TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE NOVEMBER 3, 1918 P. 44
We are guarding a lot of prisoners here and it’s easy work on the officers. The men are all very busy, though, every day, except half a day—Sunday afternoon. There are four officers with the company now—Red Rice, Capt. Johnson, Petric and myself.
We have a Swiss hut which is fine. All four of us in it. I drew cots for all of us and put our bed rolls on them. We each occupy a corner of the room, which is very large. There is a large stove in the center, nice wooden floor, curtains at the windows and telephone, but no one to call, for we don’t know anybody. We have electric lights, writing table which we made yesterday, some books, which were left by the last outfit that, was here and, best of all, some shower baths about a block away. You have no idea what a luxury they are as the English and French do not believe in bathing as we do and the only baths we find are those put up by the United States army.
This place make me think I am back in Camp Dix, only I don’t know anyone here. The company is operating separately from the regiment. We are under the command of a New Hampshire major, who has been here a long time. Most of the regiment is here in camp, but not under the colonel. He is here, though.
Understand we will probably be here for some time. The outfit we relieved was here two months. I knew one of their lieutenants. He was in my company at Fort Root.
When we marched in here, John Ranch rushed out and met me. He is a corporal. Been over since March. Tell his family I saw him and he is still here. Have seen lots of fellows over here whom I knew before. Thompson Holmes is stationed 40 miles from here.
The weather is nice and cool and I understand it gets pretty cold in winter. One of the men comes over and makes a fire every morning. We have breakfast here in the hut brought over by the kitchen police from the company. We are very comfortable.
Bought some big trench boots and some heavy English pants yesterday from the quartermaster—also some cigarettes, the first in several days. We ran out and suffered for tobacco until the quartermaster issued us all one can of Tuxedo apiece.
This country is beautiful so far, but we have not been over any of it where there was any fighting. It is hard hit for food, though. We eat canned beef, salmon and salt bacon mostly; fresh beef twice a week.
Wish you could have seen us ride the train—just like pictures you’ve seen of this country. Small box cars and 40 men to the car. The officers had coaches, first, second and third class. They don’t have any sleepers over here, so everybody sits up all the time. Little compartments with side doors. Have covered at least 10,000 miles since leaving you.
We get the New York Herald every day, one day old from Paris. Its only one sheet, though, condensed news, and is printed in Paris. We get the Chicago Tribune also. Wish you would send me the Gazette. Wish you were here with me.
Haven’t received any mail yet and it seems I have been gone a year. Nobody has received any mail, but now we are settled for a while, suppose we will begin getting our mail soon.
The Australians are in this country also, so write out the American in American expeditionary force, so there will be no chance of confusion.
Lots of love,
William.
NOTES: Lieutenant William Haynie Porter is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Porter. He was a graduate of the first Officers Training camp at Fort Roots in North Little Rock, Arkansas and became an instructor at the third and fourth Officers Training camps at Camp Pike. He was at Camp Dix serving with the 87th Division when they were sent overseas. He was born on October 18, 1895 in Little Rock and died on December 3, 1943 in Cook County, Illinois. He was described as being tall and of medium build with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
We are guarding a lot of prisoners here and it’s easy work on the officers. The men are all very busy, though, every day, except half a day—Sunday afternoon. There are four officers with the company now—Red Rice, Capt. Johnson, Petric and myself.
We have a Swiss hut which is fine. All four of us in it. I drew cots for all of us and put our bed rolls on them. We each occupy a corner of the room, which is very large. There is a large stove in the center, nice wooden floor, curtains at the windows and telephone, but no one to call, for we don’t know anybody. We have electric lights, writing table which we made yesterday, some books, which were left by the last outfit that, was here and, best of all, some shower baths about a block away. You have no idea what a luxury they are as the English and French do not believe in bathing as we do and the only baths we find are those put up by the United States army.
This place make me think I am back in Camp Dix, only I don’t know anyone here. The company is operating separately from the regiment. We are under the command of a New Hampshire major, who has been here a long time. Most of the regiment is here in camp, but not under the colonel. He is here, though.
Understand we will probably be here for some time. The outfit we relieved was here two months. I knew one of their lieutenants. He was in my company at Fort Root.
When we marched in here, John Ranch rushed out and met me. He is a corporal. Been over since March. Tell his family I saw him and he is still here. Have seen lots of fellows over here whom I knew before. Thompson Holmes is stationed 40 miles from here.
The weather is nice and cool and I understand it gets pretty cold in winter. One of the men comes over and makes a fire every morning. We have breakfast here in the hut brought over by the kitchen police from the company. We are very comfortable.
Bought some big trench boots and some heavy English pants yesterday from the quartermaster—also some cigarettes, the first in several days. We ran out and suffered for tobacco until the quartermaster issued us all one can of Tuxedo apiece.
This country is beautiful so far, but we have not been over any of it where there was any fighting. It is hard hit for food, though. We eat canned beef, salmon and salt bacon mostly; fresh beef twice a week.
Wish you could have seen us ride the train—just like pictures you’ve seen of this country. Small box cars and 40 men to the car. The officers had coaches, first, second and third class. They don’t have any sleepers over here, so everybody sits up all the time. Little compartments with side doors. Have covered at least 10,000 miles since leaving you.
We get the New York Herald every day, one day old from Paris. Its only one sheet, though, condensed news, and is printed in Paris. We get the Chicago Tribune also. Wish you would send me the Gazette. Wish you were here with me.
Haven’t received any mail yet and it seems I have been gone a year. Nobody has received any mail, but now we are settled for a while, suppose we will begin getting our mail soon.
The Australians are in this country also, so write out the American in American expeditionary force, so there will be no chance of confusion.
Lots of love,
William.
NOTES: Lieutenant William Haynie Porter is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Porter. He was a graduate of the first Officers Training camp at Fort Roots in North Little Rock, Arkansas and became an instructor at the third and fourth Officers Training camps at Camp Pike. He was at Camp Dix serving with the 87th Division when they were sent overseas. He was born on October 18, 1895 in Little Rock and died on December 3, 1943 in Cook County, Illinois. He was described as being tall and of medium build with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT