TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT MAY 9, 1918 P. 1
Base Hospital No. 1 Ward No. 8 Ft. Sam Houston
Dear Sister:
I guess you were surprised to hear that I was in San Antonio and in the army. I joined at El Centro, Calif., and was started for Texas the next day to train. I had a chance to volunteer in the aviation corps and thot I would like that better than some other branches so did not wait until I was called. I was hurt in training soon after I came here and was brought to the base hospital for an operation. I came thru fine and will be able to get out of bed in about three weeks and think I will be back in training in six weeks. Don’t worry about me for they sure give me the care. The Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. both are fine. They bring us books to read and paper and envelopes to write on. There was one girl who came along and wrote a letter for me but I was still crazy from the operation and couldn’t think of anything to say. I have received letters from friends in California or home nearly every day and tho we have all kinds of books and magazines to read, letters are what count. I asked them if I could get a furlough and come home as soon as I was able to travel but they won’t let me. They won’t let us go anywhere until we are pronounced able to return to duty. They say as soon as se are able to travel they are going to send us to Eagle Pass, about five miles from El Paso and keep us there a month before bringing us back to resume training. In our branch of the service they don’t have to train us very much. We volunteered as truck drivers and cooks and of course we don’t have to drill with rifles. We took test when we first came and I made grade “J” as a truck driver. Grade “J” is between an amateur and an expert and is considered very good.
Part of the boys I came here with will be leaving soon so I suppose they won’t be keeping me here very long after I am out of the hospital.
This is the best equipped hospital in the United States. Each one has a washrag and towel. I asked the nurse if they were all the same and she said that very few were equipped as well as this one is.
Easter Sunday they gave us a fine dinner and some one brings roses each day and once a week some girls come and sing for us.
The barber is coming my way so will close for this time.
Your brother,
C. E. SMITH
NOTES: C. E. White wrote this letter to his sister Miss Belle Smith from west of Rogers, Arkansas. White lived near Oakley Chapel.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Base Hospital No. 1 Ward No. 8 Ft. Sam Houston
Dear Sister:
I guess you were surprised to hear that I was in San Antonio and in the army. I joined at El Centro, Calif., and was started for Texas the next day to train. I had a chance to volunteer in the aviation corps and thot I would like that better than some other branches so did not wait until I was called. I was hurt in training soon after I came here and was brought to the base hospital for an operation. I came thru fine and will be able to get out of bed in about three weeks and think I will be back in training in six weeks. Don’t worry about me for they sure give me the care. The Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. both are fine. They bring us books to read and paper and envelopes to write on. There was one girl who came along and wrote a letter for me but I was still crazy from the operation and couldn’t think of anything to say. I have received letters from friends in California or home nearly every day and tho we have all kinds of books and magazines to read, letters are what count. I asked them if I could get a furlough and come home as soon as I was able to travel but they won’t let me. They won’t let us go anywhere until we are pronounced able to return to duty. They say as soon as se are able to travel they are going to send us to Eagle Pass, about five miles from El Paso and keep us there a month before bringing us back to resume training. In our branch of the service they don’t have to train us very much. We volunteered as truck drivers and cooks and of course we don’t have to drill with rifles. We took test when we first came and I made grade “J” as a truck driver. Grade “J” is between an amateur and an expert and is considered very good.
Part of the boys I came here with will be leaving soon so I suppose they won’t be keeping me here very long after I am out of the hospital.
This is the best equipped hospital in the United States. Each one has a washrag and towel. I asked the nurse if they were all the same and she said that very few were equipped as well as this one is.
Easter Sunday they gave us a fine dinner and some one brings roses each day and once a week some girls come and sing for us.
The barber is coming my way so will close for this time.
Your brother,
C. E. SMITH
NOTES: C. E. White wrote this letter to his sister Miss Belle Smith from west of Rogers, Arkansas. White lived near Oakley Chapel.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON