TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT JANUARY 3, 1918 P. 9
My Dear Mother:
Will try to write you a few lines. It has been over a week since I have written you, but, mamma dear, I just haven’t had time. I guess you would like to know what I have been doing. Well, I have been hauling wounded soldiers, ammunition and rations 16 out of every 24 hours. I do not mind the long hours, though, for I am trying the best I know how to do my bit in this awful war.
You can not realize how terrible it is until you have seen what I have seen in the last few days. But I won’t talk about that now for it is too horrible to even think about. When I do think about it, it makes me want to be right up there fighting with the boys.
I have seen hundreds of refugees, old men, women and children, who have been prisoners for over three years. They sure were happy to be rescued. We hauled them back from the line. One of the most pitiful sights I have ever seen was a French woman who had been wounded (her limb was broken) and her three little children. It made me hate the Germans more than I ever did before. It made me want to take my rifle and go up there and kill all of them I could see. Just think of the torture those poor women had gone through while they were prisoners. Three years of hell. It is simply awful.
I haven’t much more time to write, so I will tell you a little about myself. I am well and feeling fine. I can not say that I am happy, for one couldn’t be happy over here seeing this awful strife. But I am contented doing my little bit for my country, and do not want to come back until it is finished.
Give all my love, and world’s of love to you. Take good care of your dear self and write as often as you can to your loving son.
NOTES: Reuben W “Cat” Miller was writing to his mother, Mrs. J. Miller. He was born December 3, 1891, Argenta, Arkansas and died April 19, 1936, Legion, Kerr County, Texas. He is buried in the Kerrville National Cemetery, Legion, Texas. He gravestone list him as Arkansas, Pvt. 12 Engrs.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
My Dear Mother:
Will try to write you a few lines. It has been over a week since I have written you, but, mamma dear, I just haven’t had time. I guess you would like to know what I have been doing. Well, I have been hauling wounded soldiers, ammunition and rations 16 out of every 24 hours. I do not mind the long hours, though, for I am trying the best I know how to do my bit in this awful war.
You can not realize how terrible it is until you have seen what I have seen in the last few days. But I won’t talk about that now for it is too horrible to even think about. When I do think about it, it makes me want to be right up there fighting with the boys.
I have seen hundreds of refugees, old men, women and children, who have been prisoners for over three years. They sure were happy to be rescued. We hauled them back from the line. One of the most pitiful sights I have ever seen was a French woman who had been wounded (her limb was broken) and her three little children. It made me hate the Germans more than I ever did before. It made me want to take my rifle and go up there and kill all of them I could see. Just think of the torture those poor women had gone through while they were prisoners. Three years of hell. It is simply awful.
I haven’t much more time to write, so I will tell you a little about myself. I am well and feeling fine. I can not say that I am happy, for one couldn’t be happy over here seeing this awful strife. But I am contented doing my little bit for my country, and do not want to come back until it is finished.
Give all my love, and world’s of love to you. Take good care of your dear self and write as often as you can to your loving son.
NOTES: Reuben W “Cat” Miller was writing to his mother, Mrs. J. Miller. He was born December 3, 1891, Argenta, Arkansas and died April 19, 1936, Legion, Kerr County, Texas. He is buried in the Kerrville National Cemetery, Legion, Texas. He gravestone list him as Arkansas, Pvt. 12 Engrs.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT