TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT JANUARY 4, 1919 P. 1
Dear Sir:
I have just received the check you sent me sad it came when it was most needed. I am in the hospital and have been since June 9th, but am much better now. I was gassed at Chateau Thierry in the great June drive, and have been transferred from one hospital to another till I arrived here in Italy, three months ago. This is a fine climate and nice scenery, but I prefer Paris and France.
I suppose most of the boys are gone from Newport, but I have not seen one I know. I have not been paid by the government since May 20th and do hope I will get paid by or before Christmas. I have seen most of the largest cities in France, Italy and Spain, But Paris has them all beat a thousand ways, and Rome is second in beauty and statuary.
Mr. Billingsley, I have seen all of the war that I want to see. I shall never forget the first barrage that I was unlucky enough to go through and lucky enough to come through, it sure is awful.
I trust that we will soon be coming home and I for one will not be sorry for I’ve not had a furlough or seen my home since March,1917. I suppose you are too busy to read such, so I will close.
Very truly,
John W. James,
A.P.O., No. 901-A.
NOTES: John W. James was born on January 19,1896 in Shoals, Indiana and died in Jonesboro, Arkansas on November 24, 1968. He is buried in the Unity Cemetery in Jonesboro.
TRANSCRIBED BY ADIN TYGART
Dear Sir:
I have just received the check you sent me sad it came when it was most needed. I am in the hospital and have been since June 9th, but am much better now. I was gassed at Chateau Thierry in the great June drive, and have been transferred from one hospital to another till I arrived here in Italy, three months ago. This is a fine climate and nice scenery, but I prefer Paris and France.
I suppose most of the boys are gone from Newport, but I have not seen one I know. I have not been paid by the government since May 20th and do hope I will get paid by or before Christmas. I have seen most of the largest cities in France, Italy and Spain, But Paris has them all beat a thousand ways, and Rome is second in beauty and statuary.
Mr. Billingsley, I have seen all of the war that I want to see. I shall never forget the first barrage that I was unlucky enough to go through and lucky enough to come through, it sure is awful.
I trust that we will soon be coming home and I for one will not be sorry for I’ve not had a furlough or seen my home since March,1917. I suppose you are too busy to read such, so I will close.
Very truly,
John W. James,
A.P.O., No. 901-A.
NOTES: John W. James was born on January 19,1896 in Shoals, Indiana and died in Jonesboro, Arkansas on November 24, 1968. He is buried in the Unity Cemetery in Jonesboro.
TRANSCRIBED BY ADIN TYGART