TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT DECEMBER 4, 1918 P. 2
117 M. G. Bn. Co. B.,
Will Lane Military Hospital,
Ward B-3
West Dadsbury, Manchester, Eng.
Miss Elmer Milligan,
Dear Sis:
I will try and write you a few lines this beautiful morning, which leaves me feeling pretty good, but I am not up yet. I think I will get up tomorrow or next day and I sure will be glad when they let me up. I have been in here fifteen days, and believe me, I am getting tired of this place too, although they are feeding much better than they have been. Say sis, there sure were some sick boys on the ship we came over on. Four died and were buried at sea. The ocean was pretty rough when we came across. Say, Taylor Tinsley and I were on the same ship. I didn’t expect to see him. Sis, England sure is some place. Everything is as high as a cat’s back, and more than that there are a number of things we can’t buy at all. Apples cost ten cents each and they are very small ones at that, and we can hardly buy cigarettes and tobacco at all. It is a sight the way the people are rated on their rations. They just barely get enough food to live on, being allowed only fourteen ounces per week to each person. Listen, we can hardly buy chocolate candy over here at all, or any other kind that is fit to eat. We go into a restaurant to buy a meal, get so much, then have to quit. Believe me, the people over here sure do feel the effect of the war.
Well sis, I am certainly glad to know that the war is practically over. Of course, it will be several months after peace is signed before we get to come home, but I don’t believe I will ever see active service. The fact of the business is I know I won’t, but the sooner it is over the better satisfied I will be. I think it will all be over by Christmas.
Well Sis, how is everything back at home. I hope all of you made lots of cotton and are getting good prices. I notice the market price of cotton has gone down a little.
Listen Sis, I want you to write and tell me what papa did with my crop. Tell him to let me know how much it made. I merely want to know if it was any good. I hope it was fine. Has papa still got my horse and what has become of my little Ford. Believe me, I sure have thought of all these good things since I have been in the army. I have missed the good old times I was having when I left home, but I hope there will be lots of pleasure in store for me when I return home again. I want you to write me a long letter and tell me all the news. Tell all the folks to write, for it seems that I can’t find time to write to all. So answer real soon and tell me all about the crop and everything.
Your loving bud,
Jasper.
Sis, I was about to forget to tell you what I was doing. Am having an easy time, but am getting tired of lying in bed. There are twelve of us in this room and all we do is to lie here and wait for the next meal. I never had such an appetite in my life. I think I will be going up town and seeing some of the shows in three or four more days. I will quit. Give all all the folks my love and regards. I will be back home before many more months, if influenza don’t get me again.
NOTES: Jasper Newton Milligan was born in Calamine, Arkansas on April 5, 1896 and died on July 29, 1976 was writing to his sister. He is buried in the Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens in New Port Richey, Florida. He enlisted in the military on June 15, 1918 and was discharged on August 2, 1919. At the time he was living in Tuckerman, Arkansas Bird Township. He was a Private serving in Co. B., 117th Machine Gun Battalion. He departed New York, NY on October 6, 1918 onboard the Lancashire. He was serving as a Private in Co. B. 117th Machine Gun Battalion. He departed St. Nazairre, France on July 9, 1919 onboard the Santa Elena. He was serving as a Private in St. Nazairre Casual Co. 1670 Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
117 M. G. Bn. Co. B.,
Will Lane Military Hospital,
Ward B-3
West Dadsbury, Manchester, Eng.
Miss Elmer Milligan,
Dear Sis:
I will try and write you a few lines this beautiful morning, which leaves me feeling pretty good, but I am not up yet. I think I will get up tomorrow or next day and I sure will be glad when they let me up. I have been in here fifteen days, and believe me, I am getting tired of this place too, although they are feeding much better than they have been. Say sis, there sure were some sick boys on the ship we came over on. Four died and were buried at sea. The ocean was pretty rough when we came across. Say, Taylor Tinsley and I were on the same ship. I didn’t expect to see him. Sis, England sure is some place. Everything is as high as a cat’s back, and more than that there are a number of things we can’t buy at all. Apples cost ten cents each and they are very small ones at that, and we can hardly buy cigarettes and tobacco at all. It is a sight the way the people are rated on their rations. They just barely get enough food to live on, being allowed only fourteen ounces per week to each person. Listen, we can hardly buy chocolate candy over here at all, or any other kind that is fit to eat. We go into a restaurant to buy a meal, get so much, then have to quit. Believe me, the people over here sure do feel the effect of the war.
Well sis, I am certainly glad to know that the war is practically over. Of course, it will be several months after peace is signed before we get to come home, but I don’t believe I will ever see active service. The fact of the business is I know I won’t, but the sooner it is over the better satisfied I will be. I think it will all be over by Christmas.
Well Sis, how is everything back at home. I hope all of you made lots of cotton and are getting good prices. I notice the market price of cotton has gone down a little.
Listen Sis, I want you to write and tell me what papa did with my crop. Tell him to let me know how much it made. I merely want to know if it was any good. I hope it was fine. Has papa still got my horse and what has become of my little Ford. Believe me, I sure have thought of all these good things since I have been in the army. I have missed the good old times I was having when I left home, but I hope there will be lots of pleasure in store for me when I return home again. I want you to write me a long letter and tell me all the news. Tell all the folks to write, for it seems that I can’t find time to write to all. So answer real soon and tell me all about the crop and everything.
Your loving bud,
Jasper.
Sis, I was about to forget to tell you what I was doing. Am having an easy time, but am getting tired of lying in bed. There are twelve of us in this room and all we do is to lie here and wait for the next meal. I never had such an appetite in my life. I think I will be going up town and seeing some of the shows in three or four more days. I will quit. Give all all the folks my love and regards. I will be back home before many more months, if influenza don’t get me again.
NOTES: Jasper Newton Milligan was born in Calamine, Arkansas on April 5, 1896 and died on July 29, 1976 was writing to his sister. He is buried in the Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens in New Port Richey, Florida. He enlisted in the military on June 15, 1918 and was discharged on August 2, 1919. At the time he was living in Tuckerman, Arkansas Bird Township. He was a Private serving in Co. B., 117th Machine Gun Battalion. He departed New York, NY on October 6, 1918 onboard the Lancashire. He was serving as a Private in Co. B. 117th Machine Gun Battalion. He departed St. Nazairre, France on July 9, 1919 onboard the Santa Elena. He was serving as a Private in St. Nazairre Casual Co. 1670 Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS