TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MODERN NEWS SEPTEMBER 13, 1918 P. 1
I suppose you think I have forgotten you all entirely, but I juft haven’t had much time to write since I landed in France.
I do hope all are as well as this leaves me, in good health, and getting along fine. I am living a real army life now. Quite a difference from training back in the states. We landed here on the 19th of June, and have beeen on the front for the past two weeks and have had have had some rather exciting experiences. I know now what real war is, but am back now for a rest and it sure is a comfort to be here. I was in the heavest bombardment that has been since the war begun. One shell killed five men and wounded four right by me. All were in one trench. One boy from Parkin was wounded. I haven’t heard from him, am pretty sure be will soon be all right. I have been in one battle and came through all right, and sure hope I can get through all of them that way. I can’t say I got a German, but I sure did my best. I have heard you talk about war, but now I realize what you had to go through. Of course it was worse for you than it is for us for we get plenty to eat, that is if we are where they can get it to us. I Don’t wan’t you to worry about me for I am feeling fine and having a good time. The Germans thought they would come right on through our lines and be in Paris before now, I guess, but they met with a great disapointment and are going back the other way now as fast as they thought they would come this way. I guess you think I am writing a great deal about the war, but our Lieutenant told us we could write about anything that had occured in the past two weeks. I hope it won’t be long until until I can be back with you.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Thurman F. Harris to his father, John M. Harris. Harris was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on April 22, 1893 and lived in Parkin, Arkansas in Cross County when he went into the service. He was a clerk at Parkin before the war. He departed Hoboken, New Jersey on board the Manchuria on June 7, 1918 as a member of Co. G, 153rd Infantry. He was killed in action on October 22, 1918.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
I suppose you think I have forgotten you all entirely, but I juft haven’t had much time to write since I landed in France.
I do hope all are as well as this leaves me, in good health, and getting along fine. I am living a real army life now. Quite a difference from training back in the states. We landed here on the 19th of June, and have beeen on the front for the past two weeks and have had have had some rather exciting experiences. I know now what real war is, but am back now for a rest and it sure is a comfort to be here. I was in the heavest bombardment that has been since the war begun. One shell killed five men and wounded four right by me. All were in one trench. One boy from Parkin was wounded. I haven’t heard from him, am pretty sure be will soon be all right. I have been in one battle and came through all right, and sure hope I can get through all of them that way. I can’t say I got a German, but I sure did my best. I have heard you talk about war, but now I realize what you had to go through. Of course it was worse for you than it is for us for we get plenty to eat, that is if we are where they can get it to us. I Don’t wan’t you to worry about me for I am feeling fine and having a good time. The Germans thought they would come right on through our lines and be in Paris before now, I guess, but they met with a great disapointment and are going back the other way now as fast as they thought they would come this way. I guess you think I am writing a great deal about the war, but our Lieutenant told us we could write about anything that had occured in the past two weeks. I hope it won’t be long until until I can be back with you.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Thurman F. Harris to his father, John M. Harris. Harris was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on April 22, 1893 and lived in Parkin, Arkansas in Cross County when he went into the service. He was a clerk at Parkin before the war. He departed Hoboken, New Jersey on board the Manchuria on June 7, 1918 as a member of Co. G, 153rd Infantry. He was killed in action on October 22, 1918.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS