TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DREW COUNTY ADVANCE JUNE 3, 1919 P. 3
May 25, 1919.
Camp Mills, Long Island, New York.
Landed here safe on the 22nd and received a telegram on the 23. This time well enjoying myself just hope this will find you all the same. It took us 10 days on the water coming from Brest, France. I left ship there on the 12th. We are at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York. I am at the present time on easy street in New York City. It is worth several dollars to me. Have ridden on street cars, automobiles and several other ways for ten cents and I haven't seen enough of it but will try same hard when I can.
______ever since August 12, last, I had a chance to tell you. On August 14, I left Camp Jackson S.C. for overseas, and I got to Camp Stuart, Va., on the the same month and we stay there until the 21 and sailed for ______and that being my first experience on the water. I thought in my own mind that was some life for some one but it was not worth 5c for me. On our second day I had my first experience of war, a U-boat came ____ we sent 23 shots at him and escaped unharmed but was several hours later by one of our _____. We had 35,000 soldiers and officers, 12 transport ships, ____destroyers and one battle ship. So what we saw until the 9th day and then fifteen English ships ______and on the 11th day we were in another battle with a Sub. We too sweet and on the 13th we landed at Brest, France. This was ____. days on the water. Stayed _____until September ___ and then ____Bordeaux, France. Was until the 16th of October and was sent to Searmage, France, then until the 18th and then Verdun, France where I joined Division. That was on the ____of October and started fro ____on the 24th. There I nearly realized I had to be a soldier, so then hardships came to us and for 16 days the bursting of shells was like the burst of the clouds. On the 11th of November Germany signed for peace and we were at Stenay, France on the Meuse river. We stayed at Stenay until January 6, and then we started for Luxemburg. Stayed in Luxemburg till the time to start home; when it came on the 30th of April there sure were some proud soldiers in the 33rd Division. I think it is just a matter of time until I will be at home. Well, it is now six o'clock Sunday morning. I could sit here until next Sunday and write but I had rather tell you than to write, so will close.
Carilton Lankford,
Co. F 108 Ammunition Train, Camp Mills, Long Island, New York.
NOTES: Many of the missing words are due to the paper being copied on the spine. Carilton H. Lankford was born in Valley Junction, Arkansas on February 24, 1895 and died on November 3, 1969. He is buried in the Dermott City Cemetery in Dermott, Arkansas. He enlisted on the military on April 25, 1918 and was discharged on June 4, 1919. He departed from Brest, France on May 12, 1919 onboard the Charleston. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on May 22, 1919. He was serving in Co. F. 18th Ammunition Train.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
May 25, 1919.
Camp Mills, Long Island, New York.
Landed here safe on the 22nd and received a telegram on the 23. This time well enjoying myself just hope this will find you all the same. It took us 10 days on the water coming from Brest, France. I left ship there on the 12th. We are at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York. I am at the present time on easy street in New York City. It is worth several dollars to me. Have ridden on street cars, automobiles and several other ways for ten cents and I haven't seen enough of it but will try same hard when I can.
______ever since August 12, last, I had a chance to tell you. On August 14, I left Camp Jackson S.C. for overseas, and I got to Camp Stuart, Va., on the the same month and we stay there until the 21 and sailed for ______and that being my first experience on the water. I thought in my own mind that was some life for some one but it was not worth 5c for me. On our second day I had my first experience of war, a U-boat came ____ we sent 23 shots at him and escaped unharmed but was several hours later by one of our _____. We had 35,000 soldiers and officers, 12 transport ships, ____destroyers and one battle ship. So what we saw until the 9th day and then fifteen English ships ______and on the 11th day we were in another battle with a Sub. We too sweet and on the 13th we landed at Brest, France. This was ____. days on the water. Stayed _____until September ___ and then ____Bordeaux, France. Was until the 16th of October and was sent to Searmage, France, then until the 18th and then Verdun, France where I joined Division. That was on the ____of October and started fro ____on the 24th. There I nearly realized I had to be a soldier, so then hardships came to us and for 16 days the bursting of shells was like the burst of the clouds. On the 11th of November Germany signed for peace and we were at Stenay, France on the Meuse river. We stayed at Stenay until January 6, and then we started for Luxemburg. Stayed in Luxemburg till the time to start home; when it came on the 30th of April there sure were some proud soldiers in the 33rd Division. I think it is just a matter of time until I will be at home. Well, it is now six o'clock Sunday morning. I could sit here until next Sunday and write but I had rather tell you than to write, so will close.
Carilton Lankford,
Co. F 108 Ammunition Train, Camp Mills, Long Island, New York.
NOTES: Many of the missing words are due to the paper being copied on the spine. Carilton H. Lankford was born in Valley Junction, Arkansas on February 24, 1895 and died on November 3, 1969. He is buried in the Dermott City Cemetery in Dermott, Arkansas. He enlisted on the military on April 25, 1918 and was discharged on June 4, 1919. He departed from Brest, France on May 12, 1919 onboard the Charleston. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on May 22, 1919. He was serving in Co. F. 18th Ammunition Train.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD