TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 8
Fort Henry, Maryland
December 1__, 1918
General Hospital No. 2
Ward 10
Dear Grandma and Mother:
Received your welcome letter of the 6th instant and delighted to hear from you. It was the first letter I have received since I left my camp Beauregard, La., and the U.S.A. for overseas. I have written many letters and no answers. I’ve nearly lost my life over there, but as I’ve often times heard you say, it was not my time and way to die, so yours and mothers prayers were answered. Bless my noble hearted comrades, there’s many of them pushing up the Lillies on the battlefields of France. They have bled and died for the freedom of the world. No more will they hear the rattle of the infantry or the roar of the artillery. They have fallen into that dreamless sleep which kisses down their eyelids still. Forever living in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Sweet memory, maybe the civilians, the people they died for will forget them, but their comrades will never forget them as long as one remaineth on the face of God’s green earth.
Hope for our living, tears for our noble dead.
I see the government has made an order when the boys get able, sufficient strength, they will be sent to camps nearest their homes to be discharged. I expect in the near future they will sent me to Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas. Maybe Camp Beauregard, La., and I’ll be discharged. I’ll never be well again. I am feeling much better now, and hope to see you all again real soon. I have not been paid one penny in eight months, maybe I’ll get it all when I am discharged; hope so anyway. Yes, I wish I was with you Xmas, I’d enjoy the rooster. I am a different man that is, I sit round or wall about all day long and never speak a word, unless an officer or comrade speaks to me and asks a question. I’ve seen so much brutality ___rascality and inhumanity over yonder I’m disgusted with everything. There are many imps of hades in the world I’ve found out that are as heartless as a Louisiana mosquito.
Now I will bring my short letter to a close, with love and best wishes to you and mother, hoping for an immediate reply, I am your son and grandson,
Wm. H. Perkins
P.S. Granny I was all over France north, east, south and west---and was in Liverpool, England. England sure is a beautiful country.
NOTES: Perkins was writing to his mother and grandmother from a hospital in Maryland.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Fort Henry, Maryland
December 1__, 1918
General Hospital No. 2
Ward 10
Dear Grandma and Mother:
Received your welcome letter of the 6th instant and delighted to hear from you. It was the first letter I have received since I left my camp Beauregard, La., and the U.S.A. for overseas. I have written many letters and no answers. I’ve nearly lost my life over there, but as I’ve often times heard you say, it was not my time and way to die, so yours and mothers prayers were answered. Bless my noble hearted comrades, there’s many of them pushing up the Lillies on the battlefields of France. They have bled and died for the freedom of the world. No more will they hear the rattle of the infantry or the roar of the artillery. They have fallen into that dreamless sleep which kisses down their eyelids still. Forever living in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Sweet memory, maybe the civilians, the people they died for will forget them, but their comrades will never forget them as long as one remaineth on the face of God’s green earth.
Hope for our living, tears for our noble dead.
I see the government has made an order when the boys get able, sufficient strength, they will be sent to camps nearest their homes to be discharged. I expect in the near future they will sent me to Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas. Maybe Camp Beauregard, La., and I’ll be discharged. I’ll never be well again. I am feeling much better now, and hope to see you all again real soon. I have not been paid one penny in eight months, maybe I’ll get it all when I am discharged; hope so anyway. Yes, I wish I was with you Xmas, I’d enjoy the rooster. I am a different man that is, I sit round or wall about all day long and never speak a word, unless an officer or comrade speaks to me and asks a question. I’ve seen so much brutality ___rascality and inhumanity over yonder I’m disgusted with everything. There are many imps of hades in the world I’ve found out that are as heartless as a Louisiana mosquito.
Now I will bring my short letter to a close, with love and best wishes to you and mother, hoping for an immediate reply, I am your son and grandson,
Wm. H. Perkins
P.S. Granny I was all over France north, east, south and west---and was in Liverpool, England. England sure is a beautiful country.
NOTES: Perkins was writing to his mother and grandmother from a hospital in Maryland.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON