TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GREEN FOREST TRIBUNE OCTOBER 19, 1917 P. 2
Dear Mrs. Smith:
Every day since we arrived at Ft. Roots I have intended to keep my promise and write a letter to The Tribune, and I haven’t much excuse for not writing, but will say I have been very busy most every minute since we landed here.
I find it a hard job to find anything to write that will interest a civilian, for when one has been in the army for a year or so they become a different person altogether. Our mode of life is different, therefore, of course we think different from one in civilian life. For instance, in civilian life we are taught that one of the greatest commandment of both God and man, “Thou shalt not kill,” but in the army the one and only object is to teach men how to kill. All of our drills, all of our physical exercises, the books we are given to read, the lectures we hear, all have as their ultimate object in view the making of fighting machines out of what was heretofore quiet, peaceable boys, and gradually we forget that we ever lived a normal life, and our actions and our thots all become centered on that one object—to fight, and, if possible, to kill.
Our past life becomes only a memory, and most of us are tempted to forget it entirely, for in truth “Old things have passed away, and all things have become new,” and as time goes on I find it harder and harder to find anything that will interest you or any of your readers.
The 2nd Ark. Inf. Reg. is now a thing of the past. We are the 142nd Field Artillery, U. S. A. We are all well pleased with the change. I walked for Uncle Sam for more than a year and a half, and now I am not one bit sorry that I will get to ride for a while. I understand that ours is to be heavy artillery, but am not sure as to the size of the guns, but think they will be 6-inch Howitzer.
The Green Forest boys are well, and each one of them is making a good soldier, and that is the highest compliment that could be given. Most of the boys are over their home-sickness and some of them are even recovering from their “love-sickness.” Some of them are finding girls that, if they are not “dearer” they are a whole lot “nearer,” than the girls they left behind. There are still a few of us, tho, that’ “ain’t got nobody”—much.
The Harrison people sent us a lot of fine eats the other day. Harrison people sure have our everlasting gratitude for the many acts of kindness since and while we were within their borders. Those Harrison people are “regular folks.”
We boys all feel glad that we are members of Battery M, for we have the best bunch of officers in the world, and always get the best of everything.
While in Harrison I was happy to meet with and renew an old friendship with Captain M. B. Russell, and I was more than glad to learn of his recent promotion to that of Major.
The boys have a violin, a guitar, a banjo and several other musical instruments and when we are not marching to the music of “right, left, right,” we are privileged to hear some tunes of the good old fashion kind.
I have never seen any of the boys who were conscripted to Camp Pike, but hear that they are all right.
Send The Tribune whether we remain here, go to Alexandria or “Somewhere Over There.” I want the news from home.
As ever your friend,
Euel Wells,
1st Sgt. Battery M, 142d Field Artillery, U. S. A. Ft. Logan H. Roots, Ark.
NOTES: John Euel Wells was born on July 31, 1893 in Berryville, Arkansas and died on November 10, 1957. He is buried in the Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Wichita, Kansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Dear Mrs. Smith:
Every day since we arrived at Ft. Roots I have intended to keep my promise and write a letter to The Tribune, and I haven’t much excuse for not writing, but will say I have been very busy most every minute since we landed here.
I find it a hard job to find anything to write that will interest a civilian, for when one has been in the army for a year or so they become a different person altogether. Our mode of life is different, therefore, of course we think different from one in civilian life. For instance, in civilian life we are taught that one of the greatest commandment of both God and man, “Thou shalt not kill,” but in the army the one and only object is to teach men how to kill. All of our drills, all of our physical exercises, the books we are given to read, the lectures we hear, all have as their ultimate object in view the making of fighting machines out of what was heretofore quiet, peaceable boys, and gradually we forget that we ever lived a normal life, and our actions and our thots all become centered on that one object—to fight, and, if possible, to kill.
Our past life becomes only a memory, and most of us are tempted to forget it entirely, for in truth “Old things have passed away, and all things have become new,” and as time goes on I find it harder and harder to find anything that will interest you or any of your readers.
The 2nd Ark. Inf. Reg. is now a thing of the past. We are the 142nd Field Artillery, U. S. A. We are all well pleased with the change. I walked for Uncle Sam for more than a year and a half, and now I am not one bit sorry that I will get to ride for a while. I understand that ours is to be heavy artillery, but am not sure as to the size of the guns, but think they will be 6-inch Howitzer.
The Green Forest boys are well, and each one of them is making a good soldier, and that is the highest compliment that could be given. Most of the boys are over their home-sickness and some of them are even recovering from their “love-sickness.” Some of them are finding girls that, if they are not “dearer” they are a whole lot “nearer,” than the girls they left behind. There are still a few of us, tho, that’ “ain’t got nobody”—much.
The Harrison people sent us a lot of fine eats the other day. Harrison people sure have our everlasting gratitude for the many acts of kindness since and while we were within their borders. Those Harrison people are “regular folks.”
We boys all feel glad that we are members of Battery M, for we have the best bunch of officers in the world, and always get the best of everything.
While in Harrison I was happy to meet with and renew an old friendship with Captain M. B. Russell, and I was more than glad to learn of his recent promotion to that of Major.
The boys have a violin, a guitar, a banjo and several other musical instruments and when we are not marching to the music of “right, left, right,” we are privileged to hear some tunes of the good old fashion kind.
I have never seen any of the boys who were conscripted to Camp Pike, but hear that they are all right.
Send The Tribune whether we remain here, go to Alexandria or “Somewhere Over There.” I want the news from home.
As ever your friend,
Euel Wells,
1st Sgt. Battery M, 142d Field Artillery, U. S. A. Ft. Logan H. Roots, Ark.
NOTES: John Euel Wells was born on July 31, 1893 in Berryville, Arkansas and died on November 10, 1957. He is buried in the Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Wichita, Kansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS