TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT JULY 19, 1918 P. 1
Camp Pike, Ark., July 10, '18.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Ark.
MY DEAR SIR:
I went to see Whitfield Branscum this morning, who is in the 2d Co. of this training camp. He showed me two copies of the Democrat, one of which contained a letter from my good friend, Dr. R. M. Hunter, also, an interesting letter from Dykes Hatchett at Camp Dix, N.J.
It is needless to say that I am "Van Buren county sick" since reading these copies of your splendid paper. Letters from soldier boys are very interesting to me, and I read every one I can get hold of, even if I don't know the writer. Our soldiers and sailors are having some great experiences and all of us enjoy reading about them.
I have some very dear friends in Van Buren county whom I shall never forget. The four years that I spent in Clinton High School will always be one of the bright spots in my life.
I have been in the service since December 4th. I was in Casual Co. No. 8 until January 15th. Then I was transferred to Co. M 346 Inft., where I remained until May 15th. While in Co. M I did a little teaching on the side. One of the camp Y.M.C.A. secretaries from New York City came to me one day and told me that he wanted me to take charge of a class of foreigners and teach them to read and write English. I gladly consented.
The class was composed of 17 men, principally Italians. However, among these were four Russian Poles, one Frenchman, one Greek, and one Syrian. This is the most interesting experience I ever had in my life. I enjoyed it immensely, but I didn't enjoy it as much as they did. They were intensely interested in all the work and learned very rapidly. When I met a member of my class out in camp he would say pleasantly in broken English, "Hello, Teacher."
If I had stayed in Co. M I would have been in France now. Co. M left here for Camp Merritt, N. J., about June 15th. I have been here since May 15th and we are now in the 9th week of our training. We have a different schedule each week. Our work is strenuous but I enjoy it. We get up at 5:30 in the morning and get through at 9:30 at night. we have to study every night except Saturday night from 7:30 to 9:30. We have drill--both close and extended order, bayonet work, sighting and aiming drill, grenade and automatic rifle work. In general we study and drill in everything connected with modern warfare. Saturday afternoons, Saturday nights and Sundays we have to ourselves and can go to Little Rock if we wish.
Another thing we have is "hikes." About a week ago one thousand of us took an all day hike. Each of us had to carry our complete equipment, which weighs about sixty pounds, including the rifle. the complete equipment carried in the pack consists of cartridge belt, first aid package, canteen, mess kit, knife, fork, spoon, two blankets, shelter half, poncho, bayonet, tent pins, tent rope, tent pole, tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, towel, mirror, shaving outfit, two pair socks and one suit of underwear. In addition each one has a rifle weighing about ten pounds. Capt. Bramer of the British army went with us. He fought the Turks in Mesopotamia for two years. He is very handsome, arrayed in quaint oriental dress.
This is now the Central Officers' Training School, instead of the 4th Officers' Training School. It was made so by a recent war department order. Soon 4,000 student officers will be in training here. The machine gun department of the Central Officers' Training School is at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga., while the artillery branch is located at Camp Taylor, Louisville, Ky. 244 negro student officers are here, also 27 negro lieutenants. They were sent here from Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa.
All citizens should know something about the work of the Y.M.C.A. as you are called upon frequently to contribute to it. In my judgment it is one of the greatest organizations in the world. It has had a tremendous influence in developing the morale of our soldier boys. The Y.M.C.A. follows the boys everywhere, even up to the front line trenches.
The Y.M.C.A. secretaries are fine fellows. They will do anything in the world to accommodate you. The most homelike place in the world besides our own homes is the "Y". I wish time and space did not forbid my telling you in detail what the "Y" is doing for our boys. The Red Cross is also doing a wonderful work.
I am anxious and eager to go to France. When I get there it will give me great pleasure to write to the Democrat. I studied French three years while I was in college and I am certainly glad of it. Of course I never dreamed then that I'd ever have any use for it.
France has suffered more than any nation ever suffered. In 1915 90,000 Frenchmen gave up their lives, their bodies were lying six deep in the trenches in order to capture Vimy Ridge from the Germans. Those Frenchmen not only died to drive the ruthless murderer from her flowering fields, but to save the liberties of the world.
Not long ago I was talking with a French Sergeant here in camp, and he said his only brother had been killed fighting the Germans, and that he had a mother and two sisters who lived in the invaded portion of northern France, but that he had never heard from them since the Germans made a dash for Paris in 1914.
Great and touching Comrades. Clear invincible France. America is coming to aid you with her millions. A year ago Gen. John J. Pershing won your heart when he stood at the tomb of Lafayette and said, "Lafayette, we are here." Gen. Pershing's little army was only the vanguard of a mightier host which has been and is now moving across the Atlantic to fight for the principles that gave America birth, and to liberate the oppressed of every nation. As one great American statesman has said: "We are at Armageddon, fighting for the Lord."
To go to France will be an education within itself. I'm so anxious to see the countries that I've read so much about in history and literature. The Eiffel Tower at Paris, the tombs of Napoleon and Lafayette, the Bois du Bologne, the Louvre, the Cathedral at Rheims, the palace of Louis XIV at Versailles--all these and many other things have a wonderful fascination.
I expect to see the vine-clad hills of Southern France where the Troubadours sang in days of old, and I"m longing to walk across the historic fields of Flanders and Normandy. Above all I'm looking forward to a better acquaintance with the French people, the most wonderful people on earth in many ways.
This war is bringing out the finest qualities of the human race--the spirit of sacrifice and devotion to ideals. Our boys will come back, crowned with victory and honor, with the blessings of the French and English upon their heads, and they will be broader and better in every way.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
DAVID W. PIERCE.
Third Company, Central Officers'
Training School, Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Pike, Ark., July 10, '18.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT,
Clinton, Ark.
MY DEAR SIR:
I went to see Whitfield Branscum this morning, who is in the 2d Co. of this training camp. He showed me two copies of the Democrat, one of which contained a letter from my good friend, Dr. R. M. Hunter, also, an interesting letter from Dykes Hatchett at Camp Dix, N.J.
It is needless to say that I am "Van Buren county sick" since reading these copies of your splendid paper. Letters from soldier boys are very interesting to me, and I read every one I can get hold of, even if I don't know the writer. Our soldiers and sailors are having some great experiences and all of us enjoy reading about them.
I have some very dear friends in Van Buren county whom I shall never forget. The four years that I spent in Clinton High School will always be one of the bright spots in my life.
I have been in the service since December 4th. I was in Casual Co. No. 8 until January 15th. Then I was transferred to Co. M 346 Inft., where I remained until May 15th. While in Co. M I did a little teaching on the side. One of the camp Y.M.C.A. secretaries from New York City came to me one day and told me that he wanted me to take charge of a class of foreigners and teach them to read and write English. I gladly consented.
The class was composed of 17 men, principally Italians. However, among these were four Russian Poles, one Frenchman, one Greek, and one Syrian. This is the most interesting experience I ever had in my life. I enjoyed it immensely, but I didn't enjoy it as much as they did. They were intensely interested in all the work and learned very rapidly. When I met a member of my class out in camp he would say pleasantly in broken English, "Hello, Teacher."
If I had stayed in Co. M I would have been in France now. Co. M left here for Camp Merritt, N. J., about June 15th. I have been here since May 15th and we are now in the 9th week of our training. We have a different schedule each week. Our work is strenuous but I enjoy it. We get up at 5:30 in the morning and get through at 9:30 at night. we have to study every night except Saturday night from 7:30 to 9:30. We have drill--both close and extended order, bayonet work, sighting and aiming drill, grenade and automatic rifle work. In general we study and drill in everything connected with modern warfare. Saturday afternoons, Saturday nights and Sundays we have to ourselves and can go to Little Rock if we wish.
Another thing we have is "hikes." About a week ago one thousand of us took an all day hike. Each of us had to carry our complete equipment, which weighs about sixty pounds, including the rifle. the complete equipment carried in the pack consists of cartridge belt, first aid package, canteen, mess kit, knife, fork, spoon, two blankets, shelter half, poncho, bayonet, tent pins, tent rope, tent pole, tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, towel, mirror, shaving outfit, two pair socks and one suit of underwear. In addition each one has a rifle weighing about ten pounds. Capt. Bramer of the British army went with us. He fought the Turks in Mesopotamia for two years. He is very handsome, arrayed in quaint oriental dress.
This is now the Central Officers' Training School, instead of the 4th Officers' Training School. It was made so by a recent war department order. Soon 4,000 student officers will be in training here. The machine gun department of the Central Officers' Training School is at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga., while the artillery branch is located at Camp Taylor, Louisville, Ky. 244 negro student officers are here, also 27 negro lieutenants. They were sent here from Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa.
All citizens should know something about the work of the Y.M.C.A. as you are called upon frequently to contribute to it. In my judgment it is one of the greatest organizations in the world. It has had a tremendous influence in developing the morale of our soldier boys. The Y.M.C.A. follows the boys everywhere, even up to the front line trenches.
The Y.M.C.A. secretaries are fine fellows. They will do anything in the world to accommodate you. The most homelike place in the world besides our own homes is the "Y". I wish time and space did not forbid my telling you in detail what the "Y" is doing for our boys. The Red Cross is also doing a wonderful work.
I am anxious and eager to go to France. When I get there it will give me great pleasure to write to the Democrat. I studied French three years while I was in college and I am certainly glad of it. Of course I never dreamed then that I'd ever have any use for it.
France has suffered more than any nation ever suffered. In 1915 90,000 Frenchmen gave up their lives, their bodies were lying six deep in the trenches in order to capture Vimy Ridge from the Germans. Those Frenchmen not only died to drive the ruthless murderer from her flowering fields, but to save the liberties of the world.
Not long ago I was talking with a French Sergeant here in camp, and he said his only brother had been killed fighting the Germans, and that he had a mother and two sisters who lived in the invaded portion of northern France, but that he had never heard from them since the Germans made a dash for Paris in 1914.
Great and touching Comrades. Clear invincible France. America is coming to aid you with her millions. A year ago Gen. John J. Pershing won your heart when he stood at the tomb of Lafayette and said, "Lafayette, we are here." Gen. Pershing's little army was only the vanguard of a mightier host which has been and is now moving across the Atlantic to fight for the principles that gave America birth, and to liberate the oppressed of every nation. As one great American statesman has said: "We are at Armageddon, fighting for the Lord."
To go to France will be an education within itself. I'm so anxious to see the countries that I've read so much about in history and literature. The Eiffel Tower at Paris, the tombs of Napoleon and Lafayette, the Bois du Bologne, the Louvre, the Cathedral at Rheims, the palace of Louis XIV at Versailles--all these and many other things have a wonderful fascination.
I expect to see the vine-clad hills of Southern France where the Troubadours sang in days of old, and I"m longing to walk across the historic fields of Flanders and Normandy. Above all I'm looking forward to a better acquaintance with the French people, the most wonderful people on earth in many ways.
This war is bringing out the finest qualities of the human race--the spirit of sacrifice and devotion to ideals. Our boys will come back, crowned with victory and honor, with the blessings of the French and English upon their heads, and they will be broader and better in every way.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
DAVID W. PIERCE.
Third Company, Central Officers'
Training School, Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD