Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - April 24, 1919
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Camp Mills, [Long Island]. April 24, 1919 Dear Bess: I have been in America just four days and I have been so busy just lookin' at the place and getting some honest-to-goodness food under my belt that I haven't had time to do anything else. I had the most miserable ten days coming over that I've spent in this war. We had a fine boat, brand new and never used before, but she was empty except for our baggage and ourselves and she did some rolling. I am not a good sailor and you can guess the harrowing details. Of course I could get no sympathy. Even my own Battery laughed at me. I lost about twenty pounds (and I can afford to lose it). For a time I wished most sincerely that
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I could go back to the Argonne Forest and at least die honorably. I am bravely over it now and I fear that I am gaining in weight. I've never seen anything that looked so good as the Liberty Lady in New York Harbor and the mayor's welcoming boat, which came down the river to meet us. You know the men have seen so much and been in so many hard places that it takes something real to give them a thrill, but when the band on that boat played "Home Sweet Home" there were not very many dry eyes. The hardest of hard-boiled cookies even had to blow his nose a time or two. Every welfare organization in America met us and gave us something. The Jews gave us handkerchiefs; the Y.M.C.A. chocolate; the Knights of Columbus, cigarettes; the Red Cross, real homemade
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cake; and the Salvation Army, God bless 'em, sent telegrams free and gave us Easter eggs made of chocolate. They took us off the boat at Pier No. 1 in Hoboken, fed us till we wouldn't hold any more, put us on a ferry, and sent us to Camp Mills, where they gave us a bath and lots of new clothes, the first some of the men have had since they joined. Then we made a raid on the canteens and free shows. I'll bet ten barrels wouldn't hold the ice cream consumed that first evening. I was so busy that I didn't connect until the next day but I've been going strong ever since. I was down on Broadway night before last with Major Miles and Major Wilson and stopped in at an ice cream joint and who do you suppose asked me if I belonged to the 35th Division? Stella Swope. She asked me where I was from, what regiment I belonged to, and then if I knew you, before she told me who she was. I was somewhat embarrassed but managed to tell her. She was with a sailor but didn't introduce him. I am so crazy to get home that I'm about to go A.W.O.L. but I guess I'd better not set my Irish a bad example at this late day. We hope to leave here day after tomorrow for Kansas City, where we parade. They'd better keep Klemm out of that parade too. I hope you'll forgive me for not writing oftener while here but it's just so good to have U.S.A. under my feet that I have to look at it somewhat. My Dago barber gave me an Italian dinner at his sister's house last night-yards and yards of spaghetti, chicken and dumplings, rabbit and peas and all the trimmings. I nearly foundered myself. Hope to see you soon and make up for lost time. Sincerely, I love you Always, Harry
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[stamp] Hempstead [New York][April] 24 6-PM 1919 Mills Branch Miss Bess Wallace 219 Delaware St Independence Missouri
Details
| Title | Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - April 24, 1919 |
| Creator | Truman, Harry S. |
| Source | Truman, Harry S. Letter to Bess Wallace. 24 April 1919. Papers of Harry S. Truman Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs; Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace, 1910-1919. HST-FBP_6-27_01. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Ind |
| Description | Letter from Harry S. Truman to his future wife, Bess Wallace, telling her that he was at Camp Mills in Long Island, New York. Truman also described the wonderful welcome he and his unit received upon their arrival to the United States. Captain Truman was placed in charge of Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment from July 11, 1918 through the end of the war on November 11, 1918. During his military service Truman frequently wrote to Bess informing her of his experiences. |
| Subject LCSH | Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 129th; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; United States. Army. Division, 35th; Military discharge; Camp Mills (N.Y.); Y.M.C.A.; Knights of Columbus; Salvation Ar |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | HST-FBP_6-27_01 |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | April 24, 1919 |
| Language | English |