TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER JUNE 6, 1918 P. 3
May 30th, ’18.
Camp Pike, Ark.,
Co. “H.” 34th Infantry,
The Advance Reporter,
Dear Sir:
I am supposing how all is at Waldron, and wondering if the other boys will long their eyes out as we did when we reached Camp Pike. We were a slouch looking bunch when we got off the train, and if you would have been here and seen our graceful movements as we lined up to march to our barracks you would not have hallowed hurrah for the Scott County boys very loud but thanks be to God for we are hoping for a grand and glorious day, when we can return on a furlough, and how we will shake hands with our friends and how our sweethearts will run to kiss us, and how the preachers will say ‘God bless your heroic soul’ that is the gratitudes of our hearts.
Now I will tell you why we looked so when we landed here. We didn’t get any sleep from Ft. Smith to Little Rock as we expected, you know how well we like that and what a good way we had of helping ourselves when we found out we had to sit up all night long or sleep in our seats with the bright lights shining in our faces.
But mind you this didn’t have any effect in the way of killing our patriotism, if you are going to judge us by the way we ate our first supper with Uncle Sam. I can answer that I was the hero at that occasion. If you read the Ft. Smith paper I am satisfied you already know something about how we marched up and down the streets of Ft. Smith all together, whooping and yelling to the top of our voices to show our joy for the golden opportunity. Some more about what we have done and what we are expecting to do. The main thing is to stay ready for we don’t know much about what our next duty is, we have to wash dishes carry our luds out and sun them sweep and scrub the floors and many other things that is necessary about our camp.
I will write more about different things later on. I was on duty as a guard this morning when a healthy looking, double-jointed robust asked me how do you like it? I only replied “you ought to know.” I thought he would tell me some more about the good things of an army life, as he appeared to have nothing else to do but he made no reply.
We are not all in the same building, but we see each other often. I was standing out in front of the building this morning when I noticed a bunch of men standing in a ring. I stood & looked at them in amazement as eight or ten was chasing around the ring all the time and just now I seen Len May give a fellow a rap across the legs with a leather strap, and he tore out around the ring with Len after him, raping him every time he could reach him until he got back around to his place. I couldn’t help thinking isn’t there anything worse than that around here. Just now I see a bunch of soldiers across the alley at a cold drink stand, taking on a good supply, while some are bring for ice cream and soda pop across to us as we are quarantined and not permitted to leave the building. Since I have been trying to write, time has speeded away and duty has called me in the middle of an unfinished letter. I will appreciate a reply from any boy or girl at home who wishes to tell me that they want to hear from me through the paper again, but can’t answer all personal letters. Your affectionate friend.
Ed Jones.
P. S. I will answer any question The Advance Reporter will ask me.
NOTES: Lewis Ed Jones was born in Waldron, Arkansas on April 29, 1893 and died in December 1976.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
May 30th, ’18.
Camp Pike, Ark.,
Co. “H.” 34th Infantry,
The Advance Reporter,
Dear Sir:
I am supposing how all is at Waldron, and wondering if the other boys will long their eyes out as we did when we reached Camp Pike. We were a slouch looking bunch when we got off the train, and if you would have been here and seen our graceful movements as we lined up to march to our barracks you would not have hallowed hurrah for the Scott County boys very loud but thanks be to God for we are hoping for a grand and glorious day, when we can return on a furlough, and how we will shake hands with our friends and how our sweethearts will run to kiss us, and how the preachers will say ‘God bless your heroic soul’ that is the gratitudes of our hearts.
Now I will tell you why we looked so when we landed here. We didn’t get any sleep from Ft. Smith to Little Rock as we expected, you know how well we like that and what a good way we had of helping ourselves when we found out we had to sit up all night long or sleep in our seats with the bright lights shining in our faces.
But mind you this didn’t have any effect in the way of killing our patriotism, if you are going to judge us by the way we ate our first supper with Uncle Sam. I can answer that I was the hero at that occasion. If you read the Ft. Smith paper I am satisfied you already know something about how we marched up and down the streets of Ft. Smith all together, whooping and yelling to the top of our voices to show our joy for the golden opportunity. Some more about what we have done and what we are expecting to do. The main thing is to stay ready for we don’t know much about what our next duty is, we have to wash dishes carry our luds out and sun them sweep and scrub the floors and many other things that is necessary about our camp.
I will write more about different things later on. I was on duty as a guard this morning when a healthy looking, double-jointed robust asked me how do you like it? I only replied “you ought to know.” I thought he would tell me some more about the good things of an army life, as he appeared to have nothing else to do but he made no reply.
We are not all in the same building, but we see each other often. I was standing out in front of the building this morning when I noticed a bunch of men standing in a ring. I stood & looked at them in amazement as eight or ten was chasing around the ring all the time and just now I seen Len May give a fellow a rap across the legs with a leather strap, and he tore out around the ring with Len after him, raping him every time he could reach him until he got back around to his place. I couldn’t help thinking isn’t there anything worse than that around here. Just now I see a bunch of soldiers across the alley at a cold drink stand, taking on a good supply, while some are bring for ice cream and soda pop across to us as we are quarantined and not permitted to leave the building. Since I have been trying to write, time has speeded away and duty has called me in the middle of an unfinished letter. I will appreciate a reply from any boy or girl at home who wishes to tell me that they want to hear from me through the paper again, but can’t answer all personal letters. Your affectionate friend.
Ed Jones.
P. S. I will answer any question The Advance Reporter will ask me.
NOTES: Lewis Ed Jones was born in Waldron, Arkansas on April 29, 1893 and died in December 1976.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD