John L. Barkley letter to Dock - February 27, 1919
Transcript
Coblenz Germany [February] 27 1919. Dear Dock. Just received your letter today. How is every thing. How is dad? I suppose he says "that boy wont work for mocking shells and machine gun bullets in time of the cival war bullets was mighty thick but not as thick as the [Argonne] forest. Every inch of this place was sprayed with machine gun fire and shells thicks as brush.
Transcript
Tell Kick I havnt many Souveneires but have a pocket full of sholderstraps all from Verdun and they all are my men. Them dam souvieniers dont amount to anything. I have known people to get killed searching for souvenier on battle fields. Ask Russel Hauln if he remembers what a fight we had there in the woods where he was luckly hit. This was nothing what we run into two Kilometers farther in the woods. Where Russel was wounded I repaired a German machine gun which was a dandy, fired 5000
Transcript
[page 3] rounds at the germans who was attacting the 7th infantry on our left flank held the Dutchman two hours an a half my self, keep all of the germans reinforcement back while the 7th took hill 280 there was sure some dutchman lost their lives there. I had a flank fire and had them in an open field and I took no mercy on no body. Them dam French was cowars the English was the same and lots of Americans. I never saw a dam dutchman that looked bad to me, ded or alive.
Transcript
a Dutchman told me the other day the Kiser was the cause of it all, that the German people were good people and that the Kiser was a hillian I told him there was sixty million kiser in Germany, and he just laughed. I am sleeping in a dam good feather bed and think I will have a better one. When I want a better bed we just take our 45 and say "outside." I make these dam dutchman hide with a machine gun and cry, first aid when you stuck your hed up. Pop.
Transcript
Jessie Kinder was killed near Mont Fown He was not in my division but I ran onto his body accidentialy. Will tell you more later. Got a letter from Marie Cammel anp Pearl Parlie, both very loving. Must close answer soon. You brother John Barkley. Co K 4th inft
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - February 27, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 27 February 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated February 27, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning the collections of souvenirs at Verdun and his story of commandeering a German machine gun. |
| 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 | February 27, 1919 |
| Language | English |