TRANSCRIBED FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE DAILY DEMOCRAT JANUARY 21, 1919 P. 4
I roam into every old castle, cave, and fortress and cave ruins of ancient Rome that I see, and spend hours just looking at them and trying to picture some of the riotous scenes which have transpired within. And such sights of interest abound all over France, too. I am at present stationed at Waldahan, about 30 kilos from the Swiss border. It is a modern barracks, and we have all modern conveniences. My battery has comfortable quarters and a good mess as army messes go in France. We have our guns, tractors, etc., now, but the winter is coming on so fast we have little prospects of much successful work in the field.
I often think of Searcy, and wonder how everything is moving along there in the old town. I would give anything if I could drop in for a visit. But I don’t know when I will ever get back to America. I expect to stay in the service, and on account they may keep me over here for a while.
NOTES: Captain Richard B Willis was writing to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Willis. He joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1916. He was born on June 21, 1895 in Virginia but by 1900 he was living with his family in Searcy, Arkansas. He died on September 5, 1944 in Hawaii. He remained in the service after World War I. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii. His military headstone identifies him as a Colonel Field Artillery serving only in World War II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I roam into every old castle, cave, and fortress and cave ruins of ancient Rome that I see, and spend hours just looking at them and trying to picture some of the riotous scenes which have transpired within. And such sights of interest abound all over France, too. I am at present stationed at Waldahan, about 30 kilos from the Swiss border. It is a modern barracks, and we have all modern conveniences. My battery has comfortable quarters and a good mess as army messes go in France. We have our guns, tractors, etc., now, but the winter is coming on so fast we have little prospects of much successful work in the field.
I often think of Searcy, and wonder how everything is moving along there in the old town. I would give anything if I could drop in for a visit. But I don’t know when I will ever get back to America. I expect to stay in the service, and on account they may keep me over here for a while.
NOTES: Captain Richard B Willis was writing to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Willis. He joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1916. He was born on June 21, 1895 in Virginia but by 1900 he was living with his family in Searcy, Arkansas. He died on September 5, 1944 in Hawaii. He remained in the service after World War I. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii. His military headstone identifies him as a Colonel Field Artillery serving only in World War II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT