Bennett Champ Clark letter to Champ Clark - March 27, 1918
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[Fort Sam Houston], [Texas], March 27, 1918 Dear Little Things: We’re on our last week here. A week from today the school ends and we pull out for Fort Sill. I had hoped to get to go by New Orleans and see Jim and Genevieve and Waw but the War Department has issued orders here that all officers are to return to their commands by the shortest routes. They want us back as soon as possible. I hear from Fort Sill that it is rumored all over the Division that I am to be made a full Colonel and given command of the 130th Infantry, composed of the old First Missouri and Fifth Missouri, the two St. Louis, regiments, this is only a rumor and of course there is probably nothing in it as I don’t believe they would make me a full
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[page 2] Colonel on account of my youth. I don’t want to be a colonel at this time as my experience is too limited for me to have the responsibility of being a regimental commander and having the lives and well being of 3600 men absolutely in my hands. Of course, don’t mention this matter to anyone as there is doubtless nothing in it. It looks like the climax of the war has been reached. The terrific battle now going on is bound to largely decide it and if the Germans fail to break through the war won’t last long. I don’t believe they can break through and the tremendous sacrifice of men shows that they are staking everything on this one effort. So I look for the war to be over before long, It would be fine if we had a million and a half Americans to swing in
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[page 3] behind that line and swat the Germans in a counter offensive. The Germans are certainly a set of great liars. I didn’t think I would have the least regret in leaving this place but I find that I am going to be very sorry to part with the friends I have made here. These National Guard colonels and field officers are a set of pretty big men and I’ve made a lot of friends that I will always remember with pleasure. One of the instructor’s wife said he sat up until one or two o’clock every night studying and when she asked him why he didn’t go to bed he said: “I have to study. There are a lot of lawyers and doctors and business men in that class and they ask me all sorts of
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[page 4] questions and they’ll eat me up blood raw if I don’t study.” I had a letter from Genevieve, taken up mainly by telling me what a smart boy Waw is. She says he is very like his grandfather. I hope you Little Things are well and happy. I would give anything to be with you for a little while. Take good care of yourselves and keep cheerful and in good health. I feel as well as I ever did in my life and as cheerful. If this was a goat getting course it failed for it didn’t get my goat. You had better address my next letter to Fort Sill. With lots of love, your devoted son, Bennett
Details
Title | Bennett Champ Clark letter to Champ Clark - March 27, 1918 |
Creator | Clark, Bennett Champ |
Source | Clark, Bennett Champ. Letter to Champ Clark. 27 March 1918. Clark, Champ (1850-1921) and Bennett Champ (1890-1954), Papers, 1853-1973. C0666. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
Description | In this March 27, 1918 letter to his parents, Bennett Clark discussed a rumor of being promoted to colonel of the 130th Infantry Regiment. Champ Clark, a long-time resident of Bowling Green, Missouri, was a politician in the Democratic Party. He served as a representative of Missouri from 1893 to 1895 and from 1897 to 1921. From 1911 to 1919 he served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Bennett Clark served as a Colonel during World War I and was Missouri State Senator from 1933 to 1945. |
Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; Clark, Bennett Champ, 1890-1954; Missouri. National Guard; Fort Sam Houston (Tex.); World War, 1914-1918--Political aspects--United States; United States. Army. Infantry regiment, 130th |
Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
Site Accession Number | C0666 |
Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
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 | March 27, 1918 |
Language | English |