TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD
Editor Star Herald:
If you will allow me space in my old home paper I will try to write a few lines to let all of the good people of Randolph county know how their boys are, who pulled off their civilian clothes Sept. 18th, and to my notion, put on the grandest uniform worn by man. Not that it’s the finest uniform in the world, but in my judgement, stands for one of the greatest causes on earth, that of true Democracy.
We are now comfortably situated in Barrack 61 at Camp Pike. I don’t know just how long we will stay here, as I understand that we will be transferred in the next few days. We go to some other place to give other Randolph county boys a chance to win fame and honor by serving their country. However, they don’t necessarily have to belong to the army or navy to do this as the main thing is something to eat. If there is anything I do admire it’s a farmer who tills the soil and feeds the world.
I like the army fine—so much better than I did at first. We have plenty to eat and a good place to sleep and our clothing is really comfortable. We have so much more than you would think we could have if you could only see the Sammies at Camp Pike, not to say anything about the hundreds of other camps over the United States. We have a number of Y. M. C. A. buildings scattered over Camp Pike and there is most anything for amusement you wish for at these buildings. They are all run at the expense of the government. Nothing to keep us from having a good time as long as we do right, and this must be done. We have, in my judgment, one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States and no doubt the greatest government in the world. Then think of giving up a government like this and submitting to the Kaiser and his imperial government of Germany. No! I say, No! Not as long as Uncle Sam has a man or a dollar. And I know that every true American citizen feels like I do about the matter. We are the selected men of our county to bear the “Stars and Stripes” into the foreign battle fields and we are getting ready a little more each day and some day, perhaps before long, we will cross the water and go into the foreign battlefield to perform our duty and then the Kaiser and his subjects will catch what is commonly known as “Hell in the highest degree.” Who said we are not willing to give our lives to preserve that for which our forefathers gave their lives to win?— Liberty. I hardly think there is a boy from Randolph county who will not express his feeling the same way. And I hope there isn’t a boy in the grand old state of Arkansas who will not say the same. Every boy in Co. I, bought a Liberty Bond except one and I will say that he isn’t a Randolph county boy. Most of us own two or three bonds. The regiment to which we belong bought $93,000 worth of bonds in five hours, later they took the fever again and bought $46,800 more, making a total of $139,800. The camp’s total was a great deal over $1,000,000.00. That is pretty good I think. We have the finest officers anywhere. They are real princes.
We received a large assortment of fruit from the good people of Randolph county, for which we can’t express our thanks in words. It is the finest quality and largest quantity I ever saw. We hope you all will receive a great reward for sending same and that in the near future. I wish to tell you all that it is being properly distributed, boys who were transferred to other barracks receive theirs just the same. Capt. Jarboe has charge of this and what he does is well done.
The boys who were home the other day asked me to thank the esteemed gentlemen for meeting them at Hoxie in their cars and say they will always remember them for the favors.
Well, as I don’t want to write too long a letter this time, I’ll close. If this escapes the waste basket. I may write again in the near future.
Your Randolph County Friend,
D. K. Jackson
NOTES: David Kirkland Jackson was writing from Camp Pike, Arkansas. He was born in Lewisville, Arkansas on March 18, 1893 and died on August 31, 1954 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enlisted on June 25, 1917 and was discharged on July 29, 1919. He is buried in the Wilson Cemetery in Lewisville, Lafayette County Arkansas His military headstone identifies him as serving from Arkansas in GT Hdqs. Co., 154th Infantry, 39th Division in WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Editor Star Herald:
If you will allow me space in my old home paper I will try to write a few lines to let all of the good people of Randolph county know how their boys are, who pulled off their civilian clothes Sept. 18th, and to my notion, put on the grandest uniform worn by man. Not that it’s the finest uniform in the world, but in my judgement, stands for one of the greatest causes on earth, that of true Democracy.
We are now comfortably situated in Barrack 61 at Camp Pike. I don’t know just how long we will stay here, as I understand that we will be transferred in the next few days. We go to some other place to give other Randolph county boys a chance to win fame and honor by serving their country. However, they don’t necessarily have to belong to the army or navy to do this as the main thing is something to eat. If there is anything I do admire it’s a farmer who tills the soil and feeds the world.
I like the army fine—so much better than I did at first. We have plenty to eat and a good place to sleep and our clothing is really comfortable. We have so much more than you would think we could have if you could only see the Sammies at Camp Pike, not to say anything about the hundreds of other camps over the United States. We have a number of Y. M. C. A. buildings scattered over Camp Pike and there is most anything for amusement you wish for at these buildings. They are all run at the expense of the government. Nothing to keep us from having a good time as long as we do right, and this must be done. We have, in my judgment, one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States and no doubt the greatest government in the world. Then think of giving up a government like this and submitting to the Kaiser and his imperial government of Germany. No! I say, No! Not as long as Uncle Sam has a man or a dollar. And I know that every true American citizen feels like I do about the matter. We are the selected men of our county to bear the “Stars and Stripes” into the foreign battle fields and we are getting ready a little more each day and some day, perhaps before long, we will cross the water and go into the foreign battlefield to perform our duty and then the Kaiser and his subjects will catch what is commonly known as “Hell in the highest degree.” Who said we are not willing to give our lives to preserve that for which our forefathers gave their lives to win?— Liberty. I hardly think there is a boy from Randolph county who will not express his feeling the same way. And I hope there isn’t a boy in the grand old state of Arkansas who will not say the same. Every boy in Co. I, bought a Liberty Bond except one and I will say that he isn’t a Randolph county boy. Most of us own two or three bonds. The regiment to which we belong bought $93,000 worth of bonds in five hours, later they took the fever again and bought $46,800 more, making a total of $139,800. The camp’s total was a great deal over $1,000,000.00. That is pretty good I think. We have the finest officers anywhere. They are real princes.
We received a large assortment of fruit from the good people of Randolph county, for which we can’t express our thanks in words. It is the finest quality and largest quantity I ever saw. We hope you all will receive a great reward for sending same and that in the near future. I wish to tell you all that it is being properly distributed, boys who were transferred to other barracks receive theirs just the same. Capt. Jarboe has charge of this and what he does is well done.
The boys who were home the other day asked me to thank the esteemed gentlemen for meeting them at Hoxie in their cars and say they will always remember them for the favors.
Well, as I don’t want to write too long a letter this time, I’ll close. If this escapes the waste basket. I may write again in the near future.
Your Randolph County Friend,
D. K. Jackson
NOTES: David Kirkland Jackson was writing from Camp Pike, Arkansas. He was born in Lewisville, Arkansas on March 18, 1893 and died on August 31, 1954 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enlisted on June 25, 1917 and was discharged on July 29, 1919. He is buried in the Wilson Cemetery in Lewisville, Lafayette County Arkansas His military headstone identifies him as serving from Arkansas in GT Hdqs. Co., 154th Infantry, 39th Division in WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS