TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MOUNTAIN ECHO JANUARY 24, 1919 P. 2
Dear Cousin:
I received your letter a few days ago, and would have answered it sooner, but have been out in the city taking Christmas with a good Red Cross lady, who sent word to the Red Cross building that she wanted some of the boys in the hospital to spend Christmas with her. Another wounded soldier and myself accepted the invitation, and she and her husband, who is a First Lieutenant, came with their car, and taken us to their home, and showed us a royal time.
They said they had not had any opportunity of meeting any of the boys who had been at the front, and insisted that we relate our experiences. They were as kind and nice to us as home folks. After dinner they taken us in their car and showed us over the city, and drove far out into the country. While we appreciated their kindness more than we can express, we found our minds wandering back to the dear old hills of Arkansas, and saw again the tear stained faces of the loved ones who bade us good by only a few months ago, and longed to be with them again.
When I returned to my ward tonight from the city, I found my bed covered with gifts from the Red Cross. Among them was a nice walking cane, and I sure appreciate it as I need it very badly.
Bertha, two of the Estes boys who lived near Yellville, left Yellville the day I did and went to France when I did. They were fine boys, and I would like to hear something about them. I hope they were more fortunate than I was, and will get back O. K.
I am very uneasy about mother for you know she is getting old, and I know she is worrying about me, and it almost breaks my heart to hear that she is sick and to know I can’t be with her, but I am not the only boy away from home who is deprived of the companionship of his mother.
I hope you had a merry Xmas and will have a prosperous new year. I am respectfully.
Samuel R. Plumlee
NOTES: This letter was written by Samuel Richard Plumlee from Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D. C. and dated December 26. It was written to his cousin, Mrs. Bertha Jenkins. Plumlee was born on May 1, 1887 and died on January 14, 1962 in the VA hospital in Muscogee, Oklahoma after a long illness. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Porter, Oklahoma. He was born in Oakland, Arkansas and moved to Porter in 1922. He registered for the draft in Marion County, Arkansas bu his WWI headstone lists him as an Oklahoma soldier. He served in the Co. H. of the 30th Infantry. His headstone shows PH, assume this means Purple Heart. He was described as being of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Dear Cousin:
I received your letter a few days ago, and would have answered it sooner, but have been out in the city taking Christmas with a good Red Cross lady, who sent word to the Red Cross building that she wanted some of the boys in the hospital to spend Christmas with her. Another wounded soldier and myself accepted the invitation, and she and her husband, who is a First Lieutenant, came with their car, and taken us to their home, and showed us a royal time.
They said they had not had any opportunity of meeting any of the boys who had been at the front, and insisted that we relate our experiences. They were as kind and nice to us as home folks. After dinner they taken us in their car and showed us over the city, and drove far out into the country. While we appreciated their kindness more than we can express, we found our minds wandering back to the dear old hills of Arkansas, and saw again the tear stained faces of the loved ones who bade us good by only a few months ago, and longed to be with them again.
When I returned to my ward tonight from the city, I found my bed covered with gifts from the Red Cross. Among them was a nice walking cane, and I sure appreciate it as I need it very badly.
Bertha, two of the Estes boys who lived near Yellville, left Yellville the day I did and went to France when I did. They were fine boys, and I would like to hear something about them. I hope they were more fortunate than I was, and will get back O. K.
I am very uneasy about mother for you know she is getting old, and I know she is worrying about me, and it almost breaks my heart to hear that she is sick and to know I can’t be with her, but I am not the only boy away from home who is deprived of the companionship of his mother.
I hope you had a merry Xmas and will have a prosperous new year. I am respectfully.
Samuel R. Plumlee
NOTES: This letter was written by Samuel Richard Plumlee from Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D. C. and dated December 26. It was written to his cousin, Mrs. Bertha Jenkins. Plumlee was born on May 1, 1887 and died on January 14, 1962 in the VA hospital in Muscogee, Oklahoma after a long illness. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Porter, Oklahoma. He was born in Oakland, Arkansas and moved to Porter in 1922. He registered for the draft in Marion County, Arkansas bu his WWI headstone lists him as an Oklahoma soldier. He served in the Co. H. of the 30th Infantry. His headstone shows PH, assume this means Purple Heart. He was described as being of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON