TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DARDANELLE POST-DISPATCH DECEMBER 26, 1918 P. 1
New York City, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Pound:
As one of the 99 men called out by the Local Board at Danville on September 18th, 1917, born and raised in Yell County, I feel like a full-blooded Yell Countian, and thought I would write a few lines to you and the people of our great County.
Will give a little history of myself and the other boys who went through with me. There were 60 of us “went across” together and were put into the same regiment, therefore I could keep in close touch with them until I was wounded. We joined the 38th Infantry, 3rd Division, July 7th. Our regiment was holding the front lines just east of Chateau Thierry, between Metz and Creyancy, directly in the path along which the Germans were trying to reach Paris. July 15th the Huns started their last great offensive. The day was in our favor and our regiment distinguished itself among all others and General Pershing recommended that in future it be called the “Rock of the Marine.” There stands on the battle field a monument on which is inscribed a list of the names of the brave boys who fell on that glorious but bloody day, and included in the roster of heroes who made the supreme sacrifice are the names of the following sons of Yell County: Private Webb Green, of Plainview; Private Geo. M. Vess, of Havana; Private Roy Garner of Chickalah.
The next engagement in which we participated was at Fismes, on the Vesle River. There Private Robert M. Taylor, of Rover, was wounded and never returned to the regiment, and Private Alvin S. Bates, of Sulpher Springs, was reported missing in action. From Fismes we went to Handelain-Court for a two weeks rest. We drilled ten hours a day while we rested.
Then we went into the all-American drive at Saint Mihiel, breeched the Hindenburg line, wiped out the troublesome salient and, all told, made an advance of 15 kilometers—about 12 miles. In this desperate fighting there was no loss among the Yell County boys. We were relieved then and went to the Verdon sector. Here the big Allied drive began September 26th and continued until the signing of the armistice.
It fell to the lot of the 38th to break the Rehmeliule line, which was held with all the resistance the Germans could concentrate. My Company was ordered to take Hill 144 and was the first to go into action. We went “over the top” about 6 o’clock in the morning, and within an hour we had the hill. Then I began carrying wounded men down the hill, which was strewn with red blooded Americans. I made the fourth trip up the hill under machine gun fire from a a German sniper but on my fourth time down he succeeded in hitting his target, and it knocked me out for a few hours.
About 4 p. m. the Huns started a counter attack, so I got my rifle and crawled back to the line to help the boys stop the gray-clad hordes; but about this time our own artillery put down a barrage and speedily ended the German thrust. At 8 p. m. I went to the first aid station. When I left the battle line 53 of the boys were still going. Among them were Baxter Hunt, of Gravelly, and Will Pharis, of Centerville. This was on Oct. 8th. I was sent to Base Hospital No. 6, at Bordeaux, and from there to Deparkation Hospital No. 3, New York City, where I now am.
Getting back in the good old U. S. A. is changing from one extreme to the other. It is almost like being transformed from hell to heaven. The ministering angels—which is an appropriate name for the Red Cross nurses and workers—seem almost supernatural. You get here everything that heart could wish for, from a limousine ride through the city and free access to all the museums, theatres, and everything else in New York, including Jacobs’ chocolates, with which I have almost foundered myself.
Will see you good people of Yell County soon, I trust.
Sincerely your friend,
James O. Walker.
Co. H, 38th Inf. 3rd Div., New York.
(Home Address, Gravelly Ark.)
NOTES: James Oval Walker was born on February 2, 1896 and died on June 19, 1944. He is buried in the Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on February 14, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
New York City, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Pound:
As one of the 99 men called out by the Local Board at Danville on September 18th, 1917, born and raised in Yell County, I feel like a full-blooded Yell Countian, and thought I would write a few lines to you and the people of our great County.
Will give a little history of myself and the other boys who went through with me. There were 60 of us “went across” together and were put into the same regiment, therefore I could keep in close touch with them until I was wounded. We joined the 38th Infantry, 3rd Division, July 7th. Our regiment was holding the front lines just east of Chateau Thierry, between Metz and Creyancy, directly in the path along which the Germans were trying to reach Paris. July 15th the Huns started their last great offensive. The day was in our favor and our regiment distinguished itself among all others and General Pershing recommended that in future it be called the “Rock of the Marine.” There stands on the battle field a monument on which is inscribed a list of the names of the brave boys who fell on that glorious but bloody day, and included in the roster of heroes who made the supreme sacrifice are the names of the following sons of Yell County: Private Webb Green, of Plainview; Private Geo. M. Vess, of Havana; Private Roy Garner of Chickalah.
The next engagement in which we participated was at Fismes, on the Vesle River. There Private Robert M. Taylor, of Rover, was wounded and never returned to the regiment, and Private Alvin S. Bates, of Sulpher Springs, was reported missing in action. From Fismes we went to Handelain-Court for a two weeks rest. We drilled ten hours a day while we rested.
Then we went into the all-American drive at Saint Mihiel, breeched the Hindenburg line, wiped out the troublesome salient and, all told, made an advance of 15 kilometers—about 12 miles. In this desperate fighting there was no loss among the Yell County boys. We were relieved then and went to the Verdon sector. Here the big Allied drive began September 26th and continued until the signing of the armistice.
It fell to the lot of the 38th to break the Rehmeliule line, which was held with all the resistance the Germans could concentrate. My Company was ordered to take Hill 144 and was the first to go into action. We went “over the top” about 6 o’clock in the morning, and within an hour we had the hill. Then I began carrying wounded men down the hill, which was strewn with red blooded Americans. I made the fourth trip up the hill under machine gun fire from a a German sniper but on my fourth time down he succeeded in hitting his target, and it knocked me out for a few hours.
About 4 p. m. the Huns started a counter attack, so I got my rifle and crawled back to the line to help the boys stop the gray-clad hordes; but about this time our own artillery put down a barrage and speedily ended the German thrust. At 8 p. m. I went to the first aid station. When I left the battle line 53 of the boys were still going. Among them were Baxter Hunt, of Gravelly, and Will Pharis, of Centerville. This was on Oct. 8th. I was sent to Base Hospital No. 6, at Bordeaux, and from there to Deparkation Hospital No. 3, New York City, where I now am.
Getting back in the good old U. S. A. is changing from one extreme to the other. It is almost like being transformed from hell to heaven. The ministering angels—which is an appropriate name for the Red Cross nurses and workers—seem almost supernatural. You get here everything that heart could wish for, from a limousine ride through the city and free access to all the museums, theatres, and everything else in New York, including Jacobs’ chocolates, with which I have almost foundered myself.
Will see you good people of Yell County soon, I trust.
Sincerely your friend,
James O. Walker.
Co. H, 38th Inf. 3rd Div., New York.
(Home Address, Gravelly Ark.)
NOTES: James Oval Walker was born on February 2, 1896 and died on June 19, 1944. He is buried in the Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on February 14, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS