TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PRESCOTT DAILY NEWS MAY 10, 1918 P. 3
New Haven, Conn., April 29.
Dear Mother:
I fully intended answering your letter yesterday, but went over to a fellow's home to dinner and didn't get back until late last night, so knowing I would be off today, I put it off--about my worst failing is putting things off.
We have had some great speeches here lately, in the Liberty Loan drive. Daniels, secretary of the navy, spoke to the Winchester employes, praising them as "industrial soldiers," and some are contented to let it go at that, but mother, I am not. You can't understand, you don't see and hear the wounded soldiers who are coming back now and are talking in the show houses of New Haven. We get more of them here than any other place, besides New York, and it keeps one fired with patriotism, and it isn't camouflage: they tell their story in a simple, straight-forward way; then the physical condition of some speaks more or better than words.
This war is the greatest thing that ever happened or ever will, in the history of the world, and to miss it is to miss the chance of a lifetime, a chance that will never come to any one again. This war and the time-honored topic, the weather, are the only subjects of conversation among the American people, and I, who will soon have arrived at the age when I will be allowed the privilege of talking with men, will have to set back like a child of good manners, only speaking when asked. I have never looked into the matter of registering, as I am not old enough, besides my discharge is as good as a registration card, were I ever apprehended for not registering, but I expect to volunteer if I can come up to what is required to pass the physical examination, but do not worry, mother, I shall come home before doing so.
You are right, only God knows the feeling coming through the hearts of the individual. I can't tell what to do next--mine are divided.
Your affectionate son,
Thomas C. Thrasher.
NOTES: This letter was written by Thomas C. Thrasher. The newspaper referred to him as an ex-soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
New Haven, Conn., April 29.
Dear Mother:
I fully intended answering your letter yesterday, but went over to a fellow's home to dinner and didn't get back until late last night, so knowing I would be off today, I put it off--about my worst failing is putting things off.
We have had some great speeches here lately, in the Liberty Loan drive. Daniels, secretary of the navy, spoke to the Winchester employes, praising them as "industrial soldiers," and some are contented to let it go at that, but mother, I am not. You can't understand, you don't see and hear the wounded soldiers who are coming back now and are talking in the show houses of New Haven. We get more of them here than any other place, besides New York, and it keeps one fired with patriotism, and it isn't camouflage: they tell their story in a simple, straight-forward way; then the physical condition of some speaks more or better than words.
This war is the greatest thing that ever happened or ever will, in the history of the world, and to miss it is to miss the chance of a lifetime, a chance that will never come to any one again. This war and the time-honored topic, the weather, are the only subjects of conversation among the American people, and I, who will soon have arrived at the age when I will be allowed the privilege of talking with men, will have to set back like a child of good manners, only speaking when asked. I have never looked into the matter of registering, as I am not old enough, besides my discharge is as good as a registration card, were I ever apprehended for not registering, but I expect to volunteer if I can come up to what is required to pass the physical examination, but do not worry, mother, I shall come home before doing so.
You are right, only God knows the feeling coming through the hearts of the individual. I can't tell what to do next--mine are divided.
Your affectionate son,
Thomas C. Thrasher.
NOTES: This letter was written by Thomas C. Thrasher. The newspaper referred to him as an ex-soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD