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Start Over You searched for: Names United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces. Remove constraint Names: United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces. Formats Letters (correspondence) Remove constraint Formats: Letters (correspondence) Date range Unknown Remove constraint Date range: Unknown
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Collection

Camp Hancock letters, 1917

3 items

An anonymous United States Army sergeant wrote these 3 letters (18 pages) to his mother while serving at Camp Hancock, Georgia, between August and December 1917. "Herb," a member of Company D, 103rd Engineer Regiment, reported on his regiment's work laying pipes and about several aspects of military life.

An anonymous United States Army sergeant wrote these 3 letters (18 pages) to his mother while serving at Camp Hancock, Georgia, between August and December 1917. "Herb," a member of Company D, 103rd Engineer Regiment, reported on his regiment's work laying pipes and on several aspects of military life.

In each of his letters, "Herb" encouraged his mother not to worry about him, and he took pride in his work with the military and in his continuing advancement through the ranks; he was expecting a commission as lieutenant. He also mentioned some of his regiment's duties, which included laying pipes for newly constructed buildings at Camp Hancock and building temporary bridges for other units on bivouac assignments. Herb described other aspects of camp life, such as the comings and goings of other soldiers and his leisure activities, which included trips to nearby Augusta and football games. In two of his letters, he discussed the reorganization of the army's cavalry and artillery units, and in one letter, he mentioned English and French guest officers' instruction in trench warfare (November 11, 1917).

Collection

James Kirwin letters, 1918

6 items

This collection is made up of six letters written by Private Kirwin to his mother while serving in France between August 1918 and December 1919 with the American Expeditionary Forces. He mentioned Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Armistice of November 11, 1918, and he utilized colored, printed "Y.M.C.A," "Salvation Army," or "American Red Cross" stationery.
Collection

John Barr letters, 1918

8 items

This collection is comprised of 8 letters written by John Barr to his girlfriend, Ethel Mae ("Polly") Trueblood, of Cleveland, Ohio, during his World War I service with the YMCA near Paris in 1918. In these love letters, Barr discussed his experiences near the front, his negative opinions of the Germans, and the nature of his daily work.

This collection is comprised of 8 letters written by John Barr to his girlfriend, Ethel Mae ("Polly") Trueblood, of Cleveland, Ohio, during his World War I service with the YMCA in Paris in 1918. In these love letters, Barr discussed the nature of his daily work and his experiences. Despite being located near the front and witnessing some of the horrors of war, he maintained a positive attitude, and optimistically told Polly, "One has to be here to fully realize the importance of winning the war. And we are going to win" (June 27, 1918); however, he did not brook any tolerance toward the "Jerrys," "Boches," and "Huns," whom he often disparaged in his letters. Along with his descriptions of life in France and frequent proclamations of love and hope for the couple's future, he responded angrily to reports of strikers in the United States, questioning their loyalty and reinforcing the importance of men in the American Expeditionary Forces. In the letter of September 14, 1918, Barr attached a clipping from the June 7, 1918 issue of Stars and Stripes, featuring an article about war refugees captioned "Helpless Victims of the Hun."

Collection

Louis E. Bevens letters, 1918

4 items

This collection is a series of four letters written by Louis Bevens during his time at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas, in November 1918. He addressed them to family members in Kansas City, Missouri, including his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Bevens wrote about rheumatic pain in his leg, making it home for Christmas dinner, and need for employment. The letters have colored, printed "Knights of Columbus War Activities" letterheads.

The Louis E. Bevens letters are a series of four letters written by Bevens during his time at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas, in November 1918. He addressed them to family members in Kansas City, Missouri, including his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Bevens wrote about rheumatic pain in his leg, making it home for Christmas dinner, and need for employment. The letters have colored, printed "Knights of Columbus War Activities" letterheads.

Collection

Noah F. Perry letters, 1918

15 items

This collection is comprised of 15 letters Noah F. Perry sent to Mary Jane Wade of Buntyn, Tennessee (now part of Memphis), while he served with a United States Army band unit at Camp Jackson (now Fort Jackson), South Carolina, between February and June 1918. Perry discussed several aspects of military life, such as his relationships with other soldiers, the possibility of being sent to France, and his experiences while in training.

This collection is comprised of 15 letters Noah F. Perry sent to Mary Jane Wade of Buntyn, Tennessee, while he served with a United States Army band unit at Camp Jackson (now Fort Jackson), South Carolina, between February and June 1918. Perry discussed his relationships with other soldiers, the possibility of being sent to France, and his experiences while in training, among other topics.

Perry wrote 6 letters in February 1918 and 8 between May and June 1918, as well as 1 undated letter. All are addressed to Mary Jane Wade, whom Perry regarded as a close friend. Perry wrote about Camp Jackson and about several facets of military life, such as fluctuations in the camp's population as men transferred between regiments and between military installations. Several letters provide Perry's opinions on fellow soldiers and officers, as well as his views on an African American regiment that entered the camp in late February. He often mentioned his frequent visits to nearby Columbia, South Carolina, where he often attended the theater and occasionally performed with his band unit. Other letters discuss training exercises, such as Perry's experiences with gas and machine guns. Though Perry did not provide the number of his regiment, he mentioned the 316th, 317th, and 318th Infantry Regiments, and in one letter provided his negative opinion of National Guard units (February 10, 1918).