TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER DEMOCRAT NOVEMBER 22, 1917 P. 1
Camp Beauregard, Nov. 7.
Dear Father:
Will write you tonight while I am not busy. I am feeling fine, but awful tired, as they have been working us since we got down here. They are cutting lown all the knolls, taking up the stumps, and fixing this place up fine. This is a mighty pretty country--level and just a few pine trees. We have nothing but pine knots to burn. The climate has been very disagreeable so far--awful cold at night, and in the daytime so warm you can't stand your coat. And you know that can't be healthful. The doctor came around this morning at 4 o'clock and had some of us to report at the hospital because we were coughing. He said it is a bad place for pneumonia fever and that we must be very careful about exposing ourselves. We still have measles in the Camp and they have my squad out from the main camp under quarantine. But we won't have to wokr any until they let us out from quarantine.
Some of the Company G. boys are here, too, so I guess we won't get very lonesome.
They sure feed us all right here, I had to throw away a whole mess kit full of baked sweet potatoes and macaroni tonight at supper. We also had pickles and coffee.
I am anxious to get out of camp and go over this camp. It is tents just as far as you can see in every direction. We don't have barracks here, but our tents are floored and walled and are comfortable enough. We have a long mess hall with a table down each side and we can all eat at once.
I usre got worn out coming down here. We were on the train about thirty hours, the only time we were allowed to get off being down in southern Arkansas. They took us off and we put on a parade through the town and took the regular exercises. When we got in here I had to lay out on a box car from early in the morning until after noon waiting to unload the cars, and I tell you I could hardly wiggle by night.
I haven't found out my job yet, but our company will be divided up into different sections--signal corps, orderlies, scouts and aviation corps I think will come out of this company. I am going to try to get in as a scout.
My corporal leads a Bible class and is a real fine fellow.
Will write you again soon,
Your son,
LEONARD.
142nd Field Artillery,
Camp Beauregard, La.
NOTES: Leonard Bryan Hurley was born in Hector, Arkansas on August 27, 1899 and died on August 4, 1968 in Russellville, Arkansas. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Russellville. He departed for France from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was serving as a Corp. in the Hdq. Co. of the 142nd FA, 39th Division. He departed from St. Nazaire on May 25, 1919 onboard the Madawaska. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on June 6. 1919. He was serving as a Corp. in the St. Nazaire Casual Co. #1106. He was writing to his father W. L. Hurley of Hector, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Beauregard, Nov. 7.
Dear Father:
Will write you tonight while I am not busy. I am feeling fine, but awful tired, as they have been working us since we got down here. They are cutting lown all the knolls, taking up the stumps, and fixing this place up fine. This is a mighty pretty country--level and just a few pine trees. We have nothing but pine knots to burn. The climate has been very disagreeable so far--awful cold at night, and in the daytime so warm you can't stand your coat. And you know that can't be healthful. The doctor came around this morning at 4 o'clock and had some of us to report at the hospital because we were coughing. He said it is a bad place for pneumonia fever and that we must be very careful about exposing ourselves. We still have measles in the Camp and they have my squad out from the main camp under quarantine. But we won't have to wokr any until they let us out from quarantine.
Some of the Company G. boys are here, too, so I guess we won't get very lonesome.
They sure feed us all right here, I had to throw away a whole mess kit full of baked sweet potatoes and macaroni tonight at supper. We also had pickles and coffee.
I am anxious to get out of camp and go over this camp. It is tents just as far as you can see in every direction. We don't have barracks here, but our tents are floored and walled and are comfortable enough. We have a long mess hall with a table down each side and we can all eat at once.
I usre got worn out coming down here. We were on the train about thirty hours, the only time we were allowed to get off being down in southern Arkansas. They took us off and we put on a parade through the town and took the regular exercises. When we got in here I had to lay out on a box car from early in the morning until after noon waiting to unload the cars, and I tell you I could hardly wiggle by night.
I haven't found out my job yet, but our company will be divided up into different sections--signal corps, orderlies, scouts and aviation corps I think will come out of this company. I am going to try to get in as a scout.
My corporal leads a Bible class and is a real fine fellow.
Will write you again soon,
Your son,
LEONARD.
142nd Field Artillery,
Camp Beauregard, La.
NOTES: Leonard Bryan Hurley was born in Hector, Arkansas on August 27, 1899 and died on August 4, 1968 in Russellville, Arkansas. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Russellville. He departed for France from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was serving as a Corp. in the Hdq. Co. of the 142nd FA, 39th Division. He departed from St. Nazaire on May 25, 1919 onboard the Madawaska. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on June 6. 1919. He was serving as a Corp. in the St. Nazaire Casual Co. #1106. He was writing to his father W. L. Hurley of Hector, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD