TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD JANUARY 24, 1918 PP. 1, 4
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Jan. 21, 1918.
My Dear Mr. Burks:
I suppose you think that because you have heard nothing from us lately that we are doing nothing. This is "all wrong," for it is an "all-day job" here now, and if anyone finds time to write letters, he is considered lucky.
All of the boys are in fine shape and with the exception of a few bad colds, there is no sickness in the company to speak of.
I had a letter from home today saying that they had read of the death of Lieutenant Beall of the Machine Gun Company of the 154th Infantry. This was a typographical error, for he was from Company M instead of the Machine Gun Company.
Of course we have been going through machine gun drills, and have been studying the guns for some several weeks but last Thursday was the first day we have had any "real warfare."
Orders were issued by Captain Jeffett late Wednesday to have things ready to take up a position about seven miles out from camp early Thursday morning. The consequence was that at five o'clock the company rolled out of bed, had breakfast, loaded the machine guns in the combat wagon, packed their blanket rolls in shelter halves and with a trench pick or shovel dangling from every belt, the company started on their journey. It was a fine looking sight, for following the line of fine looking young men came the combat wagon loaded to the guards with machine guns and ammunition. In the rear of the combat wagon came the ambulance, but this vehicle was not needed.
The company reached the position which was near the machine gun range, and the field kitchen and the tents went up so fast that in a very few minutes, the little village was finished. A greater part of the morning was spent in drill, but after eating one of the best dinners we have had since Christmas, real work began.
A detachment of expert signal and laizon men from the company, under command of Lieutenant Lockwood, were sent out to locate the enemy. They had been away only a short time before Captain Jeffett received the signal that the enemy was approaching and to entrench at once. This was where the trench picks and shovels were put into action and machine gun pits were soon constructed.
The guns were then mounted on their positions and from this time until late in the afternoon the continuous thump, thump of our nine machine guns made the woods ring for several miles around.
One would think that a day of this kind would be more of an outing than anything else, but from the time orders were given to entrench until the order to break camp was received one would have thought that the Machine Gun Company of the 154th was really in action and that the enemy was only a few hundred yards distant. This spirit of the men of the company on an occasion of this kind is attributed to their high sense of discipline. This is their motto: "Discipline Always."
Late in the afternoon a tired company wended their way back to their little village and the day's camp was broken in a very few minutes. A short time afterward they were on their way to Camp Beauregard, arriving here about seven o'clock. We had a good supper and had all prepared to go to bed at the earliest possible moment, when all of the non-commissioned officers were summoned to the mess hall. Upon our arrival we learned that there were nine machine guns to be taken down, oiled and cleaned, with the result we were ready for bed about 9:30. I don't know about the remainder of the company, but as for myself, I know that little iron bed never did look as good as it did at that time, and if anyone had offered to trade me a Packard automobile for it I suspect I would have turned the proposition down cold.
We were slated to go out again today for another day on our "private machine gun range," but late yesterday afternoon it began to sleet and due to the fact that several inches of sleet and the trenches do not mingle very well, the Captain called the day's work off to allow the men to fill their tents with wood.
When I speak of our private machine gun range in the above paragraph it means the range for our company alone. There is a machine gun range being constructed to be used by the entire division, but it will be several weeks before this is completed, so we have about built us one for our own private use.
Well, I guess I must stop now, but if I can find time will write you more often than I have in the past. Give all the boys in the office my best.
With best wishes, I remain,
Yours truly,
"BUSS."
P.S. Am enclosing a clipping from the El Dorado Times. Look it over. I think it pretty good.
NOTES: This letter was written by John Russworm Miles. He was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn. On April 4, 1894 and died on May 5, 1963. He is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Helena, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Sgt. Machine Gun Co. 154th Infantry in World War I. He departed Newport News, Virginia on August 6, 1918 onboard the Zeelandia. He was listed as a Sgt. Machine Gun Co. 154th Infantry 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Jan. 21, 1918.
My Dear Mr. Burks:
I suppose you think that because you have heard nothing from us lately that we are doing nothing. This is "all wrong," for it is an "all-day job" here now, and if anyone finds time to write letters, he is considered lucky.
All of the boys are in fine shape and with the exception of a few bad colds, there is no sickness in the company to speak of.
I had a letter from home today saying that they had read of the death of Lieutenant Beall of the Machine Gun Company of the 154th Infantry. This was a typographical error, for he was from Company M instead of the Machine Gun Company.
Of course we have been going through machine gun drills, and have been studying the guns for some several weeks but last Thursday was the first day we have had any "real warfare."
Orders were issued by Captain Jeffett late Wednesday to have things ready to take up a position about seven miles out from camp early Thursday morning. The consequence was that at five o'clock the company rolled out of bed, had breakfast, loaded the machine guns in the combat wagon, packed their blanket rolls in shelter halves and with a trench pick or shovel dangling from every belt, the company started on their journey. It was a fine looking sight, for following the line of fine looking young men came the combat wagon loaded to the guards with machine guns and ammunition. In the rear of the combat wagon came the ambulance, but this vehicle was not needed.
The company reached the position which was near the machine gun range, and the field kitchen and the tents went up so fast that in a very few minutes, the little village was finished. A greater part of the morning was spent in drill, but after eating one of the best dinners we have had since Christmas, real work began.
A detachment of expert signal and laizon men from the company, under command of Lieutenant Lockwood, were sent out to locate the enemy. They had been away only a short time before Captain Jeffett received the signal that the enemy was approaching and to entrench at once. This was where the trench picks and shovels were put into action and machine gun pits were soon constructed.
The guns were then mounted on their positions and from this time until late in the afternoon the continuous thump, thump of our nine machine guns made the woods ring for several miles around.
One would think that a day of this kind would be more of an outing than anything else, but from the time orders were given to entrench until the order to break camp was received one would have thought that the Machine Gun Company of the 154th was really in action and that the enemy was only a few hundred yards distant. This spirit of the men of the company on an occasion of this kind is attributed to their high sense of discipline. This is their motto: "Discipline Always."
Late in the afternoon a tired company wended their way back to their little village and the day's camp was broken in a very few minutes. A short time afterward they were on their way to Camp Beauregard, arriving here about seven o'clock. We had a good supper and had all prepared to go to bed at the earliest possible moment, when all of the non-commissioned officers were summoned to the mess hall. Upon our arrival we learned that there were nine machine guns to be taken down, oiled and cleaned, with the result we were ready for bed about 9:30. I don't know about the remainder of the company, but as for myself, I know that little iron bed never did look as good as it did at that time, and if anyone had offered to trade me a Packard automobile for it I suspect I would have turned the proposition down cold.
We were slated to go out again today for another day on our "private machine gun range," but late yesterday afternoon it began to sleet and due to the fact that several inches of sleet and the trenches do not mingle very well, the Captain called the day's work off to allow the men to fill their tents with wood.
When I speak of our private machine gun range in the above paragraph it means the range for our company alone. There is a machine gun range being constructed to be used by the entire division, but it will be several weeks before this is completed, so we have about built us one for our own private use.
Well, I guess I must stop now, but if I can find time will write you more often than I have in the past. Give all the boys in the office my best.
With best wishes, I remain,
Yours truly,
"BUSS."
P.S. Am enclosing a clipping from the El Dorado Times. Look it over. I think it pretty good.
NOTES: This letter was written by John Russworm Miles. He was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn. On April 4, 1894 and died on May 5, 1963. He is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Helena, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Sgt. Machine Gun Co. 154th Infantry in World War I. He departed Newport News, Virginia on August 6, 1918 onboard the Zeelandia. He was listed as a Sgt. Machine Gun Co. 154th Infantry 39th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD