Champ Clark letter to John J. Pershing - November 24, 1918
Transcript
France, November 24, 1918. Honorable Champ Clark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Clark: I have received your letter of October 29th with regard to your son. As you can easily imagine in an army of the size of the American Expeditionary Forces, the choice of staff officers if left very much to the General Staff officers, who are in intimate touch with the regimental officers. During the organization of the army the most crying need was for staff officers, and as many regular officers as could be spared from troops, and the more promising of the other officers, whether National Guard, Reserve or National Army, were picked to be sent to the General Staff College and were later very largely used with the divisional and corps staffs. In each case I have little doubt that the officer in question would rather have remained with his regiment, as service with troops is the service the most desired, and far more satisfactory than staff work. I have no doubt but that your son would have been as successful with his regiment as he evidently has been on the staff. Under the present conditions of armistice and probable speedy peace, the question seems to me less urgent. I would be glad
Transcript
to do what I can, but the need of trained staff officers is especially great at this time. However, I shall give your request my personal attention. I was very glad to hear from you, and thanking you for your kind words, I remain, Sincerely yours, John J Pershing
Details
| Title | Champ Clark letter to John J. Pershing - November 24, 1918 |
| Creator | Clark, Champ |
| Source | Clark, Champ. Letter to John J. Pershing. 24 November 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 November 24, 1918 letter General of the Armies John J. Pershing responded to Champ Clark's request to have his son, Bennett Clark, transferred back to the 35th Division. 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 Lieutenant Colonel in the 140th Regiment, 35th Division and as Assistant Chief of Staff for the 88th Division during World War I, and was Missouri State Senator from 1933 to 1945. |
| Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; Clark, Bennett Champ, 1890-1954; United States. Army. Division, 88th; World War, 1914-1918; United States. Army. Infantry regiment, 140th; Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948; United States. Army. Division, 35th |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C0666 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
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| 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 | November 24, 1918 |
| Language | English |