TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LITTLE RIVER NEWS JANUARY 11, 1918, P. 3
26th Engineers Service Co. B, Nov. 24:
Mr. R. N. Northcross:
Dear Father:
Since November 12th has been chosen as a day on which every American soldier shall write to his father as a Christmas victory letter, I shall not be behind the rest of them, but as I am positive that you have searched every paper from the beginning to the ending of the war and that you have rejoiced and celebrated its ending in so many ways until I fear that I am unable to make you feel any better. If I would discuss this subject from end to end but since you have not heard from me since we have won the worlds greatest victory no doubt but that I can kindle up and adda little more joy to your heart by telling you that after such a tremendous worldwide struggle and after going through some of the most dangerous and darkest hours of all my life and after so many of our Soldiers who were just as good as I am and some much better than I have ever dared to be, are at this moment resting in the watery graves. Some of them have left behind them back in the land of freedom, a loving weeping and heartbroken mother, wife, father, sister or brother and a host of friends to mourn their loss but regardless to all the above mentioned, I am able to truthfully say that I have gone through it all without a sick day or without a scratch or without a pain, hence you are glad and are willing to say with me that I have been wonderfully blessed.
Now that the war is over does not prove that I will be home at once but the time is not as long as it used to be therefore I am positive that I will not be with you all for Christmas to put my feet under the table and my upper lip over the fatted pig, nor will I be able to give you all the Christmas presents and walk from room to room and from place to place and enjoy the many good blessings of life but I shall remember you in my prayer to the one who has guided us.
When you write to me I want you to tell me all the news of Richmond and what a lovely Christmas you had and how much cotton did you make and how much did Leavy make and what is your great bank account, and how is the undertaking shop getting along, is business very dull with it?
Papa tell Mamma that I am OK and she may know that I will be home home as soon as possible and remember me to all of the Children and my other friends.
I am as ever, your son,
Ennis Northcross.
NOTES: African American soldier Ennis Northcross was on born November 23, 1887 at Richmond, Arkansas in Little River County and died on July 31, 1961. His military headstone application identified him as Pfc. 26th Servo Co. 20th Engrs. and noted he was buried in the Rhodes Cemetery in Ashdown, Arkansas He entered the service on June 21, 1918 and was discharged on July 24, 1919. He returned from France leaving Bordeaux on July 1, 1919 onboard the Housatonic. He was listed as a Pvt. serving with the 26th Engineers Service Company.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
26th Engineers Service Co. B, Nov. 24:
Mr. R. N. Northcross:
Dear Father:
Since November 12th has been chosen as a day on which every American soldier shall write to his father as a Christmas victory letter, I shall not be behind the rest of them, but as I am positive that you have searched every paper from the beginning to the ending of the war and that you have rejoiced and celebrated its ending in so many ways until I fear that I am unable to make you feel any better. If I would discuss this subject from end to end but since you have not heard from me since we have won the worlds greatest victory no doubt but that I can kindle up and adda little more joy to your heart by telling you that after such a tremendous worldwide struggle and after going through some of the most dangerous and darkest hours of all my life and after so many of our Soldiers who were just as good as I am and some much better than I have ever dared to be, are at this moment resting in the watery graves. Some of them have left behind them back in the land of freedom, a loving weeping and heartbroken mother, wife, father, sister or brother and a host of friends to mourn their loss but regardless to all the above mentioned, I am able to truthfully say that I have gone through it all without a sick day or without a scratch or without a pain, hence you are glad and are willing to say with me that I have been wonderfully blessed.
Now that the war is over does not prove that I will be home at once but the time is not as long as it used to be therefore I am positive that I will not be with you all for Christmas to put my feet under the table and my upper lip over the fatted pig, nor will I be able to give you all the Christmas presents and walk from room to room and from place to place and enjoy the many good blessings of life but I shall remember you in my prayer to the one who has guided us.
When you write to me I want you to tell me all the news of Richmond and what a lovely Christmas you had and how much cotton did you make and how much did Leavy make and what is your great bank account, and how is the undertaking shop getting along, is business very dull with it?
Papa tell Mamma that I am OK and she may know that I will be home home as soon as possible and remember me to all of the Children and my other friends.
I am as ever, your son,
Ennis Northcross.
NOTES: African American soldier Ennis Northcross was on born November 23, 1887 at Richmond, Arkansas in Little River County and died on July 31, 1961. His military headstone application identified him as Pfc. 26th Servo Co. 20th Engrs. and noted he was buried in the Rhodes Cemetery in Ashdown, Arkansas He entered the service on June 21, 1918 and was discharged on July 24, 1919. He returned from France leaving Bordeaux on July 1, 1919 onboard the Housatonic. He was listed as a Pvt. serving with the 26th Engineers Service Company.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.