John L. Barkley letter to Elizabeth - January 11, 1919
Transcript
Coblenz Germany [January] 11, 1919. My dear Sister Elizabeth. yes here I am in Germany sitting in a warm comfortable room where there is a wealthy Dutchman lives. It is sure some fine house and he has two girls who is very Shain. The boy has just came back from the army and he sure is some square-head. Anna says she is going to America with me. I have been feeding her some American choclate that Dock sent me. They sue like choclates. I am in just 60 killo of the shain stot of Bonn and Coln. I am going to get a furlough and visit both cities. I sure have seen
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[page 2] some pretty country and also some horrible terrafic sights. I dont know whether I will be able to see the clock at St. Burg or not it is about 150 killo's from here. We only drill 2 hours per day and get pleanty of eats, our old officers that is left are better to us than the new ones that never saw action. War takes the foolishness out of them. I sure can tell some story when I come home but you see we don't know when that will be. I am well and havnt been sick sinse I have been in Europe and not but one gass wound in the leg since all of that hard fighting. The Dutchman take it better than I thought We treat them fine and they do the same but O them French and
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[page 3] Scotch sure kick hell out of them all you know the famous Kastle at Overweasel. I have a piece of the rock off the side of it. You know Mr Schmidts at Holden, their people lives in Metz the town we were just about to crush when the armistices was signed, if it had not been signed hell was going to break loose the next day. you know the great Cathedral at [Rheims], I was there in August and it is destroyed by German artillery but all of the fine works is no so badly hurt, it can't be repaired. The French sure hate the Germans on that account. How is Mr. Ozias Tell him I done just what he told me to to them Germans. The army offers me a good thing for what I did at
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the front you see they want me to enlist again but you know what I will do. I have had enough of the army, especially in the time of war. I have seen several times at the front at Verdun when I did not have a hot meal or a warm cup of coffe for 21 days and nothing to eat only what I took off of a ded mans pack and it saturated with blood and rain, this is not half as bad a thing as I have done, these times are all over, thank god. How is peach I am glad that I did not know when she was so bad or you would have gotton a cable gram every day. you can send five words for $4.00 and I sure took advantag of it. I think I am getting a medal for what I did at the front. Must close. From your brother John Barkley co K 4th int
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Elizabeth - January 11, 1919 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Elizabeth. 11 January 1919. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated January 11, 1918, John L. Barkley wrote his sister Elizabeth concerning his location at Coblenz, Germany, a furlough he wanted to Bonn or Koln, and a possible medal for his actions on the front. Barkley also noted that he was well and that he had only been gassed once, in the leg. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Military leaves and furloughs; World War, 1914-1918--Medals |
| 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 | January 11, 1919 |
| Language | English |