TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA OCTOBER 15, 1918 P. 6
Somewhere in France,
Aug. 19, 1918.
Dear Sister:
I am sure you will be greatly surprised to receive a letter from me but I have been wounded and am now is a base hospital. I have plenty of time to write as I have nothing to do and all day to do it in. When I was on the line I could hardly find time to write mother, even.
I suppose you have already heard about my wound for I wrote mother as soon as I could. It happened Aug. 11th at 10 o’clock. I received first aid at once, was taken to the field hospital in the afternoon and put on a train and taken to the base that night. I am able to walk around a little now, but the nurses and doctors won’t let me out of bed much yet.
I sure was lucky, for I got more of a bruise than a wound. I had on heavy clothes when I was hit. It was a piece of high explosive shell about the size of my fist. Te outside was smooth and the inside was sharp and rough so it was the outside part that hit me straight in the back just above my waist.
Tell mother that you heard from me and that I am fine. I am receiving the best medical treatment possible, for they have plenty of good doctors and nurses around here. The best thing yet is that I have a good bed. The first bed since Aug. 29, 1917. That was when company “C” left the Southern hotel at Hot Springs, Ark. I could hardly sleep at first, but rested well last night. It won’t be long until I will be able to finish up my bit. I was on the front 56 days before I was wounded. We advanced about twenty-five miles while I was with them and were still going when I was brought back. I was the sixty-fourth man in my company to fall but only five of them were dead.
You asked for a picture of myself. I had four and intended to send you one. One night we were called to arms and into our first battle which lasted three days before we were relieved. In that “scrap” I lost all my pictures, my own, mother’s, yours and the two girls, so I have no pictures at all now.
Well, I will close for this time hoping to hear from you real soon.
As ever your brother,
James E. Richardson.
American Base Hospital No. 26, Ward N
A.P.O. 717, A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by James E. Richardson.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Somewhere in France,
Aug. 19, 1918.
Dear Sister:
I am sure you will be greatly surprised to receive a letter from me but I have been wounded and am now is a base hospital. I have plenty of time to write as I have nothing to do and all day to do it in. When I was on the line I could hardly find time to write mother, even.
I suppose you have already heard about my wound for I wrote mother as soon as I could. It happened Aug. 11th at 10 o’clock. I received first aid at once, was taken to the field hospital in the afternoon and put on a train and taken to the base that night. I am able to walk around a little now, but the nurses and doctors won’t let me out of bed much yet.
I sure was lucky, for I got more of a bruise than a wound. I had on heavy clothes when I was hit. It was a piece of high explosive shell about the size of my fist. Te outside was smooth and the inside was sharp and rough so it was the outside part that hit me straight in the back just above my waist.
Tell mother that you heard from me and that I am fine. I am receiving the best medical treatment possible, for they have plenty of good doctors and nurses around here. The best thing yet is that I have a good bed. The first bed since Aug. 29, 1917. That was when company “C” left the Southern hotel at Hot Springs, Ark. I could hardly sleep at first, but rested well last night. It won’t be long until I will be able to finish up my bit. I was on the front 56 days before I was wounded. We advanced about twenty-five miles while I was with them and were still going when I was brought back. I was the sixty-fourth man in my company to fall but only five of them were dead.
You asked for a picture of myself. I had four and intended to send you one. One night we were called to arms and into our first battle which lasted three days before we were relieved. In that “scrap” I lost all my pictures, my own, mother’s, yours and the two girls, so I have no pictures at all now.
Well, I will close for this time hoping to hear from you real soon.
As ever your brother,
James E. Richardson.
American Base Hospital No. 26, Ward N
A.P.O. 717, A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by James E. Richardson.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT