TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SOUTHERN STANDARD MAY 2, 1918 P. 7
Camp Hill, Newport News, Va.
April 26, 1918.
The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Dear Old Reliable:
When I left my home at Arkadelphia, I did expect to report to Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park Ga., for the following three months, after this time, I had planned to visit the home folks, and then come along here, or to some one of three Ports of Embarkation within these United States. But, after I had been in our Officers Medical Training School for thirty-two days, and was going well on a long hike of several miles with my full Battalion having gone two miles from our barracks; a messenger over took us and delivered an Order to me from Washington, D.C., which turned my face towards Newport News, Va., at once. All Officers assigned to any duty or those ordered to this port, are considered finished men, ready for any kind of assignments in their specials, in France.
Upon my arrival here, and report in person to the General in charge, I was at once assigned to duty as the first assistant to the Camp Surgeon, with as many duties and responsibilities as my time and strength would allow.
I am second Medical Officer on a Board of eight who are on one of the most important Boards in the whole service; two of us do the actual work and sign the papers for any soldier or officer whom we may believe should receive a Surgeon (General's) Certificate of Discharge which authority, is not given to Boards back in the different War Zones, as freely as it with us. Therefore, it is most necessary that we draw up these papers, justly, and according to our army regulations, or else, they certainly would never pass the Boards at our Surgeon General's office. So far all of our recommendations for discharges have been found in order. I am Chairman of a Board to examine soldiers for their promotions, think of my getting up sufficiently enough to examine men in Military Rules, and tactices. I am Camp Sanitary Inspector, have charge of a Base Hospital, five camp Infirmaries, many hundred dollars worth of Government properties. The more I try to do my full duty, the more hard work is placed upon me. Recently, I was ordered to meet a Commission sent to Norfolk, from Washington, D.C., and represent our Camp at that meeting, single handed; to discuss in conference a very important matter.
Our Government has treated me as if I was a real Prince, and has taken the best of good care of me all the time of my service. I have two beautiful saddle horses assigned to me, sometimes I wish I could ride both of them at the same time, for they are as fine as I have ever seen in any circus.
Our Government, by it's actions and treatment of every enlisted man and officer, seems to say to their fathers and mothers, fret not for I will surely return your dear loved ones to you in as good moral and physical conditions as they could have possibly been in, when I called them away from your homes. I do not know of any girl's boarding college, where the teachers watch their pupils as closely as the United States Government watches her soldiers. And, woe be unto the man or woman who does try to debauch or demoralize, the least of one of his. The ideals held up to all soldiers are the very highest, they surely are nothing short of Christian in character. I mention this because our people at home should get a great deal of comfort and satisfaction out of this fact.
So as far as I am concerned. I have already won the very best assignment in the whole U.S. Army Medical Service in France; and oh, how unworthy I feel of such trust and responsibilities!
By the time this reaches you, I may be well on my way to some Foreign Land. To Arkadelphia, Clark county, and Arkansas; I promise you, I shall do my best to render such service, as your noble citizenship, has a right to expect.
Your's very truly,
ALFRED G. HEARN.
Captain, M.R.C.
NOTES: Hearn was born on April 13, 1874 in Arkansas and died on September 21, 1943. He is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was a doctor.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Hill, Newport News, Va.
April 26, 1918.
The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Dear Old Reliable:
When I left my home at Arkadelphia, I did expect to report to Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park Ga., for the following three months, after this time, I had planned to visit the home folks, and then come along here, or to some one of three Ports of Embarkation within these United States. But, after I had been in our Officers Medical Training School for thirty-two days, and was going well on a long hike of several miles with my full Battalion having gone two miles from our barracks; a messenger over took us and delivered an Order to me from Washington, D.C., which turned my face towards Newport News, Va., at once. All Officers assigned to any duty or those ordered to this port, are considered finished men, ready for any kind of assignments in their specials, in France.
Upon my arrival here, and report in person to the General in charge, I was at once assigned to duty as the first assistant to the Camp Surgeon, with as many duties and responsibilities as my time and strength would allow.
I am second Medical Officer on a Board of eight who are on one of the most important Boards in the whole service; two of us do the actual work and sign the papers for any soldier or officer whom we may believe should receive a Surgeon (General's) Certificate of Discharge which authority, is not given to Boards back in the different War Zones, as freely as it with us. Therefore, it is most necessary that we draw up these papers, justly, and according to our army regulations, or else, they certainly would never pass the Boards at our Surgeon General's office. So far all of our recommendations for discharges have been found in order. I am Chairman of a Board to examine soldiers for their promotions, think of my getting up sufficiently enough to examine men in Military Rules, and tactices. I am Camp Sanitary Inspector, have charge of a Base Hospital, five camp Infirmaries, many hundred dollars worth of Government properties. The more I try to do my full duty, the more hard work is placed upon me. Recently, I was ordered to meet a Commission sent to Norfolk, from Washington, D.C., and represent our Camp at that meeting, single handed; to discuss in conference a very important matter.
Our Government has treated me as if I was a real Prince, and has taken the best of good care of me all the time of my service. I have two beautiful saddle horses assigned to me, sometimes I wish I could ride both of them at the same time, for they are as fine as I have ever seen in any circus.
Our Government, by it's actions and treatment of every enlisted man and officer, seems to say to their fathers and mothers, fret not for I will surely return your dear loved ones to you in as good moral and physical conditions as they could have possibly been in, when I called them away from your homes. I do not know of any girl's boarding college, where the teachers watch their pupils as closely as the United States Government watches her soldiers. And, woe be unto the man or woman who does try to debauch or demoralize, the least of one of his. The ideals held up to all soldiers are the very highest, they surely are nothing short of Christian in character. I mention this because our people at home should get a great deal of comfort and satisfaction out of this fact.
So as far as I am concerned. I have already won the very best assignment in the whole U.S. Army Medical Service in France; and oh, how unworthy I feel of such trust and responsibilities!
By the time this reaches you, I may be well on my way to some Foreign Land. To Arkadelphia, Clark county, and Arkansas; I promise you, I shall do my best to render such service, as your noble citizenship, has a right to expect.
Your's very truly,
ALFRED G. HEARN.
Captain, M.R.C.
NOTES: Hearn was born on April 13, 1874 in Arkansas and died on September 21, 1943. He is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was a doctor.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD