TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD MAY 10, 1918 P. 3
Camp Mills, L.I., N.Y., Apr.26.
Dear Editor:
Just a little space for a letter to my home people, please. I am feeling fine, eating plenty and drilling none, so why shouldn’t I be contented?
I never realized what camp life was when I was at Camp Pike but was initiated at Camp Green, N.C., one night when on guard during a storm. I was there only six days and was glad to leave that soon, so you may guess I didn’t like it. I like this camp fine, it is some cool, quite a frost this morning. I thought of how you people were plowing corn and planting cotton, and of the number of boys who one year ago were following the plow are today shouldering the rifle in defence of Democracy. I believe every American knows the cause of our war with the German government and the attitude of our government towards them. The insult and aggression of the Imperial German government left us no self respecting choice but to take up arms in defense of our rights as a free people and of our honor as a sovereign government. They denied us the rights to be neutral.
The Americans are a peace loving people, they have no taste for warfare and no lust for territory or power. Within less than one hundred and fifty years America has entered six important wars, this one the greatest the nation has ever had to face. In all our previous wars the Americans have fought for principles, not for wealth or power, and that is what we are fighting for today. We find the same spirit of democracy and patriotism in the other nations of this war, for which I feel thankful. We are all fighting for objects dearer to us than life itself; for freedom and democracy; for the safety of our own homes, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, and for the honor of our country.
The more I enter the trenches and go toward No Man’s land, the more I think of my home and country and the more pride I have with which to defend them. Once more can’t we face what our forefathers did and make good with our lives and fortunes the great faith to which we were born and a new glory shall shine in the face of our homes.
Too much can’t be said of the Y.M.C.A. What ever you can contribute to the “Y” I’m sure you will be rewarded for the same. And for the Red Cross, I shall always feel thankful for the refreshments they gave us while on our trip here. This is an embarkation camp, where troops leave for France. I am expecting to leave any time and am willing and ready to go and do my part. It seems hard to leave home folks but it seems much harder to have their freedom taken, and we are not going to have it. So come on boys and lets make Old Glory shine with freedom.
My letter is growing long and ‘tis time to go out and watch the airplanes. I shall close by asking a personal interest in the prayers of my home people and that you all may be in accord with Lincoln when he said “God is my witness, that it is my anxiety and prayer that both myself and this nation shall be on the Lord’s side.” Let us pray for strengths that we may gain the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Yours for happiness,
A Randolph boy,
Joe Snodgrass.
10th M.G, Co B.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE
Camp Mills, L.I., N.Y., Apr.26.
Dear Editor:
Just a little space for a letter to my home people, please. I am feeling fine, eating plenty and drilling none, so why shouldn’t I be contented?
I never realized what camp life was when I was at Camp Pike but was initiated at Camp Green, N.C., one night when on guard during a storm. I was there only six days and was glad to leave that soon, so you may guess I didn’t like it. I like this camp fine, it is some cool, quite a frost this morning. I thought of how you people were plowing corn and planting cotton, and of the number of boys who one year ago were following the plow are today shouldering the rifle in defence of Democracy. I believe every American knows the cause of our war with the German government and the attitude of our government towards them. The insult and aggression of the Imperial German government left us no self respecting choice but to take up arms in defense of our rights as a free people and of our honor as a sovereign government. They denied us the rights to be neutral.
The Americans are a peace loving people, they have no taste for warfare and no lust for territory or power. Within less than one hundred and fifty years America has entered six important wars, this one the greatest the nation has ever had to face. In all our previous wars the Americans have fought for principles, not for wealth or power, and that is what we are fighting for today. We find the same spirit of democracy and patriotism in the other nations of this war, for which I feel thankful. We are all fighting for objects dearer to us than life itself; for freedom and democracy; for the safety of our own homes, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, and for the honor of our country.
The more I enter the trenches and go toward No Man’s land, the more I think of my home and country and the more pride I have with which to defend them. Once more can’t we face what our forefathers did and make good with our lives and fortunes the great faith to which we were born and a new glory shall shine in the face of our homes.
Too much can’t be said of the Y.M.C.A. What ever you can contribute to the “Y” I’m sure you will be rewarded for the same. And for the Red Cross, I shall always feel thankful for the refreshments they gave us while on our trip here. This is an embarkation camp, where troops leave for France. I am expecting to leave any time and am willing and ready to go and do my part. It seems hard to leave home folks but it seems much harder to have their freedom taken, and we are not going to have it. So come on boys and lets make Old Glory shine with freedom.
My letter is growing long and ‘tis time to go out and watch the airplanes. I shall close by asking a personal interest in the prayers of my home people and that you all may be in accord with Lincoln when he said “God is my witness, that it is my anxiety and prayer that both myself and this nation shall be on the Lord’s side.” Let us pray for strengths that we may gain the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Yours for happiness,
A Randolph boy,
Joe Snodgrass.
10th M.G, Co B.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE