TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE AUGUST 21, 1918 P. 2
Believe me, I have seen a little of this little old war, and have had a few narrow escapes. I got a small piece of shrapnel above my left eye a few days ago and am in the hospital now. Just a slight wound, but I can’t understand how I came through alive. I used to believe in luck, but I know this wasn’t luck; my Guardian Angel surely was with me, because a six inch shell exploded right up against me. I believe I would have been killed, if it hadn’t fallen so close to me. Another time a three inch shell fell so close that I could have stood in my tracks and reached it. It failed to explode, though, so I went on.
I got in a machine gun nest one time too. It seemed as if 25 opened up on us, but we made it through all right. I have seen all kinds of Germans, both dead, and alive, and going over isn’t any novelty by any means now. For a while I was crazy about souvenirs, but I have lost all desire for them. This little scar on my forehead will be all the souvenir I want. I wouldn’t take anything in the world for my experiences but here will be one happy soul when this war is over. I am feeling the best in the world, but guess it will be a few weeks before I get back with my company.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Roy Frazier Rand to his brother Ed Rand. He was born on May 17, 1899 in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas and died on December 12, 1944 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is buried in the Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Little Rock. He was awarded the Purple Heart. This say letter was published in the Rogers Democrat October 3, 1918 P. 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Believe me, I have seen a little of this little old war, and have had a few narrow escapes. I got a small piece of shrapnel above my left eye a few days ago and am in the hospital now. Just a slight wound, but I can’t understand how I came through alive. I used to believe in luck, but I know this wasn’t luck; my Guardian Angel surely was with me, because a six inch shell exploded right up against me. I believe I would have been killed, if it hadn’t fallen so close to me. Another time a three inch shell fell so close that I could have stood in my tracks and reached it. It failed to explode, though, so I went on.
I got in a machine gun nest one time too. It seemed as if 25 opened up on us, but we made it through all right. I have seen all kinds of Germans, both dead, and alive, and going over isn’t any novelty by any means now. For a while I was crazy about souvenirs, but I have lost all desire for them. This little scar on my forehead will be all the souvenir I want. I wouldn’t take anything in the world for my experiences but here will be one happy soul when this war is over. I am feeling the best in the world, but guess it will be a few weeks before I get back with my company.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Roy Frazier Rand to his brother Ed Rand. He was born on May 17, 1899 in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas and died on December 12, 1944 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is buried in the Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Little Rock. He was awarded the Purple Heart. This say letter was published in the Rogers Democrat October 3, 1918 P. 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT