TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY DEMOCRAT, AUGUST 2, 1918 P. 1
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Wednesday morn.,
Dear Mother, Father and brother.
I have not had time to write since I got back to camp, but am taking a few minutes anyway.
This leaves us O. K. and trust it will find you all the same. A number of boys came in last night from Camp Pike, among those I am personally acquainted with are; Walter R., Bea D., Tom Formby, Joe Dennis and Harvey Kennedy, Walter is in my company, am sure glad to see these neighbors and to have them in my Reg.
Listen and let me tell you some thing of which I am glad has come at last; the 77th Brigade consisting of the 153d and 154th Infantry Regiments leave for New York next Wednesday one week from today. We will take the steamer at Nw York. Now cheer up Mama for God knows best and we are anxious to go over and do what we can do for Kaiser Bill.
Don’t cry and worry about us to much for God will take care of his own. Walter is writing his father all about it, and if you all wish to come down before we leave just come right along. I am going to send my trunk home some time this week and Walter will send what stuff ___ what of his stuff he has to send, along with mine. I will send the trunk collect, as I haven’t had a pay day yet, we will get paid before leaving here, but if you do come bring me enough money to send you a cablegram after our arrival “Somewhere in France.”
Paul is talking of trying to go home Saturday but am sure it will be useless for him to apply for a pass. They are calling in all men on furloughs today.
I trust that the climate is cooler “Over there” than it is here, for I am about to melt right now.
Now there is nothing more to say more than I have said; at last we must part with our loved ones and friends and leave the states to go forth in war, and by the help of God I am going to do my best to be a fearless and loyal American soldier, doing all that is in my power to help bring an everlasting peace to our Nation, nor am I willing to come back home until the German Empire has been totally crushed and the allied nations given back all that has been taken by the brutal hands of Germany; if I die on the battle fields of far away France, I am not going to be shot in the back. Just remember it is for you, mothers, fathers, sisters, and sweethearts that I gave my life; I could never suffer one of the good American women especially those of the south, to be forced to the things of that of the Belgium women, so I go willingly.
There are many of my friends in their declining years of whom I will never see again on this earth, but at last when all wars are over and the graves are opened and the sea gives up its dead, we will be reunited nver more to sorrow.
I go now and ask that each of you remember me in your prayers and some sweet day, I will return victorious.
Sergt. R. C. Reeves.
NOTES: Richmond Chesley Reeves was one of three brothers from Stamps, Arkansas serving in the army during WWI. He was born December 9, 1892 and died on January 2, 1979 at Eudora, Arkansas. He is buried in the Sardis Cemetery at Stamps. His military tombstone identifies him as Sgt. US Army in WWI. His headstone also shows his name as Richmon. Letters of the other brothers are also posted on this site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Wednesday morn.,
Dear Mother, Father and brother.
I have not had time to write since I got back to camp, but am taking a few minutes anyway.
This leaves us O. K. and trust it will find you all the same. A number of boys came in last night from Camp Pike, among those I am personally acquainted with are; Walter R., Bea D., Tom Formby, Joe Dennis and Harvey Kennedy, Walter is in my company, am sure glad to see these neighbors and to have them in my Reg.
Listen and let me tell you some thing of which I am glad has come at last; the 77th Brigade consisting of the 153d and 154th Infantry Regiments leave for New York next Wednesday one week from today. We will take the steamer at Nw York. Now cheer up Mama for God knows best and we are anxious to go over and do what we can do for Kaiser Bill.
Don’t cry and worry about us to much for God will take care of his own. Walter is writing his father all about it, and if you all wish to come down before we leave just come right along. I am going to send my trunk home some time this week and Walter will send what stuff ___ what of his stuff he has to send, along with mine. I will send the trunk collect, as I haven’t had a pay day yet, we will get paid before leaving here, but if you do come bring me enough money to send you a cablegram after our arrival “Somewhere in France.”
Paul is talking of trying to go home Saturday but am sure it will be useless for him to apply for a pass. They are calling in all men on furloughs today.
I trust that the climate is cooler “Over there” than it is here, for I am about to melt right now.
Now there is nothing more to say more than I have said; at last we must part with our loved ones and friends and leave the states to go forth in war, and by the help of God I am going to do my best to be a fearless and loyal American soldier, doing all that is in my power to help bring an everlasting peace to our Nation, nor am I willing to come back home until the German Empire has been totally crushed and the allied nations given back all that has been taken by the brutal hands of Germany; if I die on the battle fields of far away France, I am not going to be shot in the back. Just remember it is for you, mothers, fathers, sisters, and sweethearts that I gave my life; I could never suffer one of the good American women especially those of the south, to be forced to the things of that of the Belgium women, so I go willingly.
There are many of my friends in their declining years of whom I will never see again on this earth, but at last when all wars are over and the graves are opened and the sea gives up its dead, we will be reunited nver more to sorrow.
I go now and ask that each of you remember me in your prayers and some sweet day, I will return victorious.
Sergt. R. C. Reeves.
NOTES: Richmond Chesley Reeves was one of three brothers from Stamps, Arkansas serving in the army during WWI. He was born December 9, 1892 and died on January 2, 1979 at Eudora, Arkansas. He is buried in the Sardis Cemetery at Stamps. His military tombstone identifies him as Sgt. US Army in WWI. His headstone also shows his name as Richmon. Letters of the other brothers are also posted on this site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT