TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD FEBRUARY 1, 1918 P. 5
1-17-18,
Mr. G. W. Anderson,
Care Chicago Mill & Lumber Company,
Helena, Arkansas
Friend Mr. Anderson:
Received your letter o.k. and was certainly glad to hear from you. We’ve been very busy for the past few days and it is awfully hard to get accustomed to everything. However, I think I am getting along all right.
We are located twenty-three miles from Washington, on the Potomac River. The river is frozen over now and the ice is so thick that wagons travel over it. Of course they do not go all the way across. The channel is always open so it is possible for boats to pass.
Since I’ve been here we’ve had quite a lot of sickness. However, we’ve only had a few deaths. They take from one to three to the hospital each day, some with mumps, measles, and other slight diseases. We had one die last night in our barracks with heart trouble.
We have a splendid captain and the lieutenants are also very nice. If you want a pass it’s granted with a good will and a smile.
We have a nice Y.M.C.A. and amusements three and four times a week. The young fellows in the army pull off boxing matches and other stunts that are very comical. We never get lonesome.
Give my regards to all the office force, and thanking you very kindly for your past favors, I am,
Yours very respectfully,
J. HERMAN ROGERS
Co. A. 5th Bn. 20 Eng., Camp American University, Washington, D. C.
P. S. Mr. Atkins left for France several days ago and it’s uncertain when we will leave. Of course we might be called to leave most anytime.
NOTES: Jessie Herman Rogers was born on October 1, 1894 in Tennessee and died on February 1, 1966 in Austin, Texas. He is buried in the Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery and Mausoleum in Pflugerville, Texas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on January 30, 1918. He was serving as a Pvt. in Co. A 5th Battalion 20th Engineers. He lived in Pinckney, Arkansas in Crittenden County when he registered for the draft during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
1-17-18,
Mr. G. W. Anderson,
Care Chicago Mill & Lumber Company,
Helena, Arkansas
Friend Mr. Anderson:
Received your letter o.k. and was certainly glad to hear from you. We’ve been very busy for the past few days and it is awfully hard to get accustomed to everything. However, I think I am getting along all right.
We are located twenty-three miles from Washington, on the Potomac River. The river is frozen over now and the ice is so thick that wagons travel over it. Of course they do not go all the way across. The channel is always open so it is possible for boats to pass.
Since I’ve been here we’ve had quite a lot of sickness. However, we’ve only had a few deaths. They take from one to three to the hospital each day, some with mumps, measles, and other slight diseases. We had one die last night in our barracks with heart trouble.
We have a splendid captain and the lieutenants are also very nice. If you want a pass it’s granted with a good will and a smile.
We have a nice Y.M.C.A. and amusements three and four times a week. The young fellows in the army pull off boxing matches and other stunts that are very comical. We never get lonesome.
Give my regards to all the office force, and thanking you very kindly for your past favors, I am,
Yours very respectfully,
J. HERMAN ROGERS
Co. A. 5th Bn. 20 Eng., Camp American University, Washington, D. C.
P. S. Mr. Atkins left for France several days ago and it’s uncertain when we will leave. Of course we might be called to leave most anytime.
NOTES: Jessie Herman Rogers was born on October 1, 1894 in Tennessee and died on February 1, 1966 in Austin, Texas. He is buried in the Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery and Mausoleum in Pflugerville, Texas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on January 30, 1918. He was serving as a Pvt. in Co. A 5th Battalion 20th Engineers. He lived in Pinckney, Arkansas in Crittenden County when he registered for the draft during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD