TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD SEPTEMBER 6, 1918 P. 3
Camp Beauregard, Aug. 26
Dear Editor:
If you will allow me a small space in my old home paper, I’ll try and write a few lines to let all my friends know that I am well and enjoying life to the fullest extent.
Before I go further, I want to say I have noticed in the home paper from time to time how you good people back home have been backing your boys up by subscribing very liberally to the Y. M. C. A. which is a great friend to a soldier. Also the amount you have invested in Liberty Bonds in each issue. I feel I can’t say half enough about the good work you have done and are still doing in the Red Cross. This, beyond all doubt is the greatest thing on earth. I can’t say enough good things about this institution. I have also noticed the great amount of W. S. S. you have been and are still buying. Space won’t permit me to try to explain my appreciation for same, but take it from me, it is simply great. It is, and no doubt will make your boys want to do more themselves. I want to assure you fathers and mothers who had sons in this camp, that there has never been a better bunch of soldiers to leave Camp Beauregard than the boys who just left. They were all wanting to go to France and sure did some shouting as the train left camp.
I was seriously injured last February and when this division was examined for “over sea” service, I was turned down, as I wasn’t well of my injuries. I had my right shoulder crushed and isn’t real strong yet.
I was transferred from my company in the infantry to the Quartermaster Corps about June 1st. Of course I left all the boys I came in the army with but I never lost their friendship. I went to work in a garage and worked about thirty days. Later I passed an examination for an engineer and was assigned a pump station here in camp. There are nine stations in all and have been run by civilians up to a short time ago. They then picked out a detachment in Quartermaster known as Utilities Detachment by our personnel card, and put us to running them. In so doing they save quite a sum of money each month. All boys in this Utility detachment must be an expert at some trade. There are a bunch of electricines, linemen, truck drivers, mechanics, plumbers and carpenters who keep the camp under as good repair as possible. The engineers and machinists run these gump stations that furnish water supplies for the camp. I happen to belong to this bunch.
I would like to hear from some of you good people very much. As I don’t want to worry the editor and you with a long letter, will close.
As ever you friend,
Donald E. Jackson.
C. P. M. Utilities Detach
NOTES: Donald Everett Jackson was born on January 25, 1895 in Dalton, Arkansas and died on August 3, 1955 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is buried in the Wells Cemetery in Randolph County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Sgt. serving in the Quartermaster Corps. in WWI. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on May 7, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Camp Beauregard, Aug. 26
Dear Editor:
If you will allow me a small space in my old home paper, I’ll try and write a few lines to let all my friends know that I am well and enjoying life to the fullest extent.
Before I go further, I want to say I have noticed in the home paper from time to time how you good people back home have been backing your boys up by subscribing very liberally to the Y. M. C. A. which is a great friend to a soldier. Also the amount you have invested in Liberty Bonds in each issue. I feel I can’t say half enough about the good work you have done and are still doing in the Red Cross. This, beyond all doubt is the greatest thing on earth. I can’t say enough good things about this institution. I have also noticed the great amount of W. S. S. you have been and are still buying. Space won’t permit me to try to explain my appreciation for same, but take it from me, it is simply great. It is, and no doubt will make your boys want to do more themselves. I want to assure you fathers and mothers who had sons in this camp, that there has never been a better bunch of soldiers to leave Camp Beauregard than the boys who just left. They were all wanting to go to France and sure did some shouting as the train left camp.
I was seriously injured last February and when this division was examined for “over sea” service, I was turned down, as I wasn’t well of my injuries. I had my right shoulder crushed and isn’t real strong yet.
I was transferred from my company in the infantry to the Quartermaster Corps about June 1st. Of course I left all the boys I came in the army with but I never lost their friendship. I went to work in a garage and worked about thirty days. Later I passed an examination for an engineer and was assigned a pump station here in camp. There are nine stations in all and have been run by civilians up to a short time ago. They then picked out a detachment in Quartermaster known as Utilities Detachment by our personnel card, and put us to running them. In so doing they save quite a sum of money each month. All boys in this Utility detachment must be an expert at some trade. There are a bunch of electricines, linemen, truck drivers, mechanics, plumbers and carpenters who keep the camp under as good repair as possible. The engineers and machinists run these gump stations that furnish water supplies for the camp. I happen to belong to this bunch.
I would like to hear from some of you good people very much. As I don’t want to worry the editor and you with a long letter, will close.
As ever you friend,
Donald E. Jackson.
C. P. M. Utilities Detach
NOTES: Donald Everett Jackson was born on January 25, 1895 in Dalton, Arkansas and died on August 3, 1955 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is buried in the Wells Cemetery in Randolph County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Sgt. serving in the Quartermaster Corps. in WWI. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on May 7, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS