John L. Barkley letter to Dock - May 22, 1919
Transcript
May 22 1919 Dear Dock. I just received your letter to day. What are you trying to do? kid me I took it for granted that you [ms illegible: 1 wd] and wrote Harry Pembert on a letter and told him that this army reaped the benefits of his broad acres of wheat and hills spotted with cattle which produced lots of beaf for us boys going over the top. I ask him where Lewis was and all about the girls and things like that. probably he will think I am after one of his girls but I dont know whether he has any or not I wish I knew. And I also wrote Mrs [ms illegible: 1 wd] a nice letter and just told her in plain words how sorrow I was to hear of his death. I told her that the lord was calling on some home and just took her boy home to a better place. I put several little points in it that was worth while.
Transcript
[page 2] I dont know when I will ever get out of this mans army they wont let me transfer or anything. The commanding officer of the military police tried to get me transfered but our Colonel just raised hell and my officers just cused and would not let me go. We have some hard nuts over here for a police to work on. I have worked on Prussian guards and I can work on as yank if I have to. You say you sent my Afadavid to Congressman Dickinson. He may get me out. There are dozens of boys being discharged every day from Companys going home. I might as well come home as any one for I know I am kneeded and some of them getting discharged will do nothing but walk the streets yes I knew Cleveland from [Kansas City] and I am going to write to his mother and tell her all I know. He was hit with shrapnal on [October] 24, 1918 on hill 299
Transcript
the hardest hill we ever took. you hear so much about the 35 division I know just who them birds are and what they did. They wasnt up in the [Argonne] when their high officers just falled and wanted to retreat. They are boosted by the [Kansas City] Star for the star see's they can win 27000 subscribers in their division. And you have herd of the marines. 5th and 6th yes they did some good fighting we fought side and side them in the Champaigne sector and the Dutchman just bombarded hell out of them with artillery and one regiment of the third Dv had to help them on hill 204. Not many man are alive to day who spent one day on hill 204. I spent 19 days in sight of the hill or in rifle shot range and didn't get a scratch. Them shells are hell I saw one Shell kill 21 men at one crack. Must close after that Answer Cpl John L Barkley Co K 4th inft over.
Transcript
Pearl Parlie is writing me twice a weak like this and Mary Harvard is also. What would you do.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - May 22, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 22 May 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated May 22, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning his inability to transfer, the affidavit Dock sent regarding a discharge, and a soldier from Kansas City that was killed in action. |
| 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 | May 22, 1919 |
| Language | English |