TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR FEBRUARY 7, 1919 P. 1
Jan. 16, 1919,
Mr. E. S. Turner:
Father:
I got your letter today which is the first I’ve had for some time. I Guess we will start home soon, but do not think I will get back in time to make a crop. Wish I could since the war is over. We are not dong much now but parade and hike, but that is enough now I guess.
No. I shall not be called a slacker. It is going to be hard for some to get by and still be American. Some seem to think that their boys are too good, too timid, too well raised or some thing to stand the roughs of a soldier’s life. They are afraid he will learn how to smoke or play cards. If all the rest of the boys were like him what would have become of our flag? They seem to say “let the roughnecks fight, my boy is not used to beans and stew.” I am glad to be classed with the roughnecks who fought for the Red, white and Blue. “Oh! My girl can’t stand for me to got to war.” Don’t you think she would have thought more of you if you had enlisted. If it had have been her doom, as it was with lots of them when they felt the hot breath of the Huns on their breasts.
Think of the Belgians, of the cruelties they had to bear. Do you want the same thing to happen to your girls? You can’t think but that the stars of “Old Glory” are blued with that kind of stains. There are millions of rough necks as some call us, who have red blood in our veins, who have drilled in bad weather as well as good weather and came in with a smile on our faces while your darling boy sat in the parlor and let some other boy do your fighting. If we do smoke and gamble it is only to pass off the weary hours while we are in camp. When we were called we went to arms and fought like our forefathers did---for freedom and the right. Go on now you who kept your boy at home, and warm the milk for his bottle.
Mama, I got the Xmas bag. It sure was nice.
Hope to see you all soon.
Private Leroy E. Turner
Co. D, 148 M.G. Bn. 41 div. A.P.O. 727 A.E.F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Jan. 16, 1919,
Mr. E. S. Turner:
Father:
I got your letter today which is the first I’ve had for some time. I Guess we will start home soon, but do not think I will get back in time to make a crop. Wish I could since the war is over. We are not dong much now but parade and hike, but that is enough now I guess.
No. I shall not be called a slacker. It is going to be hard for some to get by and still be American. Some seem to think that their boys are too good, too timid, too well raised or some thing to stand the roughs of a soldier’s life. They are afraid he will learn how to smoke or play cards. If all the rest of the boys were like him what would have become of our flag? They seem to say “let the roughnecks fight, my boy is not used to beans and stew.” I am glad to be classed with the roughnecks who fought for the Red, white and Blue. “Oh! My girl can’t stand for me to got to war.” Don’t you think she would have thought more of you if you had enlisted. If it had have been her doom, as it was with lots of them when they felt the hot breath of the Huns on their breasts.
Think of the Belgians, of the cruelties they had to bear. Do you want the same thing to happen to your girls? You can’t think but that the stars of “Old Glory” are blued with that kind of stains. There are millions of rough necks as some call us, who have red blood in our veins, who have drilled in bad weather as well as good weather and came in with a smile on our faces while your darling boy sat in the parlor and let some other boy do your fighting. If we do smoke and gamble it is only to pass off the weary hours while we are in camp. When we were called we went to arms and fought like our forefathers did---for freedom and the right. Go on now you who kept your boy at home, and warm the milk for his bottle.
Mama, I got the Xmas bag. It sure was nice.
Hope to see you all soon.
Private Leroy E. Turner
Co. D, 148 M.G. Bn. 41 div. A.P.O. 727 A.E.F.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON