TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT APRIL 8, 1919 P. 3
Reicher, Germany,
March 14, 1919;
Mr. Ed Dixon,
Dear Sir:
I will try to answer your kind and most welcome letter, which I received when I returned from a little vacation trip. My pass was for 14 days and I was at Aix Gis Bains, France, some 600 miles from here.
I am glad to know that everything is O.K. at home, especially to know that father and mother are well. I truly hope they will continue in good health.
Talking of mud, I haven’t had any mud on my shoes in two months. It is dry and springlike here and everybody (natives) are busy with their grapes.
What has got the matter with that country over there that the boys are carrying pistols and the little boys playing at war? We don’t carry them over here any more. Do the little fellows over there want more war? Well, when we get home, suppose we’ll have to show them how to act with their guns.
I have never heard from Hubert since he left Camp Pike. Wish I knew what outfit he belonged to, I’d try to find him. Please give me the address he gave you in his last letter and I will see if I can locate him through the Red Cross.
I will be too late getting home to work on the farm any this year, so I suppose I’ll have to get work on a boat when I get back. Suppose Elmer Rodger and the other boys feel like birds out of a cage. Has Levi Barker arrived home yet?
I had a letter from Elesin the other day and she told me about going to a party at Floyd Smith’s, but she didn’t tell me anything that happened.
I heard that Nance had sold out to Boyle & Reeds. Don’t think I would ever get tired of reading letters from home, so don’t quit writing. Well, I guess Manly’s cotton is strange for that county. How does it yield as to land and price. Tell father if he gets hungry before I get back to cut down the hams and eat them, for ti doesn’t look now as if I’m going to get home anyways soon. I don’t see anything about the 4th division going back. Probably they will be there by 1925 if good luck comes their way. I made application for discharge, but didn’t have any proof from home. I wrote to father six weeks ago to make application through the local board for my discharge. Do you know if he has done so? Please let me know.
So you say John Taylor has a boy at his house? Well I know everything is happening about his little log cabin now. Well, I wish parents and little man good luck.
I met with a great surprise the other day. I was on a pass and saw Roy Dawson. We had a little talk about home. Well, Ed, I am getting fat and lazy you wouldn’t hardly know me. This country is certainly agreeing with me, but oh, my! how I would like to be at home so I could go out wish some chicken. I haven’t been able to go with a girl since I have been over ehre. There are some good looking girls here all right, but I don’t fancy any of them.
I know you are tired of this foolish letter, so I had better close. Write and tell me all the news. I ought to get about two letters a week from all the folks but I only get about one a month. I know it takes 3 cents for a letter, but I will be able to pay 3 cents for every letter received.
Tell father to make things hop and see what he can do for me. War is over now and I want to come home.
Write soon and a long letter.
Your friend,
Chas.
Roy Dawson’s address iof Bat. E 17, F.A., A.EF.
NOTES: Charles William Newsom was born on July 23, 1894 in Wynne, Arkansas and died on November 25, 1963 in Johnson County, Arkansas. He is buried in Eight Mile Cemetery in Beedeville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Private serving in Co. A 147th Inf. 4th Division. He departd Brooklyn, NY on June 20, 1918 onboard the Delta. He was serving as a Private in Co. 3 Camp Pike June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Reicher, Germany,
March 14, 1919;
Mr. Ed Dixon,
Dear Sir:
I will try to answer your kind and most welcome letter, which I received when I returned from a little vacation trip. My pass was for 14 days and I was at Aix Gis Bains, France, some 600 miles from here.
I am glad to know that everything is O.K. at home, especially to know that father and mother are well. I truly hope they will continue in good health.
Talking of mud, I haven’t had any mud on my shoes in two months. It is dry and springlike here and everybody (natives) are busy with their grapes.
What has got the matter with that country over there that the boys are carrying pistols and the little boys playing at war? We don’t carry them over here any more. Do the little fellows over there want more war? Well, when we get home, suppose we’ll have to show them how to act with their guns.
I have never heard from Hubert since he left Camp Pike. Wish I knew what outfit he belonged to, I’d try to find him. Please give me the address he gave you in his last letter and I will see if I can locate him through the Red Cross.
I will be too late getting home to work on the farm any this year, so I suppose I’ll have to get work on a boat when I get back. Suppose Elmer Rodger and the other boys feel like birds out of a cage. Has Levi Barker arrived home yet?
I had a letter from Elesin the other day and she told me about going to a party at Floyd Smith’s, but she didn’t tell me anything that happened.
I heard that Nance had sold out to Boyle & Reeds. Don’t think I would ever get tired of reading letters from home, so don’t quit writing. Well, I guess Manly’s cotton is strange for that county. How does it yield as to land and price. Tell father if he gets hungry before I get back to cut down the hams and eat them, for ti doesn’t look now as if I’m going to get home anyways soon. I don’t see anything about the 4th division going back. Probably they will be there by 1925 if good luck comes their way. I made application for discharge, but didn’t have any proof from home. I wrote to father six weeks ago to make application through the local board for my discharge. Do you know if he has done so? Please let me know.
So you say John Taylor has a boy at his house? Well I know everything is happening about his little log cabin now. Well, I wish parents and little man good luck.
I met with a great surprise the other day. I was on a pass and saw Roy Dawson. We had a little talk about home. Well, Ed, I am getting fat and lazy you wouldn’t hardly know me. This country is certainly agreeing with me, but oh, my! how I would like to be at home so I could go out wish some chicken. I haven’t been able to go with a girl since I have been over ehre. There are some good looking girls here all right, but I don’t fancy any of them.
I know you are tired of this foolish letter, so I had better close. Write and tell me all the news. I ought to get about two letters a week from all the folks but I only get about one a month. I know it takes 3 cents for a letter, but I will be able to pay 3 cents for every letter received.
Tell father to make things hop and see what he can do for me. War is over now and I want to come home.
Write soon and a long letter.
Your friend,
Chas.
Roy Dawson’s address iof Bat. E 17, F.A., A.EF.
NOTES: Charles William Newsom was born on July 23, 1894 in Wynne, Arkansas and died on November 25, 1963 in Johnson County, Arkansas. He is buried in Eight Mile Cemetery in Beedeville, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Private serving in Co. A 147th Inf. 4th Division. He departd Brooklyn, NY on June 20, 1918 onboard the Delta. He was serving as a Private in Co. 3 Camp Pike June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS