headquarters until mustered into service the Sunday evening following.
Just before leaving Little Rock we were given a banquet by the Red Cross, which also supplied us with a lunch for breakfast the following morning and a Red Cross sweater. Both came in mighty handy. We (there were 23 in the party leaving Little Rock) reached St. Louis about 8 o'clock, traveling in a pullman. This pullman went direct through to New York and after leaving St. Louis we obtained our meals on the train. So you see the trip could not have been otherwise than pleasant.
We passed through many of the principal cities of the East, including Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Trenton and New York. As a farming country I like Illinois and Indiana better than any other through which I passed. Through Ohio and Pennsylvania the scenery is fine. After leaving Pittsburgh it is like passing through one big city all the way to New York. At New York we went aboard a ship for Newport. It sure was some sight to me. We were thirteen hours making the trip and eight of these we were out of sight of land. We passed some towns enroute but could not tell how they looked only by the use of a field glass.
In all we were on the road three days and nights and the longest stop made was two hours at New York. I had got so accustomed to riding that when we finally landed and I got still I would find myself bracing to keep in motion of the train. Enroute from St. Louis to New York we made an average of 70 miles the hour. That may sound "fishy" to you and I would hardly believe it if I had not have experienced it. From Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, a distance of 400 miles, we made in six hours. You tell 'em, we were goin' some.
I was called away rather abruptly just now. When we have fire drill, if you are in bed, eating, writing or doing anything else you have to run like the devil to headquarters for further orders. If there is a fire in camp you go immediately to the scene; if it is only a drill you go back to your own quarters--it is just training, that's all. This time it was only a drill. I only have to drill four hours a day now. I stood examination the other day for Landsman's mate in the machinist's school for the aviation corps and made good, so far. If I get through I will go to Norfolk, Va., and will then draw $60 per. All you have to do here to get by is to have confidence in yourself and tell them you can do anything.
Say, wish some of you could have been with me yesterday. We went out on a short cruise in the bay and had a dandy time. They showed us all about how it works. I sure will be glad when we are assigned to a ship. It is much nicer. I never saw a house that was as nice on the inside as was that ship. It was the Man of War Massachusetts. We sure are taken good care of here. Our quarters are nice and comfortable and each man has a hammock, mattress and three blankets to sleep on. We have everything to eat that one could wish and I am getting as fat as a hog. The only thing that I have against this place is that it is so cold. It is sleeting right along now.
Say, I meet lots of W.O.W. here. My commander it one, but Masonry is the go. If I ever get a chance I am going to join them and I would advise any man to join before joining the navy. Tell all the boys in class one, who can, to get in the navy for I am sure it is better. We are better cared for every way than the soldier boys.
I heard a captain lecture this afternoon that has been in the war zone since the war began and he sure can tell some exciting stories about the service. He is commanding a sub-destroyer here in the bay to drill men with. It sure is a sight to see them chase one another. The landing here is fortified with 14-inch guns and it would be almost impossible for an enemy to land here. Well, guess you're tired of this so I will close for this time. Would be glad to have a letter from anyone of you.
Yours fraternally,
James H. Harper
Newport, RI U.S.N.T.S. 5 Reg. 5 Co.
NOTES: James Hillery Harper of Shirley, Arkansas was in training at the naval station in Newport, RI when he wrote this letter to the Linwood Camp of the Woodmen of the World. He was born on July 22, 1892 in Shirley, Arkansas and died in December 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He is buried in the Weaver Cemetery in Van Buren County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD