TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 31, 1918 P. 1
New York, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1918.
Dear Folks:
I am feeling much better now than I did when we were in port: certainly had a tough trip--haven't gained all my weight and strength back yet. I have land duty now and the work is much easier so think I will make it all right now.
Am awfully sorry that I can't get home anyways near soon, but the influenza is so bad here that no one in the service will be granted a furlough until it has been checked. It is awfully bad in France. The hospitals are full of it. We left three of our crew in the hospitals there. They wanted to leave me too, but I begged to be brought back to the States.
I don't think that I told you that the trip before last Dr. (Capt.) Otto Christian went over on our ship. We had many pleasant conversations and he sends his very best wishes to all of his friends there. Col. Garland Owensby of Springdale and his regiment were on other ships in the same convoy. Lieut. Loy McFarlin, son of Jess McFarlin of Rogers, was with the regiment. I wanted very badly to see all the Northwest Arkansas boys but once they land it is very difficult to find them, there being so many troops at the port of debarkation. Immediately upon landing they are taken to quarantine camps, then sent further inland to undergo their training. We also had on the ship Dr. Spencer, a dentist from Siloam Springs, so between the three of us we had quite a chance to break the monotony of the trip. The trip was fortunate inasmuch as we had no attack and yet unfortunate as we had no chance to afford a little excitement and also show them that the navy is "right on the job" and suffice that to say that we have the U-boats beaten practically to a standstill.
Occasionally we see a stray one but now-a-days they do not show up in droves as heretofore. Our gunners and our "ash cans" (depth bombs) have put the fear of God and Uncle Sam into their hearts.
Would like to have a copy of the Rogers and Springdale papers occasionally as I get awfully lonesome for home news. Love to all and best wishes to all my friends.
CARL HOWRY,
U.S.S. Wilhelmina.
NOTES: This letter was written by Carl Graham Howry to his parents William and Rebecca Howry of Lowell, Arkansas. Howry was born on November 15, 1891 in Lowell and died on November 4, 1941. He is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. His military headstone identifies him as a California Ship’s Cook 1cl. US Navy
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROL
New York, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1918.
Dear Folks:
I am feeling much better now than I did when we were in port: certainly had a tough trip--haven't gained all my weight and strength back yet. I have land duty now and the work is much easier so think I will make it all right now.
Am awfully sorry that I can't get home anyways near soon, but the influenza is so bad here that no one in the service will be granted a furlough until it has been checked. It is awfully bad in France. The hospitals are full of it. We left three of our crew in the hospitals there. They wanted to leave me too, but I begged to be brought back to the States.
I don't think that I told you that the trip before last Dr. (Capt.) Otto Christian went over on our ship. We had many pleasant conversations and he sends his very best wishes to all of his friends there. Col. Garland Owensby of Springdale and his regiment were on other ships in the same convoy. Lieut. Loy McFarlin, son of Jess McFarlin of Rogers, was with the regiment. I wanted very badly to see all the Northwest Arkansas boys but once they land it is very difficult to find them, there being so many troops at the port of debarkation. Immediately upon landing they are taken to quarantine camps, then sent further inland to undergo their training. We also had on the ship Dr. Spencer, a dentist from Siloam Springs, so between the three of us we had quite a chance to break the monotony of the trip. The trip was fortunate inasmuch as we had no attack and yet unfortunate as we had no chance to afford a little excitement and also show them that the navy is "right on the job" and suffice that to say that we have the U-boats beaten practically to a standstill.
Occasionally we see a stray one but now-a-days they do not show up in droves as heretofore. Our gunners and our "ash cans" (depth bombs) have put the fear of God and Uncle Sam into their hearts.
Would like to have a copy of the Rogers and Springdale papers occasionally as I get awfully lonesome for home news. Love to all and best wishes to all my friends.
CARL HOWRY,
U.S.S. Wilhelmina.
NOTES: This letter was written by Carl Graham Howry to his parents William and Rebecca Howry of Lowell, Arkansas. Howry was born on November 15, 1891 in Lowell and died on November 4, 1941. He is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. His military headstone identifies him as a California Ship’s Cook 1cl. US Navy
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROL