TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT MARCH 1, 1918 P. 1
Camp Beauregard, La., Feb. 16.
VAN BUREN CO. DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Arkansas.
DEAR SIR:
We have been intending to write you a letter for some time and if you will give it publicity it will serve as a letter to other friends in the county. We are very well satisfied with everything here at Camp Beauregard, but we feel that some of our "comrades in arms" those letters it has been our pleasure to read in the various newspapers, exaggerate somewhat in writing such glorious accounts of army life. What we want to do is to present to Democrat readers as near as possible a description of conditions as they actually exist in the army.
We came here from Camp Pike about three and one-half months ago and have been under strict quarantine nearly all the time we have been here and guess we are doomed for the remainder of our stay as there is no indication of the quarantine being raised soon. We have lots of measles and mumps and there are always several of our company isolated in the detention camp, but we have been lucky so far and have not been separated from the company worthy of mention.
Five o'clock every morning finds us on our toes, making hasty preparation for reville, while first call does not sound until 5:45 we have to make our bunks and police inside and outside our tents which we do not have time to do after reville. Incidentally, after reville comes breakfast which for the most part the boys need no coaxing to get them out for the mess hall.
Drill call comes at 7:00 and most of the boys are prompt about getting in line. Of course there are a few stragglers who are slow about getting to their places and some who try to beat drill, but they always get extra drilling on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, which are half-holidays.
Woe unto the man who drops his gun, or who is caught gazing or moving around in ranks while on drill ground, for his name is sure to get to the 1st Sergeant for extra drill. We only have to drill seven hours a day, but we sure get plenty of exercise during these seven hours and feel very much like resting when tattoo sounds. We get mail twice a day, and by the way it is about the happiest time of the day, for if we don't get a letter we are left in eager anticipation. A soldier certainly enjoys getting letters and news from home and friends.
Everything must be in tip-top shape on Saturday morning for company inspection. Our cots must be in the Co. street and lined up with the most of our equipment on our cots. Not only must our cots and equipment be clean and in proper condition, but special attention is given to our personal cleanliness. Everyone must be clean shaved, have his hair trimmed, shoes shined, and have on clean clothes. Above all our rifles must be clean. About once a week we have to go on guard which is about the most disagreeable work we have to do. Also once a week we go to the rifle range for target practice.
There are plenty French and English officers here who give us and our officers plenty of training on special branches, such as bayonet practice, trench construction and patrol duty. We have also been putting on small parades for the French officers.
We feel that we can hardly say enough for the Y.M.C.A. which has stuck to us through thick and thin during this quarantine. Although we have not been allowed to go to the Y.M.C.A. building the secretaries have kept us supplied with stationery, stamps, magazines, and anything else they can do for us to help us along.
We enjoy ourselves as well as could be expected, but to speak the sentiment of everyone in camp we would say that we would be glad to hear of a just and honorable peace, but until then we are fully determined to do our bit. We feel as some philosopher has put it, "we are not fighting a war, but war itself."
While we would much rather be at home with friends and loved ones we are perfectly satisfied until "Kaiserism" and "Prussianism" has been crushed and a world democracy shall prevail.
We are enclosing $1.50 for a year's subscription to the Democrat, feeling that we can hear more news through the Democrat than in any other way. Wishing the Democrat and our Van Buren county friends much success, we remain,
BRANNON JACOBS,
RICHARD LEWIS.
Co. "A" 153 Infty., Camp Beauregard, La.
NOTES: The newspaper has misspelled the first name of Jacobs, it is Branon. Branon Carlisle Jacobs was born in Scotland, Arkansas on December 12, 1892 and died on August 18, 1945. He is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Van Buren County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. 101st Supply Train 26th Division. He enlisted on September 9, 1917 and was discharged on May 7, 1919. He departed Brest, France onboard the Winifredian on April 6, 1919 and arrived in Boston, Mass. on April 18, 1919. He was serving a Cpl. in Hdq. Det. 101st Supply Train.
(NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN LOCATED ON RICHARD LEWIS)
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Beauregard, La., Feb. 16.
VAN BUREN CO. DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Arkansas.
DEAR SIR:
We have been intending to write you a letter for some time and if you will give it publicity it will serve as a letter to other friends in the county. We are very well satisfied with everything here at Camp Beauregard, but we feel that some of our "comrades in arms" those letters it has been our pleasure to read in the various newspapers, exaggerate somewhat in writing such glorious accounts of army life. What we want to do is to present to Democrat readers as near as possible a description of conditions as they actually exist in the army.
We came here from Camp Pike about three and one-half months ago and have been under strict quarantine nearly all the time we have been here and guess we are doomed for the remainder of our stay as there is no indication of the quarantine being raised soon. We have lots of measles and mumps and there are always several of our company isolated in the detention camp, but we have been lucky so far and have not been separated from the company worthy of mention.
Five o'clock every morning finds us on our toes, making hasty preparation for reville, while first call does not sound until 5:45 we have to make our bunks and police inside and outside our tents which we do not have time to do after reville. Incidentally, after reville comes breakfast which for the most part the boys need no coaxing to get them out for the mess hall.
Drill call comes at 7:00 and most of the boys are prompt about getting in line. Of course there are a few stragglers who are slow about getting to their places and some who try to beat drill, but they always get extra drilling on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, which are half-holidays.
Woe unto the man who drops his gun, or who is caught gazing or moving around in ranks while on drill ground, for his name is sure to get to the 1st Sergeant for extra drill. We only have to drill seven hours a day, but we sure get plenty of exercise during these seven hours and feel very much like resting when tattoo sounds. We get mail twice a day, and by the way it is about the happiest time of the day, for if we don't get a letter we are left in eager anticipation. A soldier certainly enjoys getting letters and news from home and friends.
Everything must be in tip-top shape on Saturday morning for company inspection. Our cots must be in the Co. street and lined up with the most of our equipment on our cots. Not only must our cots and equipment be clean and in proper condition, but special attention is given to our personal cleanliness. Everyone must be clean shaved, have his hair trimmed, shoes shined, and have on clean clothes. Above all our rifles must be clean. About once a week we have to go on guard which is about the most disagreeable work we have to do. Also once a week we go to the rifle range for target practice.
There are plenty French and English officers here who give us and our officers plenty of training on special branches, such as bayonet practice, trench construction and patrol duty. We have also been putting on small parades for the French officers.
We feel that we can hardly say enough for the Y.M.C.A. which has stuck to us through thick and thin during this quarantine. Although we have not been allowed to go to the Y.M.C.A. building the secretaries have kept us supplied with stationery, stamps, magazines, and anything else they can do for us to help us along.
We enjoy ourselves as well as could be expected, but to speak the sentiment of everyone in camp we would say that we would be glad to hear of a just and honorable peace, but until then we are fully determined to do our bit. We feel as some philosopher has put it, "we are not fighting a war, but war itself."
While we would much rather be at home with friends and loved ones we are perfectly satisfied until "Kaiserism" and "Prussianism" has been crushed and a world democracy shall prevail.
We are enclosing $1.50 for a year's subscription to the Democrat, feeling that we can hear more news through the Democrat than in any other way. Wishing the Democrat and our Van Buren county friends much success, we remain,
BRANNON JACOBS,
RICHARD LEWIS.
Co. "A" 153 Infty., Camp Beauregard, La.
NOTES: The newspaper has misspelled the first name of Jacobs, it is Branon. Branon Carlisle Jacobs was born in Scotland, Arkansas on December 12, 1892 and died on August 18, 1945. He is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Van Buren County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. 101st Supply Train 26th Division. He enlisted on September 9, 1917 and was discharged on May 7, 1919. He departed Brest, France onboard the Winifredian on April 6, 1919 and arrived in Boston, Mass. on April 18, 1919. He was serving a Cpl. in Hdq. Det. 101st Supply Train.
(NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN LOCATED ON RICHARD LEWIS)
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD