TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MELBOURNE TIMES JULY 18, 1918 P. 3
Camp Mills, Garden City, N.Y.
July 12, 1918
Dear Editor and Readers of the Melbourne Times:
As there is no chance for me to visit Izard county soon I will write a short letter.
Have been in the army little over two months; was with the 22d construction company for a short time after I got to the aviation camp at Waco, Texas. Clyde Hanks and Bob Simmons were also with me. Hanks and myself were transferred to the 19th construction company shortly afterward. Hanks went to the hospital with a sore foot and was there when our company got orders to move, consequently he was transferred to another company. However, we remained there about two weeks drilling and working hard every day. The 18th company and half of the 19th company left Waco June 14th and was followed by the 17th company and the remainder of the 19th company three days later. After four long sleepless, meatless and sweetless days and nights we arrived at Signal Field 2 on Long Island, 22 miles south of New York City. We had a very good time on the road. The Red Cross women met us at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on Saturday evening, June 15. Each of us got a cone of ice cream, a cup of lemonade and a piece of chocolate candy. We certainly did enjoy it, for we could not buy anything on the train.
We went to the Y.M.C.A. building at Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday evening where we all got a free bath and lunch. We were given post cards, magazines candy, nuts, and cigarettes at many places where the Red Cross folks were expecting us.
Most of us are better satisfied here as the weather was awfully hot and dry in Texas. When we got here we exchanged our khaki clothing for all wool suits. We found quite a change in temperature and was glad to get wool clothing. I was on guard on the night before 4th of July, and it may sound a little odd but I wore my heavy overcoat all the time while on guard. Ninety per cent of each company were given passes to New York City on the 4th, consequently there were but few men left in camp. We were transferred to the barracks in field 1 yesterday. Our barracks is a large, one story building with concrete floor, electric lights, hot and cold water. Most of us are pretty well satisfied in the army. We do but little drilling, but work about six or eight hours every day except Sunday.
There are quite a number of aeroplanes here. The new model three plane 'Curtis' are manufactured about a half mile from here. Any soldier can go up in an aeroplane by signing away his insurance until he comes down.
I received a letter also a box of Izard county apples and cakes today, and was glad to get them. Am sorry to learn you have a drouth there this summer.
Well, I have written more than I intended when I began, so will close with best wishes to The Times and its readers.
Dwight Meeker,
19th Construction Co., Hazelhurst Field 1, Garden City, N. Y.
NOTES: Lawrence Dwight Meeker was born in Lunenburg, Arkansas on December 30, 1888 and died on September 9,1935. He is buried in the Combs Cemetery near Melbourne, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Private serving in the US Army. He enlisted in the military on May 6, 1918 and was discharged on December 22, 1918. He departed for France on August 8, 1918 onboard the Empress of Russia. He was a Private serving in the 19th Construction Company, Aviation Section Signal Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Mills, Garden City, N.Y.
July 12, 1918
Dear Editor and Readers of the Melbourne Times:
As there is no chance for me to visit Izard county soon I will write a short letter.
Have been in the army little over two months; was with the 22d construction company for a short time after I got to the aviation camp at Waco, Texas. Clyde Hanks and Bob Simmons were also with me. Hanks and myself were transferred to the 19th construction company shortly afterward. Hanks went to the hospital with a sore foot and was there when our company got orders to move, consequently he was transferred to another company. However, we remained there about two weeks drilling and working hard every day. The 18th company and half of the 19th company left Waco June 14th and was followed by the 17th company and the remainder of the 19th company three days later. After four long sleepless, meatless and sweetless days and nights we arrived at Signal Field 2 on Long Island, 22 miles south of New York City. We had a very good time on the road. The Red Cross women met us at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on Saturday evening, June 15. Each of us got a cone of ice cream, a cup of lemonade and a piece of chocolate candy. We certainly did enjoy it, for we could not buy anything on the train.
We went to the Y.M.C.A. building at Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday evening where we all got a free bath and lunch. We were given post cards, magazines candy, nuts, and cigarettes at many places where the Red Cross folks were expecting us.
Most of us are better satisfied here as the weather was awfully hot and dry in Texas. When we got here we exchanged our khaki clothing for all wool suits. We found quite a change in temperature and was glad to get wool clothing. I was on guard on the night before 4th of July, and it may sound a little odd but I wore my heavy overcoat all the time while on guard. Ninety per cent of each company were given passes to New York City on the 4th, consequently there were but few men left in camp. We were transferred to the barracks in field 1 yesterday. Our barracks is a large, one story building with concrete floor, electric lights, hot and cold water. Most of us are pretty well satisfied in the army. We do but little drilling, but work about six or eight hours every day except Sunday.
There are quite a number of aeroplanes here. The new model three plane 'Curtis' are manufactured about a half mile from here. Any soldier can go up in an aeroplane by signing away his insurance until he comes down.
I received a letter also a box of Izard county apples and cakes today, and was glad to get them. Am sorry to learn you have a drouth there this summer.
Well, I have written more than I intended when I began, so will close with best wishes to The Times and its readers.
Dwight Meeker,
19th Construction Co., Hazelhurst Field 1, Garden City, N. Y.
NOTES: Lawrence Dwight Meeker was born in Lunenburg, Arkansas on December 30, 1888 and died on September 9,1935. He is buried in the Combs Cemetery near Melbourne, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Private serving in the US Army. He enlisted in the military on May 6, 1918 and was discharged on December 22, 1918. He departed for France on August 8, 1918 onboard the Empress of Russia. He was a Private serving in the 19th Construction Company, Aviation Section Signal Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD