Missouri Over There

John L. Barkley letter to Dock - January 12, 1918

Transcript

Coblenz [Germany] [January] 12 1918 My Dear brother Dock. Just last night I received your letter, and you say Jessie Kinder was killed. Yes I can tell you all about it when I come home, and you say ... Show MoreWesley Atkins is in the hospital with a bullet in his hip If I knew what hospital I would go and see him. Today is pay day and I drawed $90.00 . I am going to spend the rest of my money over here seeing this country. I am stationed near the great
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[page 2] city of [Cologne] and Bonn. in [Cologne] the great Dom is located I am in just 70 kilometers of [Cologne] and 175 of [Strasbourg] where the clock is. I am going to see tham all if I can. I... Show More have had one hell of a hard fight for existance and I am going to see something If I can. I have seen the Castle at Overweasel. The home of the Honzollers where the old king lived and where he had his great army located. Every thing is well kept up just as it was. And some of the old falls are there yet they ust to rool down on people. I am sending you a pictur of part of it one of the strongest holts or forts in Germany
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I am also sending you a pictur of the Kiser great statue. The Guards can't hardly keep the soldiers from tearing helle out of it. I am still going to school learning to fight scintifficaly Studying ... Show Moremaps learning to signal by the Morris code or as same as the American telegraph. I can read the most complicated map from A to Z. and believe me I used it at the front locating machine gun emplacements artillery or studying when an attack was comming off I had a soft job if I would have taken it that way but I was in the hottest of all the fights. The army offers me a mighty good thing for what I did at the front.
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[page 4] You see they want me to enlist again raise my wages and do many things. I stand a good chance of getting decorated fo bravery I dont know when but soon. I wonder what the slackers will say ... Show Moreto that. I showed them dam Dutch how many a machine gun could kill and the French wasnt use to that king fighting I will tell you the strait of it when I come home. Take care of my stock and my intrest till I come home. You see I have been haveing a kinda rough time at times over here. I am going to try and get holt of something when I come back. This thing of raising hell always I have seen enough hell overe here to last a hundred men but it is all over now Must close. answer soon PVT. John Barkley co K 4th inft.
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Details

Title John L. Barkley letter to Dock - January 12, 1918
Creator Barkley, John Lewis
Source Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 12 January 1918. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri.
Description In this letter dated January 12, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning recent pay, proximity to Cologne, Bonn, and Strasbourg, the urging of his reenlistment, and possible decoration for bravery. Barkley also mentioned he was at school studying how to fight scientifically, studying maps, and learning Morse code.
Subject LCSH United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd
Subject Local WWI; World War I; Army of Occupation
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 January 12, 1918
Language English

John L. Barkley letter to Dock - January 12, 1918

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