TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOME NEWS JUNE 7, 1918 P. 1
Taliaferro Field,
Hicks, Texas, May, 29
W. W. Raney,
McCrory, Arkansas.
Friend Raney:
No doubt you will be quite surprised to hear from me at this time, but nevertheless, since I am down at the office all alone and have nothing else to do, thought I would write you a few words to let you know I was still in the land of the living. I do not know whether to call this Texas Country the land of the living or not, if you had been in this place the length of time that I have, I think you would recall fond recollections of those old Western Movies you showed upon the screen at the Jewel Theatre. You know what I mean by that, for almost all those wild west picture scenes were supposed to have been laid in Texas or Wyoming or some other forsaken country. Get me Steve? The picture starts off by showing the leading man’s picture as an introduction, then the next thing on the program shows a barren stretch of land for miles and miles, then comes a little printed matter saying “This is the land of lizards and scorpions and is called the “Old Forsaken Country.” Then poor Jim starts trudging his way across this sandy desert, leading his mule with one hand and holding his trusty rifle with the other. Well, take it from me, every time I look across this treeless country I think of those movies. No kidding about if I should see a tree in five miles of this camp I believe I would drop dead in my tracks. And hot, believe me, this is some place for warmth, do not think I would be stretching it one bit if I should tell you I have removed a gallon of perspiration from my face this very day.
The longer I live in this day and time, the more I think of what Sherman said during the Civil War, and suppose I will be firmly convinced of its being true when I get across the pond. However I would be more glad to get over, just simply to get out of this country, for it would be a pleasure to meet a “hun” (notice the little h) in preference to staying here for the duration of the war.
If you remember when I left Augusta to enlist, you will recall that Billingsley of Augusta, and I left at the same time and joined the same branch of service. It sounds like a fairy tale to tell you that we are still together, in the same camp and more than that, we are in the same squadron. This little coincidence certainly makes the camp life much more agreeable, for we can get together and have long talks about the good old days when we were in civilian life. We have been extremely lucky in being kept together. They have separated us on several occasions, but after I would give them one of my famous hard luck stories, they would get us back again. You know how I could camouflage in civil life, well since being in the army nearly six months I am almost a post graduate, for I certainly can shoot that stuff now with the highest degree of efficiency.
Everything is more than good in camp, considering we are at war and the country is in such a hustle to train troops. The eats are fine, better than one would expect in an army camp, and I have been fortunate enough to be placed in one of the best squadrons in camp, as far as the eats are concerned. We have nice long roomy barracks with hot and cold shower bath and real window shades for the windows.
Everyone has to be in bed by ten bells, also be up the following morning at 5. p.x. That is the only thing that has really gotten my goat since joining the army. Can you imagine me getting up at five o’clock in the morning which is the same as rising at four by the old time? I usually wait until the last call and go out the door for reveille, with a shirt in one hand and my hat in the other, then by the time I get to my place in the line I am semi-dressed.
Tell the dude that mails your papers out to do his best and never forget to mail mine to me, for I look forward to the day I am to receive the Bingville News just the same as I look forward to a letter from home. In fact it is just like a letter only much larger in a news way and appreciated just as much.
Should you have time to write, I would be more than glad to hear from you at any time, as a letter now and then from your friends back home cures the blues lots and lots of times.
Wishing you every success in your race for Senator, and at the same time trusting you are doing nicely in your newspaper business, I am,
Your friend,
W. E. McCain.
NOTES: William E. McCain was writing to the editor of the paper, Walter Raney.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Taliaferro Field,
Hicks, Texas, May, 29
W. W. Raney,
McCrory, Arkansas.
Friend Raney:
No doubt you will be quite surprised to hear from me at this time, but nevertheless, since I am down at the office all alone and have nothing else to do, thought I would write you a few words to let you know I was still in the land of the living. I do not know whether to call this Texas Country the land of the living or not, if you had been in this place the length of time that I have, I think you would recall fond recollections of those old Western Movies you showed upon the screen at the Jewel Theatre. You know what I mean by that, for almost all those wild west picture scenes were supposed to have been laid in Texas or Wyoming or some other forsaken country. Get me Steve? The picture starts off by showing the leading man’s picture as an introduction, then the next thing on the program shows a barren stretch of land for miles and miles, then comes a little printed matter saying “This is the land of lizards and scorpions and is called the “Old Forsaken Country.” Then poor Jim starts trudging his way across this sandy desert, leading his mule with one hand and holding his trusty rifle with the other. Well, take it from me, every time I look across this treeless country I think of those movies. No kidding about if I should see a tree in five miles of this camp I believe I would drop dead in my tracks. And hot, believe me, this is some place for warmth, do not think I would be stretching it one bit if I should tell you I have removed a gallon of perspiration from my face this very day.
The longer I live in this day and time, the more I think of what Sherman said during the Civil War, and suppose I will be firmly convinced of its being true when I get across the pond. However I would be more glad to get over, just simply to get out of this country, for it would be a pleasure to meet a “hun” (notice the little h) in preference to staying here for the duration of the war.
If you remember when I left Augusta to enlist, you will recall that Billingsley of Augusta, and I left at the same time and joined the same branch of service. It sounds like a fairy tale to tell you that we are still together, in the same camp and more than that, we are in the same squadron. This little coincidence certainly makes the camp life much more agreeable, for we can get together and have long talks about the good old days when we were in civilian life. We have been extremely lucky in being kept together. They have separated us on several occasions, but after I would give them one of my famous hard luck stories, they would get us back again. You know how I could camouflage in civil life, well since being in the army nearly six months I am almost a post graduate, for I certainly can shoot that stuff now with the highest degree of efficiency.
Everything is more than good in camp, considering we are at war and the country is in such a hustle to train troops. The eats are fine, better than one would expect in an army camp, and I have been fortunate enough to be placed in one of the best squadrons in camp, as far as the eats are concerned. We have nice long roomy barracks with hot and cold shower bath and real window shades for the windows.
Everyone has to be in bed by ten bells, also be up the following morning at 5. p.x. That is the only thing that has really gotten my goat since joining the army. Can you imagine me getting up at five o’clock in the morning which is the same as rising at four by the old time? I usually wait until the last call and go out the door for reveille, with a shirt in one hand and my hat in the other, then by the time I get to my place in the line I am semi-dressed.
Tell the dude that mails your papers out to do his best and never forget to mail mine to me, for I look forward to the day I am to receive the Bingville News just the same as I look forward to a letter from home. In fact it is just like a letter only much larger in a news way and appreciated just as much.
Should you have time to write, I would be more than glad to hear from you at any time, as a letter now and then from your friends back home cures the blues lots and lots of times.
Wishing you every success in your race for Senator, and at the same time trusting you are doing nicely in your newspaper business, I am,
Your friend,
W. E. McCain.
NOTES: William E. McCain was writing to the editor of the paper, Walter Raney.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON