TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKADELPHIA DAILY NEWS JANULARY 29, 1919 P. 1
Dear Mother and Father:
I received the first letters from home yesterday and you can imagine my joy in receiving them. They were the letters that you wrote after receiving my card that I had arrived safely in France.
I am glad to hear that you all were not stricken with the influenza. I read of so many people dying in the States that I was worried about you. I haven’t been sick a day since I arrived in France, and consider myself very lucky indeed, for the Spanish influenza struck our boat and over fifty died with it and the ship was a regular hospital before we got across, for about a third of the boys were sick on the way across. I stood the trip exceedingly well, and did not get sick only one day when I had a light touch of sea sickness, but I never “fed the fishes” during the entire trip.
I am not bothered very much with colds, though it is very damp here all the time, I seldom ever have a cold. I never saw the like of rain. It rains here all the time, and if there is one clear day every two weeks, it is surprising. Those who have been over here a long time, say that it rains all the winter and never rains in the summer, and I believe it was raining when I got off the boat and has been raining ever since.
Well some of the boys are beginning to leave for home now. They are the ones who have been wounded or sick. I have hopes of coming home early next spring, for we have started sending the old mail back to the States or to the writer, whenever it cannot be delivered.
This is New Year’s Day, and I can’t help thinking where I was last New Year’s day, but if God wills I shall be back home next New Year’s Day.
It has been a very dull Christmas for me. The Y.M.C.A. had a Christmas tree though and every one there got a Christmas present.
I heard of Dr. Wallis’ death.
There is an “Arka” boy here in this camp. His name is McCleish, and Neill Ross, who worked in the Merchants and Planters bank is also here working in the Central Record office.
I am glad you got the trunk alright, but I can’t understand why Harris had to get it for you. I left it in care of two of my friends there and they said they would send it home for me. Possibly though they were transferred from the company before they had a chance to send it.
I have not written to Phil since I arrived in France for I do not know his address since he finished the officers training school. I am going to write him though, at his home address and perhaps they will forward it to him.
Well mother, I must write a few lines to sister, so I will close. I am well and getting along just fine, but of course I am anxious to get back to the States again. Take good care of yourselves and perhaps it won’t be long before I will be home to stay. Love to all and may God bless you.
Your loving son,
Harry
NOTES: Harry Anderson Mackey was writing to his father and mother, John and Elizabeth Mackey. He was born in Clark County Arkansas on August 31, 1894 and died on June 18, 1988. He is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on September 23, 1918 onboard the Ryndam. He was serving as a Private in Camp MacArthur September Automatic Replace Draft Co. #11 Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY ALEXIA KIMBROUGH
Dear Mother and Father:
I received the first letters from home yesterday and you can imagine my joy in receiving them. They were the letters that you wrote after receiving my card that I had arrived safely in France.
I am glad to hear that you all were not stricken with the influenza. I read of so many people dying in the States that I was worried about you. I haven’t been sick a day since I arrived in France, and consider myself very lucky indeed, for the Spanish influenza struck our boat and over fifty died with it and the ship was a regular hospital before we got across, for about a third of the boys were sick on the way across. I stood the trip exceedingly well, and did not get sick only one day when I had a light touch of sea sickness, but I never “fed the fishes” during the entire trip.
I am not bothered very much with colds, though it is very damp here all the time, I seldom ever have a cold. I never saw the like of rain. It rains here all the time, and if there is one clear day every two weeks, it is surprising. Those who have been over here a long time, say that it rains all the winter and never rains in the summer, and I believe it was raining when I got off the boat and has been raining ever since.
Well some of the boys are beginning to leave for home now. They are the ones who have been wounded or sick. I have hopes of coming home early next spring, for we have started sending the old mail back to the States or to the writer, whenever it cannot be delivered.
This is New Year’s Day, and I can’t help thinking where I was last New Year’s day, but if God wills I shall be back home next New Year’s Day.
It has been a very dull Christmas for me. The Y.M.C.A. had a Christmas tree though and every one there got a Christmas present.
I heard of Dr. Wallis’ death.
There is an “Arka” boy here in this camp. His name is McCleish, and Neill Ross, who worked in the Merchants and Planters bank is also here working in the Central Record office.
I am glad you got the trunk alright, but I can’t understand why Harris had to get it for you. I left it in care of two of my friends there and they said they would send it home for me. Possibly though they were transferred from the company before they had a chance to send it.
I have not written to Phil since I arrived in France for I do not know his address since he finished the officers training school. I am going to write him though, at his home address and perhaps they will forward it to him.
Well mother, I must write a few lines to sister, so I will close. I am well and getting along just fine, but of course I am anxious to get back to the States again. Take good care of yourselves and perhaps it won’t be long before I will be home to stay. Love to all and may God bless you.
Your loving son,
Harry
NOTES: Harry Anderson Mackey was writing to his father and mother, John and Elizabeth Mackey. He was born in Clark County Arkansas on August 31, 1894 and died on June 18, 1988. He is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on September 23, 1918 onboard the Ryndam. He was serving as a Private in Camp MacArthur September Automatic Replace Draft Co. #11 Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY ALEXIA KIMBROUGH