John L. Barkley letter to Dock - September 21, 1918
Transcript
[September] 21 1918 My dear brother Dock. You see the date this letter was written and you see I am still alive. I never felt better in my life weight 155 lb and don't bar any square-head in bayonette or any kind of fights he wants. When I came to France I thought "Germans," the way the people talked were man eaters but they havn't anything on the Americans. The only good German is a ded one and there is getting to be lots of good [German]. I have had experience so I pretty near know. For instance the Boche put over a king of laughing gass and when
Transcript
[page 2] they followed up the gass attack they expected to find us ded and instead, they found us laughing at them, ha ha some gass. Just received a letter from Sister and she was so fraid her man would have to go now don't look at it that way join the fray and have some real sport. The more men we have the shorter it will last so all yellow stripes and cold feet must wake up, leave some of the old married men for some are sissies anyway. I am not sorry that I am in France and it is no disgrace to be drafted for there are sure some fighting drafted men. I am sure I never saw a Boche I ever was afraid of.
Transcript
Now my best advise is to not let any stripes be painted on your door. The boys that come out of this will sure have things to tell and that not all will be fighting for one of the greatest causes that a war ever [ms illegible: 1 wd] fought for. How is my dogs pet cat and my cattle. Take good care of them all and some day I may come home. Well I must close, for writing uppon my helmet and it is getting dark anyway so will close. From your brother John L Barkley Co K 4th infantry P.S. you might lett Mr Hobert read this. [censor signature]
Transcript
Send this back Mr Hobert wants all John's letters Roy Steurat died of wounds lately
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Dock - September 21, 1918 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Dock. 21 September 1918. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated September 21, 1918, John L. Barkley wrote his brother Dock concerning his opinion of the Germans, the gas used in battle, and dodging the draft. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| 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 | September 21, 1918 |
| Language | English |