TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE JULY 15, 1918 P. 2
I have been in France nearly three months. I feel like a citizen now, but I sure don’t talk like one. I am working all the time, but have a very nice job. We got one-half day off last Sunday and I visited the old Market Hall, where about 800 refugees were located. I met a sweet little American girl from Connecticut, who was taking orders for their rations. It was a pitiful sight to see the old ladies and old men—some looked to be 90 years old. The Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. are doing wonderful work over here. I have noticed a shortage of one thing and that is—American girls.
I received the Gazette and the Fordyce paper and believe me, I was sure glad to get them. We had another uniform issued to us this p.m. Now I have three uniforms, three wool shirts, two sweaters, 12 pair of socks, heavy and light underwear. So you see I will keep warm this winter. Don’t worry about me. I have everything I need and we are well taken care of. We have lots of fun planning our future reunions.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Oscar Tomlinson to his brother Ed Tomlinson, manager of City Hardware Company of Fordyce, Arkansas. Oscar was born July 23, 1888 and died February 21, 1970. He is buried Greenwood Cemetery, Rison, Arkansas. His obituary lists his name as Hugh Oscar Tomlinson. His military headstone identifies him as Oscar H. Tomlinson, Sgt. Motor Tran. Corp.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I have been in France nearly three months. I feel like a citizen now, but I sure don’t talk like one. I am working all the time, but have a very nice job. We got one-half day off last Sunday and I visited the old Market Hall, where about 800 refugees were located. I met a sweet little American girl from Connecticut, who was taking orders for their rations. It was a pitiful sight to see the old ladies and old men—some looked to be 90 years old. The Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. are doing wonderful work over here. I have noticed a shortage of one thing and that is—American girls.
I received the Gazette and the Fordyce paper and believe me, I was sure glad to get them. We had another uniform issued to us this p.m. Now I have three uniforms, three wool shirts, two sweaters, 12 pair of socks, heavy and light underwear. So you see I will keep warm this winter. Don’t worry about me. I have everything I need and we are well taken care of. We have lots of fun planning our future reunions.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Oscar Tomlinson to his brother Ed Tomlinson, manager of City Hardware Company of Fordyce, Arkansas. Oscar was born July 23, 1888 and died February 21, 1970. He is buried Greenwood Cemetery, Rison, Arkansas. His obituary lists his name as Hugh Oscar Tomlinson. His military headstone identifies him as Oscar H. Tomlinson, Sgt. Motor Tran. Corp.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT