TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER JULY 4, 1918 P. 2
May 12, 1918
Mr. J. M. Kelley,
Dear father:
I am in the Regular Army now. I am going to cross the deep sea soon. I can’t come home now, but I think I can come back some day. But if I don’t get back it will just be my time to die.
I’m not going to let any soldier enjoy this any more than I do. They call me a good soldier and I will just be Uncle Sam’s boy.
We are not drilling any now, I guess we have drilled our last day in Louisiana.
We have lots of fun I have been washing dishes for a day. We have singing every night. It will be a show to see the ocean.
Val Wheeler is here happy as he can be.
Some of the boys are not eating anything but I don’t intend to miss a meal.
Tell mama not to worry about me for there are thousands of mothers giving up their sons. I think I will come back some old day but if I don’t (it will just be my time to die.) I am willing to go.
Does Mrs. Self hear from Roy now? Tell Miller I am going to take a little trip and he bet-ter leave my girl alone while I’m gone.
Tell Katie and Mary Bell I will write them when I have time and will learn them some new songs when I come home. As I can’t be with you I hope you will all stay well. Don’t be uneasy aobut me if you don’t hear from me for some time. Tell every body hello for me.
Your son,
Grady Kelley.
NOTES: This letter was written from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana by Grady Kelley. Kelley was born in Rogersville, Tennessee and died on June 8, 1965 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is buried n the Odessa Cemetery n Lake Valley, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkanas Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Nevasa. He was serving as a Private Co 15 Camp Beauregard June Replacement Draft. He departed Brest, France on January 7, 1919 onboard the Pueblo and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on January 20, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
May 12, 1918
Mr. J. M. Kelley,
Dear father:
I am in the Regular Army now. I am going to cross the deep sea soon. I can’t come home now, but I think I can come back some day. But if I don’t get back it will just be my time to die.
I’m not going to let any soldier enjoy this any more than I do. They call me a good soldier and I will just be Uncle Sam’s boy.
We are not drilling any now, I guess we have drilled our last day in Louisiana.
We have lots of fun I have been washing dishes for a day. We have singing every night. It will be a show to see the ocean.
Val Wheeler is here happy as he can be.
Some of the boys are not eating anything but I don’t intend to miss a meal.
Tell mama not to worry about me for there are thousands of mothers giving up their sons. I think I will come back some old day but if I don’t (it will just be my time to die.) I am willing to go.
Does Mrs. Self hear from Roy now? Tell Miller I am going to take a little trip and he bet-ter leave my girl alone while I’m gone.
Tell Katie and Mary Bell I will write them when I have time and will learn them some new songs when I come home. As I can’t be with you I hope you will all stay well. Don’t be uneasy aobut me if you don’t hear from me for some time. Tell every body hello for me.
Your son,
Grady Kelley.
NOTES: This letter was written from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana by Grady Kelley. Kelley was born in Rogersville, Tennessee and died on June 8, 1965 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is buried n the Odessa Cemetery n Lake Valley, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkanas Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Nevasa. He was serving as a Private Co 15 Camp Beauregard June Replacement Draft. He departed Brest, France on January 7, 1919 onboard the Pueblo and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on January 20, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY