John L. Barkley letter to Mother - November 15, 1917
Transcript
[November] 15 1917 Camp Funston Dear Mother well I am writing this letter as if I wer at Camp Funston but I am not. I am at the detatchment camp out of sight of Camp Funston, Quarentined for the spinal trouble. The whole Co is quarnteen. It is sure some bad disease, we live in little tents just room enough for six men, when one man gets sick with it he is moved out to some place where he can get better treatment. Just across the other tent about ten feet, all six of its occupants died with it in one nites time, you know when they take it in three hours after they take it they are ded. Everbody out here are scared to death, some wiping tears and some laughing. I am one of the boys
Transcript
[page 2] who are laughing, for it is no use to ball, for if you take it you take it, and that is all there is to it. Now you need not be afraid of this letter for it will be fumigated before it leaves here. All of our officers that belong to our Co are up here in the tents with the boys no better than any one else. We took our examination for France the other day I pased as a no one soldier, you dont know how many were dismissed from the army. We are sure freezing in these tents without any fire and not but very little to eat, not enough to keep up hardly alive. we cant get truck drivers to hardly bring us anything.
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[page 3] Did Dock do that what I told him, everbody is going home, I want Dock to get it fixed now so when I do get out from under Quarnten I can come home and be there during Christmas for if I get off I will get off for fifteen days. Now have him to do this now and in this case don't be so honest for the men who Qualified out at rifle range is going across. Well I will have to close. Answer right now and get it out on the Holden mail. write to Annie and the rest of the kids and tell them what I am up against. I am not allowed to write very seldome, but can receive all of the letters. As unusual, John Barkley P.S. over
Transcript
The soldiers have but very little medical treatment on the account of no Red Cross funds. show this to Jailor or tell him about it. address my mail as usual - Co g 356 inft Camp Funston, [Kansas]
Details
| Title | John L. Barkley letter to Mother - November 15, 1917 |
| Creator | Barkley, John Lewis |
| Source | Barkley, John L. Letter to Mother. 15 November 1917. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1917-1919. 1996.33. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter dated November 15, 1917, John L. Barkley wrote his mother (Leona Barkley) concerning the detachment for quarantine at Camp Funston because of spinal meningitis. Barkley also mentioned placement as a "no one soldier", the furlough he requested from Dock, and the lack of medical treatment being received because Red Cross funds. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd; Quaratine; Camp Funston (Kan.); Military leaves and furloughs; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Red Cross |
| 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 | November 15, 1917 |
| Language | English |