TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT FEBRUARY 10, 1919 P. 2
Dear Father:
You may not think it is true, but when you get this letter I will be back in the dear old States. I think we will land January 31; I hope so anyway. I did not get to the firing line, but got pretty close. We left the States on November 2, landed oer here the 9th. When the Huns heard we were over here they soon got very busy trying to settle the question. They decided to sign the armistice in the eleventh month, the eleenvnth day, and the eleventh hour, in honor of the 11th company.
We went over on the Aquitania, the second largest ship in the world. It is a British transport. We left France on January 17. I think we will go from New York to Camp Sherman, O., to be mustered out, for that is the home of the 83rd Division. I don’t know what kind of a system they have for discharging, so I don’t when we will be home.
I hope eerybody had a merry Christmas. I surely did, for I was on guard duty, day and night. I had rabbit for dinner. Mamma, you can get in practice cooking, for I am going to have Christmas when I get home if it is the middle of August.
LEWIS A. IRBY
Co. D. 330th Inf., 83rd Dibision
NOTES: Lewis Adair Irby was writing to his father, Mr. S. H. Irby. He was born on August 5, 1896 in Conway, Arkansas and died on June 27, 1973. He is buried in the Prairie Hill Cemetery in Jackson County, Oklahoma. He was described as being tall and slender with gray eyes and light hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Dear Father:
You may not think it is true, but when you get this letter I will be back in the dear old States. I think we will land January 31; I hope so anyway. I did not get to the firing line, but got pretty close. We left the States on November 2, landed oer here the 9th. When the Huns heard we were over here they soon got very busy trying to settle the question. They decided to sign the armistice in the eleventh month, the eleenvnth day, and the eleventh hour, in honor of the 11th company.
We went over on the Aquitania, the second largest ship in the world. It is a British transport. We left France on January 17. I think we will go from New York to Camp Sherman, O., to be mustered out, for that is the home of the 83rd Division. I don’t know what kind of a system they have for discharging, so I don’t when we will be home.
I hope eerybody had a merry Christmas. I surely did, for I was on guard duty, day and night. I had rabbit for dinner. Mamma, you can get in practice cooking, for I am going to have Christmas when I get home if it is the middle of August.
LEWIS A. IRBY
Co. D. 330th Inf., 83rd Dibision
NOTES: Lewis Adair Irby was writing to his father, Mr. S. H. Irby. He was born on August 5, 1896 in Conway, Arkansas and died on June 27, 1973. He is buried in the Prairie Hill Cemetery in Jackson County, Oklahoma. He was described as being tall and slender with gray eyes and light hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT