John L. Barkley letter to Anna Barkley - April 2, 1919
Transcript
Germany. April 2, 1919. Miss Anna Barkley. My dear Sister. You are probably wondering why I don't write, and I am the same way. How is [Kansas City] Germany is fine and dandy and you see I am here on the Rhine and do nothing but entertain the dutch girls and you know I am good at that. I cant tell them anything about the war! you see I leave that out for so many of them had then sweethearts killed and I just let things run as smooth as they will, ha ha. When I received my medal of honor I lost all my dutch girls they herd what I did at the front and every thing, I would ask them they would say "knicks fer stay." I would say you cant speak dutch then "Knicks.
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[page 2] Annie I did not get to see the French girls very much for I was always at the front keeping these dutchman away from Paris. They sure are beauties and dress! No name for it silk and all of the fine rags you ever saw. The germans are not so far behind anybody and fighting they they are sure bears. The French are no fools. all of these foreign countries are very cruel hearted The americans are not so cruel in peace time but "Oh" you war. I don't know what america is going to do with so many americans that for two years they have been studying how to kill human beings. The army of occupation is the army that did the fighting. when you see some good looking fellow with out a wound stripe and many gold service sheverons you can ask if he wasn't in the Quartermaster Core some where in Paris.
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[page 3] you may have seen some of the kind of fellows but wait untill the famous army of occupation returns and then you will see some real men. a man that hiked 250 miles with a pack upon his back facing every rainy cold and drizzly day with mud and slush to your ankles up hill and down then you may begin to think that the boys that come home first Queering every thing with their noumerous lies of how they went over the top and then maby they never saw an observation baloon or herd a sixteen inch gun fire. But some wounded soldier came back to Paris to the hospital and told his story and they are just posing as a real soldier. I have been lucky Ann! I have went over the top with wave after wave have seen wave after wave fall and near was touched by a bullet but have had my pack and rifle stalk riddled with bullets while I was wearing it to.
Transcript
[page 4] my old gass mask was my best friend and believe me I always used it to. Those Boches would make an attack and when they did they would try to gas, shell, banoet band and machine gun you all at once. Then is when the americans would try to do the same and hell broke loose and we rushed to gether with trench knife, pistol and bayonet and the men that was the durtiest wittiest and Quickest came out alright. We fought with any gun that was the closest to us dutch, French , of american. I won my medal with a dutch machine gun. I sure got myself some kraut. Tell some of those fussy nurses I would like to have a letter from them, and one will do. I would like to hear what they talk about. Do you know Mary Howard and Pearl Parlie? I hear from them as regular as the mail comes in. Must close. Now Ann answer soon From your old brother John.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Anna Barkley - April 2, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Anna Barkley. 2 April 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In a letter dated April 2, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his sister Anna concerning his Medal of Honor, fighting styles of the German, French, and Americans, and German gas attacks. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Medal of Honor |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Army of Occupation |
| Site Accession Number | 1996.33 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | April 2, 1919 |
| Language | English |