TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 10, 1918 P. 1
Dear Democrat Friends:
You have read letter after letter from the boys 'over there,' all telling of the wonderful sights and the greatful treatment which they receive; but I'm for the good old U.S.A. and as far as its scenery, I'll say that a fellow must be a natural born genius for escaping, to escape the inspiring beauty of our southern plantations, withe their snowy blankets of king cotton, i which are found thousands of happy, harmoniously singing picannies, working from morn 'til night, humbly doing their 'bit.'
Tho speaking of the noted southern hospitality, it sure was efficiently demonstrated to we soldier boys as we journied on our way from Camp Shelby, Miss., to Camp Mills, N.Y. I will tell you of one of the many demonstrations which we passed thru, with an unexaggerated fact-for-fact account of the proceedings.
Lucky! Well, we landed in Atlanta, Ga., ten minutes 'til dinner time and hundreds of citizens with smiling faces and extended hands were waiting along the streets ready to speed us away to the steaming tables of well cooked 'eats.' But let me say, as our train came to a sudden halt, a wild joyful yell went up, for the word had already been passed along that eats were to be had here. Now if you don't know a soldier boy loves to eat, then just let your imagine murmer to you the joys of boyhood days, with a last day of school at hand, and you'll be in harmony as to how we all felt.
One hour found us in may homes of that good old city, charging thru a barrage of buffet luncheons and soft drinks, or firmly fortified behind a splendid table of real eats at the risk of going to the hospital for a month; for every table was piled mountain high--and was lacking in man-power to do justice to its charms. With heavy burdens (The amount we ate) and happy hearts we departed, by waving a longing farewell to the good Red Cross ladies, who furnished us with cigars, cigaretts, chewing gum and such things as a 'broke' soldier awkwardly accepts, but highly appreciates. Our train sped on, leaving hundreds of cities and towns behind, in which we received that same determined, patriotic enthusiasm. The hearty handshakes, smiling faces and cheering words are mere memories shuffled together in an incongenuous fate: but those Red Cross workers who treated us so royally all along the way are to be remembered always and held in high esteem.
The most interesting happenings to most of the boys were viewing the White House at Washington, D.C., and stopping in that Quaker city of Philadelphia, to see the old Independence Hall and Liberty Bell; but passing on the New York City, with those lonesome looking sky scrapers, which hid undoubtedly romances, intrigues and passions, with all hearts yearning for the same cause--freedom.
We are in Camp Mills now on Long Island, and believe me, we think this is a swell place. Clice Daily, who is in New York training men for 'Uncle's navy,' came out to camp to see Harry Hays and I, and he suggests that we write home to our parents and tell them to take down their service flags for we are in Slacker's Parade now. We are not sure that we will get any nearer home then the gay lights of Broadway, even after the Huns have been given a little of the hot place and defeated for there's lots of 'em 'blond headed girls.'
Liberty Bond drive is on here, and they are surely tearing things up going over the top. The Benton county boys here are anxiously awaiting the next issue of the Democrat telling how our good people there have also gone 'way' over the top."
LEE SHADDOX,
150 Field Hospital, Camp Mills, N. Y.
NOTES: Lee Shaddox was born on December 15, 1896 in Rogers, Arkansas and died on March 2, 1961. He departed from New York, NY on October 6, 1918 onboard the Zealandia. He was serving as a Private in Field Hospital #150, 113 Sanitation Train. He departed Brest, France on June 19, 1919 Onboard the Leviathan. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on July 5, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Democrat Friends:
You have read letter after letter from the boys 'over there,' all telling of the wonderful sights and the greatful treatment which they receive; but I'm for the good old U.S.A. and as far as its scenery, I'll say that a fellow must be a natural born genius for escaping, to escape the inspiring beauty of our southern plantations, withe their snowy blankets of king cotton, i which are found thousands of happy, harmoniously singing picannies, working from morn 'til night, humbly doing their 'bit.'
Tho speaking of the noted southern hospitality, it sure was efficiently demonstrated to we soldier boys as we journied on our way from Camp Shelby, Miss., to Camp Mills, N.Y. I will tell you of one of the many demonstrations which we passed thru, with an unexaggerated fact-for-fact account of the proceedings.
Lucky! Well, we landed in Atlanta, Ga., ten minutes 'til dinner time and hundreds of citizens with smiling faces and extended hands were waiting along the streets ready to speed us away to the steaming tables of well cooked 'eats.' But let me say, as our train came to a sudden halt, a wild joyful yell went up, for the word had already been passed along that eats were to be had here. Now if you don't know a soldier boy loves to eat, then just let your imagine murmer to you the joys of boyhood days, with a last day of school at hand, and you'll be in harmony as to how we all felt.
One hour found us in may homes of that good old city, charging thru a barrage of buffet luncheons and soft drinks, or firmly fortified behind a splendid table of real eats at the risk of going to the hospital for a month; for every table was piled mountain high--and was lacking in man-power to do justice to its charms. With heavy burdens (The amount we ate) and happy hearts we departed, by waving a longing farewell to the good Red Cross ladies, who furnished us with cigars, cigaretts, chewing gum and such things as a 'broke' soldier awkwardly accepts, but highly appreciates. Our train sped on, leaving hundreds of cities and towns behind, in which we received that same determined, patriotic enthusiasm. The hearty handshakes, smiling faces and cheering words are mere memories shuffled together in an incongenuous fate: but those Red Cross workers who treated us so royally all along the way are to be remembered always and held in high esteem.
The most interesting happenings to most of the boys were viewing the White House at Washington, D.C., and stopping in that Quaker city of Philadelphia, to see the old Independence Hall and Liberty Bell; but passing on the New York City, with those lonesome looking sky scrapers, which hid undoubtedly romances, intrigues and passions, with all hearts yearning for the same cause--freedom.
We are in Camp Mills now on Long Island, and believe me, we think this is a swell place. Clice Daily, who is in New York training men for 'Uncle's navy,' came out to camp to see Harry Hays and I, and he suggests that we write home to our parents and tell them to take down their service flags for we are in Slacker's Parade now. We are not sure that we will get any nearer home then the gay lights of Broadway, even after the Huns have been given a little of the hot place and defeated for there's lots of 'em 'blond headed girls.'
Liberty Bond drive is on here, and they are surely tearing things up going over the top. The Benton county boys here are anxiously awaiting the next issue of the Democrat telling how our good people there have also gone 'way' over the top."
LEE SHADDOX,
150 Field Hospital, Camp Mills, N. Y.
NOTES: Lee Shaddox was born on December 15, 1896 in Rogers, Arkansas and died on March 2, 1961. He departed from New York, NY on October 6, 1918 onboard the Zealandia. He was serving as a Private in Field Hospital #150, 113 Sanitation Train. He departed Brest, France on June 19, 1919 Onboard the Leviathan. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on July 5, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD