TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT DECEMBER 12, 1918 P. 3
U.S.S. Florida,
November 21, 1918.
Dear Mother:
As this is the long looked-for day and I am one of the happiest boys in the world, I will write you a few lines that probably will interest you and the folks at home who have been wondering what the good ship U.S.S. Florida has been doing over in this part of the world.
The biggest and best part of the German fleet surrendered to us {the British and American navies) at 9:30 o’clock this morning. We left our base early this morning and by 2 o’clock the fleet surrended, ships were taken safely to our naval base ‘Rosyth Scotland.’ It is rumored that the German admiral shot himself when he pulled down the flag.
I have had some narrow escapes since I have been over here, most of them off the coast of Norway. They were torpedoes fired at us by German U-boats submerged. We didn’t get to fire many shots at them, but we dropped depth charges where they went down. We were doing mostly convoy duty and it is not pleasant at all if anyone happens to ask.
I will get mail tomorrow and I expect a letter from you, but won’t answer for a few days, and I think I will know by that time when I will get to come home. I have been over here a year and that is enough for me.
I don’t know whether to tell you to answer because I might be in the States before I could get an answer.
Good-bye. Give my regards to everybody and love to you and the family.
Your son,
Douglas E. Jones.
NOTES: Douglas Edward Jones was writing to his mother, Mrs. S. H. Jones of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was born on August 31, 1896 in Clarksville, Tennessee and died on March 25, 1971. He is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
U.S.S. Florida,
November 21, 1918.
Dear Mother:
As this is the long looked-for day and I am one of the happiest boys in the world, I will write you a few lines that probably will interest you and the folks at home who have been wondering what the good ship U.S.S. Florida has been doing over in this part of the world.
The biggest and best part of the German fleet surrendered to us {the British and American navies) at 9:30 o’clock this morning. We left our base early this morning and by 2 o’clock the fleet surrended, ships were taken safely to our naval base ‘Rosyth Scotland.’ It is rumored that the German admiral shot himself when he pulled down the flag.
I have had some narrow escapes since I have been over here, most of them off the coast of Norway. They were torpedoes fired at us by German U-boats submerged. We didn’t get to fire many shots at them, but we dropped depth charges where they went down. We were doing mostly convoy duty and it is not pleasant at all if anyone happens to ask.
I will get mail tomorrow and I expect a letter from you, but won’t answer for a few days, and I think I will know by that time when I will get to come home. I have been over here a year and that is enough for me.
I don’t know whether to tell you to answer because I might be in the States before I could get an answer.
Good-bye. Give my regards to everybody and love to you and the family.
Your son,
Douglas E. Jones.
NOTES: Douglas Edward Jones was writing to his mother, Mrs. S. H. Jones of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was born on August 31, 1896 in Clarksville, Tennessee and died on March 25, 1971. He is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT