TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER MAY 8, 1918 P. 8
Co. C. 129th, M. G. Bn.
Camp Donipan,
Ft. Sill, Okla.
April 14, 1918.
Mrs. Martha Sumner,
Brister, Ark.
Dear Mother and all:
Will write you all a few lines again tonight. This leaves me well and truly hope this will find you all the same.
Well Mama! I am sending the quilt back, which you sent me sometime back, as I can not carry it with me from here, but I am expecting to carry the pillow if I possibly can.
There is no need of you all writing me again until you hear from me, and I suppose that will be several days, as I will be on the train at least 7 days, and we are not allowed to write while on the train. I sure hate that trip as I know I will get tired of riding on on the train. I do not know positively where we are going, so I will not mention any place in this letter, but it will be East somewhere, I do not want you all to worry about me, as I am expecting to enjoy my trip, and I will write you all again as soon as possible, but I expect it will be at least two weeks, before you will hear from me again.
I would write Idella and Louise, and tell them not to write any more until they heard from me, but don’t suppose I will have time, as I will be gone before you get this letter.
I must close, as I haven’t time to write any more at present.
On The Way
I left Ft. Sill Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, and it is now Wednesday afternoon, 5 o’clock and I am passing through the northern part of Arkansas, I think we are going through Jonesboro, Arkansas. That will give you some idea of what part I am passing through and I will drop this letter as I pass through Jonesboro.
I am enjoying the trip so far. The people are crowded at most every station to bid us goodby, and at some stations where we stop they gave us oysters and cigars, and things of that kind, which we all appreciate very much.
A boy never one time thought how much he was cared for, until he joined the army. Judging from the crowd that met us at every station, and none of them act like strangers to us, as some few girls kissed me goodbye at Oklahoma City, while we were stopped.
Will try to write you again tomorrow or next day.
Thursday Afternoon.
We are now going through Alabama, will get to Birmingham about night. We crossed the Mississippi river last night about 8 o’clock and stopped at Memphis, Tenn., about one hour and marched through the main part of town.
We stopped at some place in Mississippi this morning and took exercise, and after the exercise was over, the people passed cigars around to us.
I am not getting tired of the trip like I thought for, as we stop about 2 hours each day for exercise, and we have regular Pullman cars to ride in which makes it very comfortable for us to sleep, and I am also seeing a lot, as I have already crossed 6 different states and many more to cross.
I will close and mail this,
Your son,
Johnie Sumner.
P. S. We are crossing Warrior river in Alabama right now.
NOTES: John Thomas Sumner was on born April 16, 1892 in Brister, Arkansas and died on August 15, 1968. He is buried in the New Hope Cemetery at McNeil, Arkansas. He described as being of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Co. C. 129th, M. G. Bn.
Camp Donipan,
Ft. Sill, Okla.
April 14, 1918.
Mrs. Martha Sumner,
Brister, Ark.
Dear Mother and all:
Will write you all a few lines again tonight. This leaves me well and truly hope this will find you all the same.
Well Mama! I am sending the quilt back, which you sent me sometime back, as I can not carry it with me from here, but I am expecting to carry the pillow if I possibly can.
There is no need of you all writing me again until you hear from me, and I suppose that will be several days, as I will be on the train at least 7 days, and we are not allowed to write while on the train. I sure hate that trip as I know I will get tired of riding on on the train. I do not know positively where we are going, so I will not mention any place in this letter, but it will be East somewhere, I do not want you all to worry about me, as I am expecting to enjoy my trip, and I will write you all again as soon as possible, but I expect it will be at least two weeks, before you will hear from me again.
I would write Idella and Louise, and tell them not to write any more until they heard from me, but don’t suppose I will have time, as I will be gone before you get this letter.
I must close, as I haven’t time to write any more at present.
On The Way
I left Ft. Sill Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, and it is now Wednesday afternoon, 5 o’clock and I am passing through the northern part of Arkansas, I think we are going through Jonesboro, Arkansas. That will give you some idea of what part I am passing through and I will drop this letter as I pass through Jonesboro.
I am enjoying the trip so far. The people are crowded at most every station to bid us goodby, and at some stations where we stop they gave us oysters and cigars, and things of that kind, which we all appreciate very much.
A boy never one time thought how much he was cared for, until he joined the army. Judging from the crowd that met us at every station, and none of them act like strangers to us, as some few girls kissed me goodbye at Oklahoma City, while we were stopped.
Will try to write you again tomorrow or next day.
Thursday Afternoon.
We are now going through Alabama, will get to Birmingham about night. We crossed the Mississippi river last night about 8 o’clock and stopped at Memphis, Tenn., about one hour and marched through the main part of town.
We stopped at some place in Mississippi this morning and took exercise, and after the exercise was over, the people passed cigars around to us.
I am not getting tired of the trip like I thought for, as we stop about 2 hours each day for exercise, and we have regular Pullman cars to ride in which makes it very comfortable for us to sleep, and I am also seeing a lot, as I have already crossed 6 different states and many more to cross.
I will close and mail this,
Your son,
Johnie Sumner.
P. S. We are crossing Warrior river in Alabama right now.
NOTES: John Thomas Sumner was on born April 16, 1892 in Brister, Arkansas and died on August 15, 1968. He is buried in the New Hope Cemetery at McNeil, Arkansas. He described as being of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT