Letter to J.P. Laverty from General Enoch H. Crowder - July 22, 1918

Transcript

July 22, 1918. Mr. J.P. Laverty, Chairman, Local Board Number 3, Hoboken, New Jersey: My dear Mr. Laverty: The appreciation expressed by your Local Board of my recent letter to Congress on the subject of my personal promotion is too generous toward me, but even as an over-estimate it is pleasing. I know that the Selective Service Machinery must carry heavier burdens in the future than it has carried in the past. Considering Legal and Medical Advisory Boards and Federal Appeal Agents in addition to Local and District Boards and State Headquarters, I have the equivalent of a Tactical Division (45,000) men working under me as a part of the Selective Service machinery. All are working with patriotic devotion, determined that the man-power of the country shall not fail the Nation in this World Emergency. No proposition is pending to recognize that service in any way, while in other subdivisions of the Military Establishment promotion is going on constantly. If the effect of my letter is to establish between the National Headquarters and the Local boards that elbow touch and mutual regard which assures success in carrying the heavier burdens of the future, I shall have a sufficient reward. Your letter is one of many evidences coming to me that my action has contributed toward this end. I thank you and all members of Boards Numbers One, Two and Three, of Hoboken, New Jersey, and beg that you will communicate to them this expression of my appreciation for their message of good will. Very truly yours, E. H. Crowder, Provost Marshal General. EHC-vbr