TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD SEPTEMBER 7, 1917 P. 4
To My Friends:
The above clipping from the Arkansas Democrat partly explains why I am writing this letter. The company of which I am a member is trying to raise money for the purpose of having a “chicken dinner,” once in a while and to buy a Victrola and provide some amusements. It was suggested that each member of our company write their friends to help us in this. I know that I have a great many friends who would gladly help us out in this manner if I were to see you personally, however, as this is impossible I am asking Mr. Blankenship to publish this for me. Boys who live here in Little Rock are going to their friends.
I would feel embarrassed to ask my friends for a donation of this kind were it not that each soldier of the company will share equally with the enjoyment of the things which your donation will buy. I hope that just as soon as you have read this you will write me a letter and make a check or money order to Capt. Charles F. Glaenzer, treasurer, for some small amount. I am not expecting any large amounts. I am just expecting nearly all of my friends to send something.
Nearly all of you know that I’m in the service of OUR Uncle. I enlisted August 3rd, in the 3rd Regiment of Arkansas National Guards. Yesterday I received my discharge from the Guards and have been mustered into Federal service for the PERIOD OF THE WAR. I have had quite a lot of interesting experiences already. The first night I was in camp we had a storm. It just rained torrents. We thought several times that our tent was going to leave us. We have plenty to eat. I only hope that we will be this well fed when we get to France. I have gained some weight already and have taken on a nice brown color and the boys say I am going to make a good soldier. All the boys from up there who will be coming down here pretty soon must not forget to bring a pillow with them. You get plenty of blankets and a cot but no pillow. You will need several other little articles such as towels, combs, brushes, razors, in fact everything that you will actually need at home. I had never been a soldier before and came down here without a lot of little things I actually needed. You cannot have a big trunk in the army but you can bring a suit case or a box two and a half feet by one foot.
I will be awfully disappointed if you do not send me a little check for our company fund and will keep a list of those who send and some time I may get to see you and thank you personally for this. I certainly hope that all of you farmers will get a good price for your products and that you will have a nice bank account this fall.
Your friend,
O. C. Mock
3rd Ark. Inf., Little Rock, Ark.
NOTES: Oscar C. Mock was born on July 15, 1888 in Randolph County in died on September 2, 1969. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD