John L. Barkley letter to Dock - July 8, 1919
Transcript
July 8 1919 Dear Dock. Just today am going to answer your letter written June 17th. Well as far as my comming home it is just a matter of time. The 5th division has gone some where on the watter and the 4th is pulling out for Brest France and the second division follows the 4th and we follow the second. you see is the reason they sent the National armey and National guard back first because they were no soldiers and was a disgrace to the american armey. They wanted to leave the best they had so we would make the
Transcript
Germans and English have a better opinion of U.S. You hear them all blow about the famous rainbow division they are a lot of B.S. of corse they did a lot of fighting but when they came here on the Rhine they refused to do anything and they sent them home with a lot of wind. Who has the most stars in their service ribon the old third. We were in 5 major operations. [Champagne] Maron, The Maron defensive and the Maron offensive, Asine Marne offensive, [St. Mihiel] offensive and the [Meuse Argonne]. I wear five bronz stars on my coat for this. More than any other divison wears.
Transcript
[page 3] Say my Batallion was picked for the guard of honor yesterday There was an old French general who led his armey across the Rhine against the prussians and was killed just two miles from where I stay in the year of 1771 or near that time. The French were defeated and he was burried near Coblenz and a monument was erected where he fell. Yesterday they brought his remains and burried him where the monument stands. All of the French high ups was there. It was sure some funeral. one French Batallion was there, They fired the salute with a six inch canon eleven shots
Transcript
The French general made a great speach in English who he was where he fell and all about his life. The old dutch woman here where I stay is canning cherries. Their trees are just loaded and they have lots of them. I hard her say to her daughter Lena, "since we have made friends and signed peace we can buy sugar from the americans. Whenever they think these germans are starving they are badly off. They have every thing in their gardens and fields that one could want for. Every thing we grow in [Missouri] the grow here. potatoes by the car load. I got a swell pictures from Ada Reig today and lots of B.S. with it. Must close answer soon. John. over
Transcript
say I am wearing three medals now, one from Congress, one from France and the other from [Montenegro]. The certificate that came with the [Montenegrin] has the picture of Kings, shields swords canonion and steel traps of all description and some language that christ himself could not read. I got an enterpreter to read it for me. It spoke of my devotion and love for my country and our allies, seeing democracy crushed led me to heroic deeds. signed by the pope and a [Montenegrin] general who signed his name all m's. mmmmm. some name.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - July 8, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 8 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 8, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning the 4th Division relocated to Brest, acting as honor guard for a French funeral, and receiving the Montenegrin Medal for Bravery. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Saint-Mihiel, Battle of, Saint-Mihiel, France, 1918.; World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France--Meuse; World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France--Aisne.; Military funerals; Worl |
| 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 8, 1919 |
| Language | English |