TRANSCRIBED FROM COLUMBIA BANNER SEPTEMBER 11, 1918, P. 4
To dear friends and loved ones at home:
As I sit here tonight in this large building among many, there is not a face I know, although I feel at home in a sense, for this is a Red Cross building and you helped to put it here, and the Red Cross work is next to heaven.
My experience, as I would like to speak tonight to you good people, is that I am still weak, although I am trying to live right as dear Mother would have me live, although the trial and temptations are great in this sinful world. I still feel weak I am not as strong as I want to be, as you have heard me say before. Sometimes the dark clouds seem to gather low, but, with a smile and a prayer, I try to push them back. I know you all are praying for me, I can feel the strength of your prayers, for I am contented anywhere we go, although it is not home. I ask you all to pray for me. I feel that I need the prayers of every Christian, for I don’t want to betray the confidence you have in me.
I may be crossing the briny deep of the great ocean before this reaches you all, and you may never hear another testimony or experience from me. If not, and I fall, God being my helper, I intend to fall my full length towards heaven. Again I ask the prayers of all you good people.
“God be with you until we meet again” is my prayer. Please sing that song. Oh! If I could hear it once more as I have heard it there before.
You all have my best wishes through life.
Just a boy in khaki on Long Island.
Corporal Roy R Nipper.
P. S. If I have ever mistreated any of you people in any way, I come tonight asking forgiveness, I want to get on higher ground.
NOTES: Roy Robert Nipper was born on March 9, 1896 and died on January 10, 1973. He is buried in the Magnolia City Cemetery, Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an ARKANSAS CPL US ARMY. He was described as being tall and slender with brown eyes and black hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
To dear friends and loved ones at home:
As I sit here tonight in this large building among many, there is not a face I know, although I feel at home in a sense, for this is a Red Cross building and you helped to put it here, and the Red Cross work is next to heaven.
My experience, as I would like to speak tonight to you good people, is that I am still weak, although I am trying to live right as dear Mother would have me live, although the trial and temptations are great in this sinful world. I still feel weak I am not as strong as I want to be, as you have heard me say before. Sometimes the dark clouds seem to gather low, but, with a smile and a prayer, I try to push them back. I know you all are praying for me, I can feel the strength of your prayers, for I am contented anywhere we go, although it is not home. I ask you all to pray for me. I feel that I need the prayers of every Christian, for I don’t want to betray the confidence you have in me.
I may be crossing the briny deep of the great ocean before this reaches you all, and you may never hear another testimony or experience from me. If not, and I fall, God being my helper, I intend to fall my full length towards heaven. Again I ask the prayers of all you good people.
“God be with you until we meet again” is my prayer. Please sing that song. Oh! If I could hear it once more as I have heard it there before.
You all have my best wishes through life.
Just a boy in khaki on Long Island.
Corporal Roy R Nipper.
P. S. If I have ever mistreated any of you people in any way, I come tonight asking forgiveness, I want to get on higher ground.
NOTES: Roy Robert Nipper was born on March 9, 1896 and died on January 10, 1973. He is buried in the Magnolia City Cemetery, Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an ARKANSAS CPL US ARMY. He was described as being tall and slender with brown eyes and black hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT