TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GREEN FOREST TRIBUNE JULY 26, 1918 P. 2
Vancouver Barracks, Wash
July 4th, 1918
Dear Mother:
Well, today is a great day all over the world. All of the Allies are celebrating it as a national holiday, even old England. She wouldn’t have done it in 1776. Everybody is joyous and glad except old Kaiser Bill. He is beginning to realize that his time is about up. I think he is rather down hearted today. Saw in today’s paper where one of the main guys in Germany says that the war will be practically over by January the 1st, 1919, and if the paper reports are true I really believe that will about end it. Everything has been going against the Huns for the last two weeks. In almost every engagement the Allies have taken some ground from them and have captured prisoners. The Italians have been chasing the Austrians, right and left, principally right, and right is back toward home.
They sure had some celebration here today, and what do you know about it the doctor let all of us who were able don our uniforms and go up to the athletic field this afternoon. That was sure nice of him.
I went up to the 1st Casual company too, to see if I had any mail. There was no one there that knew anything about it, so I didn’t get any. Have only received one letter from you folks since I came from Cosmopolis. In fact that is the only one I’ve received. Received some pictures from Cosmopolis that I had one of the boys send down. Guess I’ll send them to you. So you can see a little what Washington looks like. A fellow can’t get real good pictures of the woods, when close to them, as they are shaded so in spots. So only two of the pictures are real good. I took some more this afternoon.
We have some kind of music nearly every night. Last night there were three ladies from San Francisco, sang and played for us. This morning the band woke me up before it was light, playing “The Yanks are coming.”
There are sure lots of new tents put up in the cantonment now. I beleive there are _____ as many as there ever were before. There sure are lots of men here, also pieces of men.
There were some more ladies around this afternoon giving away flowers. Also some with ice cream cones. I didn’t get any cone, but some flowers.
I guess I have my Kodak sold when the fellow gets a pay day. Will get same I gave for it, so won’t loose any money. Then I’m either going to get a post card or 2 7-8 by 4 7-8 size. Guess it will be a post card size. Each of those pictures I send tells on the back what they are.
I’ve written all I can think of so guess there’s only one thing to do--“quit.” Answer soon.
Your loving son,
H. P. Musick
1st Casual Co., Vancouver Bks, Wash.
NOTES: Hannibal Plummer Musick was born on November 18, 1985 in Cole County, Missouri and died on November 13, 1953 in Lane County, Oregon. He is buried in the Rest-Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Oregon. His military headstone identifies him as serving in the 15th Spruce Sqdn.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Vancouver Barracks, Wash
July 4th, 1918
Dear Mother:
Well, today is a great day all over the world. All of the Allies are celebrating it as a national holiday, even old England. She wouldn’t have done it in 1776. Everybody is joyous and glad except old Kaiser Bill. He is beginning to realize that his time is about up. I think he is rather down hearted today. Saw in today’s paper where one of the main guys in Germany says that the war will be practically over by January the 1st, 1919, and if the paper reports are true I really believe that will about end it. Everything has been going against the Huns for the last two weeks. In almost every engagement the Allies have taken some ground from them and have captured prisoners. The Italians have been chasing the Austrians, right and left, principally right, and right is back toward home.
They sure had some celebration here today, and what do you know about it the doctor let all of us who were able don our uniforms and go up to the athletic field this afternoon. That was sure nice of him.
I went up to the 1st Casual company too, to see if I had any mail. There was no one there that knew anything about it, so I didn’t get any. Have only received one letter from you folks since I came from Cosmopolis. In fact that is the only one I’ve received. Received some pictures from Cosmopolis that I had one of the boys send down. Guess I’ll send them to you. So you can see a little what Washington looks like. A fellow can’t get real good pictures of the woods, when close to them, as they are shaded so in spots. So only two of the pictures are real good. I took some more this afternoon.
We have some kind of music nearly every night. Last night there were three ladies from San Francisco, sang and played for us. This morning the band woke me up before it was light, playing “The Yanks are coming.”
There are sure lots of new tents put up in the cantonment now. I beleive there are _____ as many as there ever were before. There sure are lots of men here, also pieces of men.
There were some more ladies around this afternoon giving away flowers. Also some with ice cream cones. I didn’t get any cone, but some flowers.
I guess I have my Kodak sold when the fellow gets a pay day. Will get same I gave for it, so won’t loose any money. Then I’m either going to get a post card or 2 7-8 by 4 7-8 size. Guess it will be a post card size. Each of those pictures I send tells on the back what they are.
I’ve written all I can think of so guess there’s only one thing to do--“quit.” Answer soon.
Your loving son,
H. P. Musick
1st Casual Co., Vancouver Bks, Wash.
NOTES: Hannibal Plummer Musick was born on November 18, 1985 in Cole County, Missouri and died on November 13, 1953 in Lane County, Oregon. He is buried in the Rest-Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Oregon. His military headstone identifies him as serving in the 15th Spruce Sqdn.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS