TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT DECEMBER 13, 1918 P. 1
Ft. Bliss Tex., Nov. 27th.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Arkansas.
DEAR SIR:
If you will supply the typesetter and space I will endeavor to tell folks at home something of a bunch of Arkansas boys at this place. My Company is composed of Arkansas boys and has been reduced to 150 in number. We regretted to leave half our Company at Camp Mabry because of our association for some time we had formed quite an attachment for each other.
We have finished our course at the University of Texas and feel we will not soon be forgotten as we were complimented daily by the superintendent as being the most wideawake Company that had ever entered the school. We feel quite sure we will get to go to France yet, even tho the war is over, for we have been transferred to the water transport and men of our occupation are needed in France to transport troops from the interior to the coast, enroute home.
We left Austin the morning of Nov. 11th, the day the armistice was signed. In bidding us good bye and good luck the Major, the highest officer in the camp, complimented us "Arkansas Fighters" as we were called by other Companies as being the best trained Company, both mechanically and military, that had ever left Camp Mabry.
We had quite an enjoyable trip from Austin to Elpaso, passing through several of the largest Texas cities. The Red Cross met us at every stop with eats, such as pies, sandwiches and coffee. For two or three hundred miles we passed through country where nothing was growing other than sage brush, bear grass and cactus. Every now and then we could see a Jack Rabbit, a prairie dog or a coyote making its way through the sage brush.
The most striking thing to us when we got out on the plains was the large herds of cattle, some of the herds being estimated by the boys at 10,000 head. Earnest Reeves and Good Simpkins are still with me. The thing that interested Good the most was that most of the people lived in dugouts in the side of the hills or in houses made of grass, sticks and earth. Good remarked that if all of Texas was like the part we passed thru he was in favor of declaring war on Mexico and making her take Texas back.
We are located four miles from the border of Old Mexico, six miles from the border of New Mexico and three miles from Elpaso. The latter place is sure a beautiful city with a population of about 80,000. Most of the inhabitants are of French and Spanish descent. One peculiarity of the town is its crooked streets. In fact if you are not careful you will meet yourself coming back as you walk along the street. The people have the Old Southern hospitality, according we soldier boys a hearty welcome and furnishing us any information desired.
We are preparing for a big day tomorrow--Thanksgiving. My Company has two games of basket ball matched with Co. 315 and we are sure to win both games. We have a Company banquet tonight and a Turkey dinner tonight. I'm sure people at home will observe Thanksgiving more general than usual, as the war is over and the boys coming home. Well, I will close by wishing all the folks of good old Van Buren county a happy Thanksgiving. A letter from any friend will be appreciated.
ALVIN C. HUGGINS.
M.T.R.U. Co. C. 316, Fort Bliss, Elpaso, Texas.
NOTES: Alvin Clarence Huggins was born in Shirley, Arkansas on December 12, 1888 and died on May 30, 1963. He is buried in the Huie Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Private Motor Transportation Corps serving during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Ft. Bliss Tex., Nov. 27th.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Arkansas.
DEAR SIR:
If you will supply the typesetter and space I will endeavor to tell folks at home something of a bunch of Arkansas boys at this place. My Company is composed of Arkansas boys and has been reduced to 150 in number. We regretted to leave half our Company at Camp Mabry because of our association for some time we had formed quite an attachment for each other.
We have finished our course at the University of Texas and feel we will not soon be forgotten as we were complimented daily by the superintendent as being the most wideawake Company that had ever entered the school. We feel quite sure we will get to go to France yet, even tho the war is over, for we have been transferred to the water transport and men of our occupation are needed in France to transport troops from the interior to the coast, enroute home.
We left Austin the morning of Nov. 11th, the day the armistice was signed. In bidding us good bye and good luck the Major, the highest officer in the camp, complimented us "Arkansas Fighters" as we were called by other Companies as being the best trained Company, both mechanically and military, that had ever left Camp Mabry.
We had quite an enjoyable trip from Austin to Elpaso, passing through several of the largest Texas cities. The Red Cross met us at every stop with eats, such as pies, sandwiches and coffee. For two or three hundred miles we passed through country where nothing was growing other than sage brush, bear grass and cactus. Every now and then we could see a Jack Rabbit, a prairie dog or a coyote making its way through the sage brush.
The most striking thing to us when we got out on the plains was the large herds of cattle, some of the herds being estimated by the boys at 10,000 head. Earnest Reeves and Good Simpkins are still with me. The thing that interested Good the most was that most of the people lived in dugouts in the side of the hills or in houses made of grass, sticks and earth. Good remarked that if all of Texas was like the part we passed thru he was in favor of declaring war on Mexico and making her take Texas back.
We are located four miles from the border of Old Mexico, six miles from the border of New Mexico and three miles from Elpaso. The latter place is sure a beautiful city with a population of about 80,000. Most of the inhabitants are of French and Spanish descent. One peculiarity of the town is its crooked streets. In fact if you are not careful you will meet yourself coming back as you walk along the street. The people have the Old Southern hospitality, according we soldier boys a hearty welcome and furnishing us any information desired.
We are preparing for a big day tomorrow--Thanksgiving. My Company has two games of basket ball matched with Co. 315 and we are sure to win both games. We have a Company banquet tonight and a Turkey dinner tonight. I'm sure people at home will observe Thanksgiving more general than usual, as the war is over and the boys coming home. Well, I will close by wishing all the folks of good old Van Buren county a happy Thanksgiving. A letter from any friend will be appreciated.
ALVIN C. HUGGINS.
M.T.R.U. Co. C. 316, Fort Bliss, Elpaso, Texas.
NOTES: Alvin Clarence Huggins was born in Shirley, Arkansas on December 12, 1888 and died on May 30, 1963. He is buried in the Huie Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Private Motor Transportation Corps serving during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD