John L. Barkley letter to Dock - May 26, 1919
Transcript
May 26 1919. Dear Dock. I just the other day took the damdest air plain ride you ever saw. I had an invitation from a captain to take a fly so I went down and went up in a scout plane. They put a aviators cap on me and I felt like looking for a fight some place. I got in and put a strap around my waist and the old captain started the machine off on the grand at the rate of 110 mile per hour, all at once it begin to climb and off we were before I knew it. I was flying. We circuled for a long time and then we went for light air. The next thing I knew the clowds was the only thing we had for a friend, and that dam fool captain went higher. You feel safe up there. The higher you get the better you are off. I thought if that plane fell I would go with it, and if I feel out of it I would take a hand holt with me. Now Dock if I am not discharged in a few day and
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[page 2] peace is not signed. I will be looking over my rifle barel at some Bulshaveki. I have a star-gague rifle issued to me for the purpose of snipping at a long range. It is equipped with what is known as a "telescopic sight" which draws the target close to me. She sure is a bird, the best that can be furnished by the war department. At 1000 yard a man can hit a hed and sholder target every time so you see some dutchman will have to keep his hed down. These dutchman here say peace will not be signed. Machine fun fire will sign any thing. If they dont sign it there are three divisions here awaiting to even get another chance at Berlin. I would like to see our artillery bergade set up on Berlin and pound it down like they did Rheims. I saw that Cathedral town to pieces by 42 centimeter guns. They ask the germans why they did this, they said it ruined the moral of the French. Moral is half the fight.
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I dont think these dutchman are getting enough endemnities placed upon them. If you could have seen [Chateau Thierry] how they killed women by bombarding the town never let them know nor give them a chance to move out, just gassed hell out of women and little kids with mustard gass which eat their eyes out and we found little kids wondering around in the woods feeling their way crying and eating bark and leaves to keep alive with rotten soers of shrapnal and gass wounds say they shouldnt pay anything. I wish this peace was left up to our major of this [battalion] he was shot just above the heart by a snipper and the bullet came out his back. They took him prisoner at [Soissons] and was a prisoner five months. He sure is a brave man and fine fellow, but despises these germans worse than I do. I am thought well of here in this Batallion especially by officers. I always do my
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share and expect every body to do the same. havnt been called down by an officer over here in europe lots of men has gone to the guard house for drunkiness. This wine will put a mans cork to bobbin. How is the sheriff comming. I am not going to worry a dam bit about any thing like that. There will be too many Hollars and Reeds against me. Especially the dutchmen. You may think that wouldn't have anything to do with that but I know a dam dutchman like a book. They are just like some animal who has the same habits and the same nature, Boche. I got 4 letters today. One from Pearl Parlie, Mrs Howeth, Marie Campebell and Ada Reifschunder. I avoid talking about the germans near home. Must close. Answer soon you dont answer often enogh. I get your letters in 11 days. as ever John.
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - May 26, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 26 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 26, 1919, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning his ride in an observation plane, the characteristics of his snipping rifle, and the German use of mustard gas. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Snipers; Airplanes; Mustard gas |
| 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 26, 1919 |
| Language | English |