TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BRINKLEY ARGUS OCTOBER 18, 1918 P. 7
Thenay, France, Sept. 28.
Dear home folks:
How are you? Well, I hope. I'm well and enjoying good health. My feet are just a little sore--just in from a long hike.
Where is Virgil C.? In Virginia or over here? This sure is a nice country, but everything looks so different to what it does over in the good old states. All the houses are brick or stone. We are now in what they call a shed, made of rock, in a town on the back side of the world, but it seems like home, even tho' it is a hay pile. The children are running and playing to-day
I have been washing to-day and I want you to know it was some laundry when I got thru with it. I washed in a creek, sitting on a rock. As I washed in clear running water, I'll bet the soap suds were one-hundred and sixty-three miles from there when I got through. I enjoyed it fine.
We have a jolly good time, "sometimes." How is everything going at Keevil--on the boom I guess.
Over here they are gathering grapes and making wine.
This country has'nt any fences or anything like that.
We have been riding box cars until it makes me think of riding Coton Belt freight trains at Keevil.
You don't see any cotton and corn here but a fellow does see lots of "sweet lasses"--better even than the kind that the Hampton boys made at Keevil. In fact these lasses are the kind that inspire we American boys to go over the top or fight 'til the Huns quit France.
I've taken quite a round since I've been in the army. I first came to France; thence to London; thence back to France and believe me I am seeing some sights.
If you folks at homeonly back us up by taking your full quota of 4th Liberty Bonds we'll whip the Huns. Love to all.
Your son,
N. E. Kelly.
Co. G, 161 Inf.
NOTES: This letter was written by Norvell Edward Kelly. He was born in Lonoke, Arkansas on December 5, 1895 and died on June 9, 1965. He is buried in the Springdale Cemetery and mausoleum in Peoria, Illinois. His military headstone identifies him as an Illinois Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed New York, NY on August 24, 1918 onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike August Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry Co. #13. When he registered for the draft he was living in Monroe County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Thenay, France, Sept. 28.
Dear home folks:
How are you? Well, I hope. I'm well and enjoying good health. My feet are just a little sore--just in from a long hike.
Where is Virgil C.? In Virginia or over here? This sure is a nice country, but everything looks so different to what it does over in the good old states. All the houses are brick or stone. We are now in what they call a shed, made of rock, in a town on the back side of the world, but it seems like home, even tho' it is a hay pile. The children are running and playing to-day
I have been washing to-day and I want you to know it was some laundry when I got thru with it. I washed in a creek, sitting on a rock. As I washed in clear running water, I'll bet the soap suds were one-hundred and sixty-three miles from there when I got through. I enjoyed it fine.
We have a jolly good time, "sometimes." How is everything going at Keevil--on the boom I guess.
Over here they are gathering grapes and making wine.
This country has'nt any fences or anything like that.
We have been riding box cars until it makes me think of riding Coton Belt freight trains at Keevil.
You don't see any cotton and corn here but a fellow does see lots of "sweet lasses"--better even than the kind that the Hampton boys made at Keevil. In fact these lasses are the kind that inspire we American boys to go over the top or fight 'til the Huns quit France.
I've taken quite a round since I've been in the army. I first came to France; thence to London; thence back to France and believe me I am seeing some sights.
If you folks at homeonly back us up by taking your full quota of 4th Liberty Bonds we'll whip the Huns. Love to all.
Your son,
N. E. Kelly.
Co. G, 161 Inf.
NOTES: This letter was written by Norvell Edward Kelly. He was born in Lonoke, Arkansas on December 5, 1895 and died on June 9, 1965. He is buried in the Springdale Cemetery and mausoleum in Peoria, Illinois. His military headstone identifies him as an Illinois Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He departed New York, NY on August 24, 1918 onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike August Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry Co. #13. When he registered for the draft he was living in Monroe County, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD