John L. Barkley letter to Dock - July 27, 1919
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July 27, 1919. Still in Germany, yet. Dear Dock. I have moved from the town I was stationed for seven months and have moved to a little town called Besenheim not far from where I was. This is a much better town only the people speak high german and at the other dorf they spoke low dutch. I can speak german good enogh to carry on any kind of a conversation, seven months have gave me a quiet a schooling in lingoes and shrewdness for these dutchman are smart and diplomatic as hell and are very much
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[page 2] father advanced than the French. I mean take them as a whole. I was decorated again by the French armey. [Field Marshal Philippe Petain] pinned the ribbon on me at Coblenz six or seven days ago. There were only 5 enlisted men received this decoration. I am sending you a piece of paper explaining the ceremony. I shook hands with the old boy when he pinned it on my coat. He had his enterpter to ask me if I knew the value of this medal. of corse I said, "certainly sir," and he repeated word for word to the marshal what
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[page 3] I said. Then he told me first of all is the smallest thing it is made of gold, next he told me it was an honor to have the field martial to pin it on. He said "ung man I extend to you my highest congratulations". We have given you the the heighest honor that France affords. I just received a personal letter from [Major General Robert Lee Howze] of the us army I am sending you a light coppy of it but the letter I have has his name signed personally. I have 4 medals now two from France one from [Montenegro] and my [Medal of Honor]. Thats the one that draws the watter.
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When they called my name the news paper man got my first name wrong and my company wrong. Say I have the damdest prettiest Dutch girl here about 18 years old I am staying at her house. Her dad has been a Baron I mean belong to the Baron family a decenent of K. Bills. They own one of the most beautiful parks here close to this town, one in Berlin and one in India. Her old dad is one of the most restercratic old devils you ever saw wears diamonds all over his fingers and in the brest of his shirt. When I
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come here he would not speak a word to me only grunt. Now I am smilling and talking to his daughter and he sure does rave so the girls says. She told me to act very med when he was around and never speak to him and he would come across. I pinn all of these medals on and stick my chest out with my hair combed slick and slay with his little boy and make over it. I despise the dam little Boche but that is not it. The old man spied me out by the fountain with all of them medals on and when I came in he wanted to know all
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[page 5] about things the girl told one was from president [Woodrow] Wilson one from the pope, one from the french armey and one from the president of France. Now he seems very smiling. I wish I could stay here a while longer I might fix things but I will be at home by my birthday I think. My birthday is the 28th I don't know how old I am I lost my age at the front, "a lost link," it is called in the armey. It is very often that case. The jar of the shells and the rumble of artillery changes everything with a man morally makes a man look at things different.
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[page 6] I don't think I will come home broke I may have enough to get home on. I will wire you if I am broke or if I am not. Dont tell any of the neighbors or anyone when I am comming for they will flock in when I will want to talk to my own folks and not some ignoramus. Just keep still and I will be wearing overalls before they know it. Must close dont answer. The same lazy John.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - July 27, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 27 July 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated July 27, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning the French decoration he received from Field Marshal Petain at Coblenz, a personal letter written by Major General Howze, and the girl that lived in the house in which he billeted. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Military decorations; Military decorations; Pétain, Philippe, 1856-1951; Howze, Robert Lee, 1864-1926 ; Medal of Honor |
| 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 | July 27, 1919 |
| Language | English |