TRANSCRIBED FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE DAILY DEMOCRAT JANUARY 3, 1919 P. 2
Valdahon, France, Nov. 24.
Dear Father:
As this is “Father’s Day,” I’ll scribble you a few lines telling of my trip. I left Hoboken harbor on Aug 31 and landed in Brest, France, on Sept. 7 th. I came over on the largest boat in the world, the Leviathan. It was formerly a German boat, the Vaterland. It certainly was a beauty. Reminded me of a large crowded city, having about 2,000 soldiers on board.
There were only three boats in the convoy and after the first day and a half we traveled without any “sub” chasers. The day before we landed we were met by three more chasers which helped us through the danger zone. Our boat had nine big guns on board and the best gunners in the U. S. navy. A “sub” would have had small chance in a fight with us. The guns on our boat were fired several times but no one knew what they fired at. I am pretty sure they sighted a submarine.
The boat only had 17 decks. We could hardly tell it was moving it ran so smoothly.
We came in sight of land about 1 p.m. on September 7 and anchored about 6 p.m. The ship was so large we had to anchor a mile or so from shore then we were brought in by smaller vessels.
I was lucky and caught the first boat out and was the first man of the 142nd FA to plant my feet on foreign soil. I was in charge of a baggage detail and stayed in Brest with the baggage while the others went to a rest camp.
It rained every day they were in the camp and mud!—it was a fright.
We left Brest on September 16 and traveled about 190 miles in box cars to a small town called Messac.
We then unloaded and hiked out 9 miles to another small town called Bain. While there we were billeted in barns, stables and sheds. We were only there three weeks, leaving there on foot to Conquerdon, a distance of 35 miles.
Conquerdon is an artillery camp and there we went to school for two weeks and the balance of the time was spent on the firing range. We left Conquerdon on Nov. 16 and arrived here on the 19th.
I am now up in the Alps a short way from the Switzerland border. We traveled in box cars which are about half as big as our American box cars, 13 men to the car. We all had our beds made down on the floor and had a real nice trip of it.
I traveled through some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Our trip would have been better but it is so cold. I am now in good quarters and am getting plenty to eat and drink. I eat a lot but drink very little.
I guess you are anxious to know when I’ll be coming home. Well, that’s something I don’t know. It may be soon, then it may be several months. I hope it may be soon for I want to get to be doing something for myself, as I feel that Uncle Sam is through with me, now for a while. I guess I will close for the night. So don’t work too hard and take care of yourself.
Your son,
“John”
NOTES: Sgt. John Albert Henbest Jr. was writing to his father, J. A. Henbest of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was serving as a Pvt in the National Guard before serving in Co. B 142nd F.A. He was born on January 6, 1890 in Fayetteville and died on May 7, 1978. He was described as being tall and of medium build with gray eyes and black hair. He is buried in the Mount Comfort Cemetery in Fayetteville.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Valdahon, France, Nov. 24.
Dear Father:
As this is “Father’s Day,” I’ll scribble you a few lines telling of my trip. I left Hoboken harbor on Aug 31 and landed in Brest, France, on Sept. 7 th. I came over on the largest boat in the world, the Leviathan. It was formerly a German boat, the Vaterland. It certainly was a beauty. Reminded me of a large crowded city, having about 2,000 soldiers on board.
There were only three boats in the convoy and after the first day and a half we traveled without any “sub” chasers. The day before we landed we were met by three more chasers which helped us through the danger zone. Our boat had nine big guns on board and the best gunners in the U. S. navy. A “sub” would have had small chance in a fight with us. The guns on our boat were fired several times but no one knew what they fired at. I am pretty sure they sighted a submarine.
The boat only had 17 decks. We could hardly tell it was moving it ran so smoothly.
We came in sight of land about 1 p.m. on September 7 and anchored about 6 p.m. The ship was so large we had to anchor a mile or so from shore then we were brought in by smaller vessels.
I was lucky and caught the first boat out and was the first man of the 142nd FA to plant my feet on foreign soil. I was in charge of a baggage detail and stayed in Brest with the baggage while the others went to a rest camp.
It rained every day they were in the camp and mud!—it was a fright.
We left Brest on September 16 and traveled about 190 miles in box cars to a small town called Messac.
We then unloaded and hiked out 9 miles to another small town called Bain. While there we were billeted in barns, stables and sheds. We were only there three weeks, leaving there on foot to Conquerdon, a distance of 35 miles.
Conquerdon is an artillery camp and there we went to school for two weeks and the balance of the time was spent on the firing range. We left Conquerdon on Nov. 16 and arrived here on the 19th.
I am now up in the Alps a short way from the Switzerland border. We traveled in box cars which are about half as big as our American box cars, 13 men to the car. We all had our beds made down on the floor and had a real nice trip of it.
I traveled through some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Our trip would have been better but it is so cold. I am now in good quarters and am getting plenty to eat and drink. I eat a lot but drink very little.
I guess you are anxious to know when I’ll be coming home. Well, that’s something I don’t know. It may be soon, then it may be several months. I hope it may be soon for I want to get to be doing something for myself, as I feel that Uncle Sam is through with me, now for a while. I guess I will close for the night. So don’t work too hard and take care of yourself.
Your son,
“John”
NOTES: Sgt. John Albert Henbest Jr. was writing to his father, J. A. Henbest of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was serving as a Pvt in the National Guard before serving in Co. B 142nd F.A. He was born on January 6, 1890 in Fayetteville and died on May 7, 1978. He was described as being tall and of medium build with gray eyes and black hair. He is buried in the Mount Comfort Cemetery in Fayetteville.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT