TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SOUTHERN STANDARD AUGUST 29, 1918 P. 8
Camp Jackson, S. C.
August 18, 1918
Dear Editor:
Here I am again writing to the the old Standard. You people may be getting tired of reading letters from me, but I have just got back to camp from a furlough home, so I thought I would write a few lines to the old paper.
I want to say to the farmers that Arkansas has got the best crops that I saw on the road, but still crops are not good at home. But you people should be proud of what you have got. The farms between here and home are not near as good as you have.
It is some cooler here, it having rained while I was away. I found everything fine when I got back. We have a company of new men and we start to drilling again in the morning. I don’t know how long we will be here but hope the next letter I write will be from somewhere in France. I have stayed in camp as long as I want to. Quite a number have gone from here recently and are scattered all over the world some were lucky enough to get to go to France.
There are three Clark county boys in this camp, James Watson, a boy from Gurdon, and myself but none with me. However, I am with a fine bunch of boys. We sure do have some good times here but we will all be proud when the war is over. But remember friends we won’t come home until Old Glory is flying in Berlin. There may be some missing, but the rest will come back. But if it takes us we are ready. I know the rest feel as I do. I would like to be with my people, but if it costs my life to gain freedom for my country I will willingly give it.
I want to thank you very much for printing my letters, for I keep hearing from friends that are in the service.
I heard some good sermons at DeGray, and it did me good.
Well, I must close and go and look at those German prisoners, so I can go to drilling in the morning. It makes the boys blood thirsty when they look at those mean devils and I am one of the boys.
Thanking you very much for the kindness you have shown me through the paper, and hoping that I will soon get to write you a letter from France, I close with much love and good wishes to the Clark County people.
I would be glad to hear from any who will write me. I am always a true friend to the people and the old paper at home.
Sergeant Gilbert Jones
18th Tr. Bri. F. A. R. D.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Camp Jackson, S. C.
August 18, 1918
Dear Editor:
Here I am again writing to the the old Standard. You people may be getting tired of reading letters from me, but I have just got back to camp from a furlough home, so I thought I would write a few lines to the old paper.
I want to say to the farmers that Arkansas has got the best crops that I saw on the road, but still crops are not good at home. But you people should be proud of what you have got. The farms between here and home are not near as good as you have.
It is some cooler here, it having rained while I was away. I found everything fine when I got back. We have a company of new men and we start to drilling again in the morning. I don’t know how long we will be here but hope the next letter I write will be from somewhere in France. I have stayed in camp as long as I want to. Quite a number have gone from here recently and are scattered all over the world some were lucky enough to get to go to France.
There are three Clark county boys in this camp, James Watson, a boy from Gurdon, and myself but none with me. However, I am with a fine bunch of boys. We sure do have some good times here but we will all be proud when the war is over. But remember friends we won’t come home until Old Glory is flying in Berlin. There may be some missing, but the rest will come back. But if it takes us we are ready. I know the rest feel as I do. I would like to be with my people, but if it costs my life to gain freedom for my country I will willingly give it.
I want to thank you very much for printing my letters, for I keep hearing from friends that are in the service.
I heard some good sermons at DeGray, and it did me good.
Well, I must close and go and look at those German prisoners, so I can go to drilling in the morning. It makes the boys blood thirsty when they look at those mean devils and I am one of the boys.
Thanking you very much for the kindness you have shown me through the paper, and hoping that I will soon get to write you a letter from France, I close with much love and good wishes to the Clark County people.
I would be glad to hear from any who will write me. I am always a true friend to the people and the old paper at home.
Sergeant Gilbert Jones
18th Tr. Bri. F. A. R. D.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD