TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JONESBORO DAILY TRIBUNE, APRIL 27, 1918 P. 1
France, March 31, 1918,
Dear Brother:
I received the Tribune which you sent me, the latest that I have received was February 19th. I was certainly glad to get them, they tell me more than any letters that I get; even the advertisements look good. I always pass them on to Sergeant Broadaway. I get a letter from Fred Wood every few days. He is over here somewhere but I can’t find out where. I would sure like to see him. Don’t think that I am homesick. I have never been that way since I have been in service.
We have been having some nice weather here until the last few days. It seems like it rains every time we have a big battle. This time I think the rain is in our favor. I suppose this battle will go down as one of the greatest in history. It is certainly on a bigger scale than any that have ever been fought before _____ every one is confident that the Huns will not break through. They may drive us back a little, but they are being mowed down by the thousands. The Huns seem to forget the killed. What does it matter if they do gain a few miles of ground, it won’t get them victory. Every one here seems to think this is the beginning of the end. It may end in a few months or it may last a year, but one thing is certain that the Huns can never hope to be any stronger than they are at the present, and they can’t break through now. The French remember Verdun. Then the Huns were fresh and had the best troops of their army but they slaughter them in vain. Today they do not have such soldiers as they lost at Verdun. Many prisoners captured are just mere boys or men over the military age. I am still at my old job, have been at that for about six months, and have learned fully to understand it, and don’t mind it now. I am still feeling good so I can’t complain.
Your brother,
Richard C. Rankin
Private First Class
NOTES: Private First Class Richard Cameron Rankin was writing to his brother Raymond Rankin of Jonesboro. He was stationed at Base Hospital No. 1 in France. He had been in the cadet program at the University of Arkansas before the war. He was tall and of medium build and had gray eyes and light hair. He was born December 11, 1894 and died May 9, 1951. He is buried at Oaklawn Cemetery, Jonesboro.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
France, March 31, 1918,
Dear Brother:
I received the Tribune which you sent me, the latest that I have received was February 19th. I was certainly glad to get them, they tell me more than any letters that I get; even the advertisements look good. I always pass them on to Sergeant Broadaway. I get a letter from Fred Wood every few days. He is over here somewhere but I can’t find out where. I would sure like to see him. Don’t think that I am homesick. I have never been that way since I have been in service.
We have been having some nice weather here until the last few days. It seems like it rains every time we have a big battle. This time I think the rain is in our favor. I suppose this battle will go down as one of the greatest in history. It is certainly on a bigger scale than any that have ever been fought before _____ every one is confident that the Huns will not break through. They may drive us back a little, but they are being mowed down by the thousands. The Huns seem to forget the killed. What does it matter if they do gain a few miles of ground, it won’t get them victory. Every one here seems to think this is the beginning of the end. It may end in a few months or it may last a year, but one thing is certain that the Huns can never hope to be any stronger than they are at the present, and they can’t break through now. The French remember Verdun. Then the Huns were fresh and had the best troops of their army but they slaughter them in vain. Today they do not have such soldiers as they lost at Verdun. Many prisoners captured are just mere boys or men over the military age. I am still at my old job, have been at that for about six months, and have learned fully to understand it, and don’t mind it now. I am still feeling good so I can’t complain.
Your brother,
Richard C. Rankin
Private First Class
NOTES: Private First Class Richard Cameron Rankin was writing to his brother Raymond Rankin of Jonesboro. He was stationed at Base Hospital No. 1 in France. He had been in the cadet program at the University of Arkansas before the war. He was tall and of medium build and had gray eyes and light hair. He was born December 11, 1894 and died May 9, 1951. He is buried at Oaklawn Cemetery, Jonesboro.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT