John L. Barkley letter to Dock - March 19, 1919
Transcript
Germany. March 19, 1919. My dear brother Dock. How is everybody. I am well and fine getting pleanty of eats, I mean I am not getting ham but all the beef. I want bread potatoes, rice, carrots, macaroni and coffee three times per day and am not drilling but three hours per day. the rest of the time I am loafing. I got a letter from John Ball and he is at Coblenz. I am just six miles down the River at a little Place called -
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[page 2] Andernach, the oldest city on the Rhine. Was at the city of Bonn yesterday on a touring trip to look at the city. Stayed in the city two hours. Saw Bethovan's home his old piano violen and all of his musical instruments. [Bonn] is sure a swell place and I would like to stay untill summer this Rhine sure a pretty place and there sure some castles here some built in 902 B.C. How would you like to be here in this man's army staying over here often the war is over and wait for trouble.
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[page 3] I am not woried very much for you know John never wories. Not even the big shells or the sharpest snipper never woried me much. I suppose your dad got my cable. I was decorated with a medal of honor by General [John] Pershing. He pinned the medal with his own hands in the presence of fourty thousand men. There were only two medal of honor given in the third division. I got one and a lieutenant in the tenth field artillery
Transcript
[page 4] received the other. You see the medal of honor is a medal. It takes an act of Congress to get it and I had to waight some time you see before congress could pass on it old General John [Pershing] after he pinned the medal stuck out his right hand and said "put er there Corpral, and had a hand shake, all of the Brigade generals of the third division and also the Major General who was a spectator extended his congratulations and also shook hands. The general of the Rainbow DV. also congratulated me by a hardy hand shake.
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[page 5] Shook hands with seven ranking generals that day. The lieutenant of the artillery and I out ranked them all that day. There are only 45 of these medals given out in the American army. I also have a personal letter on the way from President [Woodrow] Wilson. I think I get some jack to cant tell. I got my medal for capturing a machine gun nest launching a gun in a delapodated trench tank and beet off two german counter attack causing the 7th infantry to take a great hill. save my brigade from being captured.
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[page 6] I maid them Dutch sick of their own medicine when I piled up about six or seven hundred. Maby I may be able to get a good job working for uncle sam. I had some pictures taken yesterday am sending one home. Must close. you all never write why I receive more letter from Mary Howard than any one else answer soon. John.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - March 19, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 19 March 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated March 19, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning his visit to Bonn, the ceremony in which he received the Medal of Honor from General John Pershing, and a letter from President Woodrow Wilson. Barkley briefly described the actions taken to receive the Medal of Honor. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Medal of Honor; Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948.; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. |
| 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 | March 19, 1919 |
| Language | English |