John L. Barkley letter to Cocky - March 20, 1918
Transcript
[Newport] News March 20 1918 Dear Cocky. I am still here and don't know when I will leave but it won't be very long. Is all we do here is shoot. I am getting to be a cat with this springfield. We use different guns here than we did at Funston. Our target range is in the Blue Ridge Mts we hike all the way up there and stay for weeks at a time. I had Quite a thrill when I was on guard around the out post of the camp. I was walking post around
Transcript
[page 2] the out skirts of the camp and at 1 oclock I was releaved by another guard. I started back to the camp when I herd four rifle shots plunk plunk, plunk, plunk. The word came in a few minuts from the corpral of the guard that a wild-cat had attacked a centry and the centry killed him. If I had been on ten minuts longer I would have been the man. I would not have had to fire four shots though. These old regulars cant believe that I have been in the army only six months. all of this company is from China and the [Philippines]. our top sargant have been in the army 27 years. Now Cocky if I do not write any more you can figure that I am some place where I cant mail a letter. But you keep on writing and address my mail here and it will follow me.
Transcript
now let me tell you something. If I am expecting to moove to the firing line from the camp, I will draw a line through the first A you find in my letter probably it will be in the heading. If things look serious for the US I will dot the first I twice, i. If I am sick or wounded. O If things look serious for the alies, t. Now key this page and you will know all about me. They will criticize these letter to beat hell. Well I must close. I am feeling fine and gaining in weight every day. [Newport News] is sure some town but they have confined us to the regiment now fixing to goe some place. Answer soon. your brother John
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Cocky - March 20, 1918 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Cocky. 20 March 1918. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated March 20, 1918, John L. Barkley wrote Cocky concerning target practice with a Springfield rifle in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a guard being attacked by a wild cat, the majority of the company having served in China or Philippines, and a code for future reference. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| 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 | March 20, 1918 |
| Language | English |