TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DARDANELLE POST DISPATCH JUNE 19, 1919 P. 1
Camp Guthrie, France.
May 27, 1919.
Editor Post-Dispatch:
I was sitting here tonight thinking of the fire that occurred here at St. Nazarie, France; the night of May 25th. The large American post office burned. How the fire started is not known. Quite a lot of mail was destroyed, three or four mail ships from the U.S.A. having unloaded just the day before. The property loss is not great, but it makes me sad to think of the great number of letters from the folks back home that were destroyed, and which otherwise would have been read with great pleasure by the boys over here. I am always so happy to get a letter from homefolks or friends back in the good old U.S.A.
I am looking forward to the homecoming of the 142nd F.A. I don’t know just when we will be on our way, but we are going through with our inspections and are now at a port of embarkation, and are very anxious to start for home.
There are many nice places of entertainment here in this camp. The largest theatre is that of the Salvation Army, and they also have a canteen that I appreciate very much; also a writing room, where I am now. They serve delicious hot cocoa and doughnuts to the boys and hold religious services every evening. They have done and are doing a wonderful work for the boys of the A.E.F. and you can see that I am highly pleased with what I have seen of them.
The weather is hot and dry here now, just like mid-summer at home. Well, I will not write a long letter, but I hope this will be published.
With love to all,
Corp. Burlie Parks,
Batt. E. 142nd F.A., A.E.F.
NOTES: Burlie Parks was born in Centerville, Arkansas on November 11, 1896 and died on April 17, 1975. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Yell County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Cpl. serving in the US Army during World War 1. He enlisted on June 26, 1916 and was discharged on June 25, 1919. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was listed as a Cpl. serving in Battery E 142nd Field Artillery. He departed St. Nazaire on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as a Cpl. serving in Battery E 142nd Field Artillery. In later life he worked at the Smithsonian Institution.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Camp Guthrie, France.
May 27, 1919.
Editor Post-Dispatch:
I was sitting here tonight thinking of the fire that occurred here at St. Nazarie, France; the night of May 25th. The large American post office burned. How the fire started is not known. Quite a lot of mail was destroyed, three or four mail ships from the U.S.A. having unloaded just the day before. The property loss is not great, but it makes me sad to think of the great number of letters from the folks back home that were destroyed, and which otherwise would have been read with great pleasure by the boys over here. I am always so happy to get a letter from homefolks or friends back in the good old U.S.A.
I am looking forward to the homecoming of the 142nd F.A. I don’t know just when we will be on our way, but we are going through with our inspections and are now at a port of embarkation, and are very anxious to start for home.
There are many nice places of entertainment here in this camp. The largest theatre is that of the Salvation Army, and they also have a canteen that I appreciate very much; also a writing room, where I am now. They serve delicious hot cocoa and doughnuts to the boys and hold religious services every evening. They have done and are doing a wonderful work for the boys of the A.E.F. and you can see that I am highly pleased with what I have seen of them.
The weather is hot and dry here now, just like mid-summer at home. Well, I will not write a long letter, but I hope this will be published.
With love to all,
Corp. Burlie Parks,
Batt. E. 142nd F.A., A.E.F.
NOTES: Burlie Parks was born in Centerville, Arkansas on November 11, 1896 and died on April 17, 1975. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Yell County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Cpl. serving in the US Army during World War 1. He enlisted on June 26, 1916 and was discharged on June 25, 1919. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was listed as a Cpl. serving in Battery E 142nd Field Artillery. He departed St. Nazaire on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as a Cpl. serving in Battery E 142nd Field Artillery. In later life he worked at the Smithsonian Institution.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD