TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASHLEY COUNTY EAGLE FEBRUARY 14, 1918 P. 1
Jan. 21, 1918
Dear Father:
Have not written you fully of the army life because I thought best to get more of it before attempting such. The life of a soldier is necessarily hard. The first call is sounded at 5:15 A. M. when every man is required to get up and stand reveille. Breakfast is served shortly after this, then the barracks and grounds are cleaned until 7:30, when the drill begins which lasts until 11:30 then the men are given an hour and a half rest for dinner, then the afternoon drills begin which last until 5. Retreat is at 5:30, then supper is served shortly after.
After supper the non-commissioned officers attend military educational classes for one hour, many of the privates attend educational classes taught by myself, and the other fellows go to the Y. M. C. A. or to our own recreation room, and to the Knights of Columbus Hall. There were thirty men in our battery who were not able to sign the October payroll, one man being able to write a letter to his family which brought joy to them and great satisfaction to him, I am sure, after a month’s study.
The Y. M. C. A. and the Knights of Columbus are doing some wonderful work among the soldiers but are not able to do the effective work needed because of the great number of men and the limited number of these organizations in the cantonments.
There have been many inconveniences and complaints because of clothing shortage. I do not consider that the officers in charge here nor the officials at Washington are to be held responsible for this, but it is due to the system under which they have to work, so much red tape.
“When Will You Go To France?” is a question thousands wish to hear answered. We do not know any more about it than you do at home, but we do know this, we shall go if “Bill” wishes to continue this war. We are prepared to free the world of Militarism, which I am sure the American lad can do, and do that well.
We had a good Christmas, at which time every man received a sweater and Red Cross package. If those who made it possible for these gifts to reach the boys, could have seen the real joy brought to them, they would be amply repaid for their sacrifices. Since that time the spirit of the boys has been of the very best and they are developing into real soldiers.
Your son,
F. C. Willcoxon,
Battery D. 315th Field Artillery,
Camp Lee, Va.
NOTES: Written to his father, J. W. Wilcoxon of Route 2. His father was a Arkansas State Representative. The spelling in the last name varies in different letters in the paper. Most likely a newspaper error.
TRANSCRIBED BY AMY MINGER
Jan. 21, 1918
Dear Father:
Have not written you fully of the army life because I thought best to get more of it before attempting such. The life of a soldier is necessarily hard. The first call is sounded at 5:15 A. M. when every man is required to get up and stand reveille. Breakfast is served shortly after this, then the barracks and grounds are cleaned until 7:30, when the drill begins which lasts until 11:30 then the men are given an hour and a half rest for dinner, then the afternoon drills begin which last until 5. Retreat is at 5:30, then supper is served shortly after.
After supper the non-commissioned officers attend military educational classes for one hour, many of the privates attend educational classes taught by myself, and the other fellows go to the Y. M. C. A. or to our own recreation room, and to the Knights of Columbus Hall. There were thirty men in our battery who were not able to sign the October payroll, one man being able to write a letter to his family which brought joy to them and great satisfaction to him, I am sure, after a month’s study.
The Y. M. C. A. and the Knights of Columbus are doing some wonderful work among the soldiers but are not able to do the effective work needed because of the great number of men and the limited number of these organizations in the cantonments.
There have been many inconveniences and complaints because of clothing shortage. I do not consider that the officers in charge here nor the officials at Washington are to be held responsible for this, but it is due to the system under which they have to work, so much red tape.
“When Will You Go To France?” is a question thousands wish to hear answered. We do not know any more about it than you do at home, but we do know this, we shall go if “Bill” wishes to continue this war. We are prepared to free the world of Militarism, which I am sure the American lad can do, and do that well.
We had a good Christmas, at which time every man received a sweater and Red Cross package. If those who made it possible for these gifts to reach the boys, could have seen the real joy brought to them, they would be amply repaid for their sacrifices. Since that time the spirit of the boys has been of the very best and they are developing into real soldiers.
Your son,
F. C. Willcoxon,
Battery D. 315th Field Artillery,
Camp Lee, Va.
NOTES: Written to his father, J. W. Wilcoxon of Route 2. His father was a Arkansas State Representative. The spelling in the last name varies in different letters in the paper. Most likely a newspaper error.
TRANSCRIBED BY AMY MINGER