TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 20, 1918 P. 2
Vancouver, Wash., Sept. 9th.
Editor DEMOCRAT:
Clinton, Arkansas
DEAR SIR:
I have received a copy of your paper and wish to thank the sender, whoever it might have been. While I am not very well acquainted with your county, yet, the paper was like a letter from home. I especially enjoyed the letter of Lt. Hunter, likewise other letters by soldier boys . . . . .My home is in Searcy county, near Marshall. I left there Feb. 2d. and have been here seven months.
This is a beautiful country and I believe we have one of the finest camps in the union. We have around 50,000 men engaged in this work getting our spruce for the construction of airplanes. While not at all satisfied with what we are doing, yet I must say we are turning out some lumber. Our largest mill is here at Vancouver and it is the only one I know much about. Its daily capacity is about 1,000,000 feet, which is all that has thus far been required of it. With the exception of 21 hours each week it goes all the time, tipping spruce and fir logs and singing “To hell with the kaiser.” It furnishes employment for about 3,000 men.
I wish you could see us work and learn how “Uncle Sammy” has things systemized. I belong to one of the 12 military squadrons that do guard duty, and we have been busy for the past four months. We get six hours drill each day and have from two to four days guard a week. I like the army here and hope I get to go to France soon and get into the real game. I failed to pass on the overseas examination, but believe I would now as I have gained 25 pounds in weight and strength in proportion. One regiment from this division is to go over in the near future and as I have been in training all along I have hopes of getting to go too. So you boys yet at home talk your time and give me a chance.
Hoping to receive another copy of the Democrat and have the pleasure of reading “Letters From Our Soldier Boys,” and also of meeting many of the boys in France and have my place in getting the kaiser’s goat. I am
Yours for democracy and freedom.
ALFRED J. KEELING
S.P.D., B.A.P., Vancouver, Barracks, Wash.
NOTES: This letter was written by Alfred Jackson Keeling. He was born in Tomahawk, Arkansas on August 5, 1894 and died on August 21, 1991 in Farmerville, Louisiana. He is bured in the Osborne Cemetery in Saint Joe, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Cpl. serving in the US Army during World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Vancouver, Wash., Sept. 9th.
Editor DEMOCRAT:
Clinton, Arkansas
DEAR SIR:
I have received a copy of your paper and wish to thank the sender, whoever it might have been. While I am not very well acquainted with your county, yet, the paper was like a letter from home. I especially enjoyed the letter of Lt. Hunter, likewise other letters by soldier boys . . . . .My home is in Searcy county, near Marshall. I left there Feb. 2d. and have been here seven months.
This is a beautiful country and I believe we have one of the finest camps in the union. We have around 50,000 men engaged in this work getting our spruce for the construction of airplanes. While not at all satisfied with what we are doing, yet I must say we are turning out some lumber. Our largest mill is here at Vancouver and it is the only one I know much about. Its daily capacity is about 1,000,000 feet, which is all that has thus far been required of it. With the exception of 21 hours each week it goes all the time, tipping spruce and fir logs and singing “To hell with the kaiser.” It furnishes employment for about 3,000 men.
I wish you could see us work and learn how “Uncle Sammy” has things systemized. I belong to one of the 12 military squadrons that do guard duty, and we have been busy for the past four months. We get six hours drill each day and have from two to four days guard a week. I like the army here and hope I get to go to France soon and get into the real game. I failed to pass on the overseas examination, but believe I would now as I have gained 25 pounds in weight and strength in proportion. One regiment from this division is to go over in the near future and as I have been in training all along I have hopes of getting to go too. So you boys yet at home talk your time and give me a chance.
Hoping to receive another copy of the Democrat and have the pleasure of reading “Letters From Our Soldier Boys,” and also of meeting many of the boys in France and have my place in getting the kaiser’s goat. I am
Yours for democracy and freedom.
ALFRED J. KEELING
S.P.D., B.A.P., Vancouver, Barracks, Wash.
NOTES: This letter was written by Alfred Jackson Keeling. He was born in Tomahawk, Arkansas on August 5, 1894 and died on August 21, 1991 in Farmerville, Louisiana. He is bured in the Osborne Cemetery in Saint Joe, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Cpl. serving in the US Army during World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD