TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT MARCH 6, 1919 P. 3
Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, Feb. 9,
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
If you will allow me space in your grand old paper, I will try and tell the people of Faulkner county about my trip since I left Camp Pike. We left Pike August 16, and got to Camp Merritt August 19, traveling through seven different states. We left Camp Merritt on August 22, went aboard ship and reached New York, from where we set sail on August 23. We landed September 5 at Liverpool, which is certainly a nice city. We hiked to Knotty Ash, and from there went to Southampton, riding on a passenger train. There is surely some nice country in England. We went through seven tunnels, and one which required ten minutes.
We got on the ship at Southampton and landed at Cherbourg, France. We stayed there until October 7, and from there to Le Mans, where I was placed in the 122nd machine gun company. Then I was transferred to the 329th infantry, and then to the 129th infantry on October 20. There are four of us Faulkner boys still together: Sam D. Wiley, J. W. Thompson and John Springer, as well as myself.
Those "whiz-bangs" certainly make some noise. There are shell holes from three to 30 feet across. After November 11, we lived in dugouts for two weeks. At the end of that time we moved up to Rupt, and stayed there until December 7, when we started our march to Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, about 200 kilometers or 125 miles. We made the march in 10 days. We came through some nice country and cities, including the city of Luxemburg, which is surely a nice place. We are now stationed at Ettelbruck. Everything is high. You can buy almost anything, but it costs from five to ten times the price in the states. Eggs, $3 per dozen, and bar chocolate candy that we can buy for 20 cents, the Germans sell for $1.60. Our division, the 33rd, has a (MISSING PAPER) gives us fresh bread to eat and plenty of other foodstuff.
The army has shows for us given free. We get every Wednesday afternoon to play baseball, football and basketball. We had a football game here Saturday between the 33rd division and the Ninth corps. The division beat 7 to 9.
Some of the boys think we will come home soon, while others think it will be July before we sail. I hope it won't be long, for I have seen all of France and Luxemburg I want to see. I want to get back to old Arkansas for that is good enough for me. Here's wishing everybody good luck.
Pvt. Ira Basil Tucker.
Co. D. 129th Inf. A. E. F.
NOTES: Tucker was born on October 6, 1891 in Greenbrier, Arkansas and died on May 13, 1992. He is buried in the Thorn Cemetery in Greenbrier, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as serving in the US Army during WWI. Tucker was from Greenbrier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, Feb. 9,
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
If you will allow me space in your grand old paper, I will try and tell the people of Faulkner county about my trip since I left Camp Pike. We left Pike August 16, and got to Camp Merritt August 19, traveling through seven different states. We left Camp Merritt on August 22, went aboard ship and reached New York, from where we set sail on August 23. We landed September 5 at Liverpool, which is certainly a nice city. We hiked to Knotty Ash, and from there went to Southampton, riding on a passenger train. There is surely some nice country in England. We went through seven tunnels, and one which required ten minutes.
We got on the ship at Southampton and landed at Cherbourg, France. We stayed there until October 7, and from there to Le Mans, where I was placed in the 122nd machine gun company. Then I was transferred to the 329th infantry, and then to the 129th infantry on October 20. There are four of us Faulkner boys still together: Sam D. Wiley, J. W. Thompson and John Springer, as well as myself.
Those "whiz-bangs" certainly make some noise. There are shell holes from three to 30 feet across. After November 11, we lived in dugouts for two weeks. At the end of that time we moved up to Rupt, and stayed there until December 7, when we started our march to Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, about 200 kilometers or 125 miles. We made the march in 10 days. We came through some nice country and cities, including the city of Luxemburg, which is surely a nice place. We are now stationed at Ettelbruck. Everything is high. You can buy almost anything, but it costs from five to ten times the price in the states. Eggs, $3 per dozen, and bar chocolate candy that we can buy for 20 cents, the Germans sell for $1.60. Our division, the 33rd, has a (MISSING PAPER) gives us fresh bread to eat and plenty of other foodstuff.
The army has shows for us given free. We get every Wednesday afternoon to play baseball, football and basketball. We had a football game here Saturday between the 33rd division and the Ninth corps. The division beat 7 to 9.
Some of the boys think we will come home soon, while others think it will be July before we sail. I hope it won't be long, for I have seen all of France and Luxemburg I want to see. I want to get back to old Arkansas for that is good enough for me. Here's wishing everybody good luck.
Pvt. Ira Basil Tucker.
Co. D. 129th Inf. A. E. F.
NOTES: Tucker was born on October 6, 1891 in Greenbrier, Arkansas and died on May 13, 1992. He is buried in the Thorn Cemetery in Greenbrier, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as serving in the US Army during WWI. Tucker was from Greenbrier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD