James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to dad- January 1, 1919
Transcript
Neuerberg, Germany, January 1, 1919. Dear Dad: This is New Year’s Day and it is the first time we have seen the sun for five weeks. I had a little touch of the grip last night, but this morning I am feeling much better. It is the first time I have felt sick since I have been over here. I have never enjoyed anything so much in my life as I have this hike into Germany. It was rather tough marching some days when it rained pretty hard. Well here it is January 6th and I have not gotten this letter off yet. I received a letter from Mother yesterday. It was certainly a shock to read of Russel Jones’ death. That Flu must be a lot worse than we ever imagined it. We have had some of it over here but it hasn’t been so bad. This is some of the prettiest country and landscape over here I have ever seen. It is well worth coming over to see. I haven’t seen any of the large cities over here as yet. Coblenz is not far from here but of course that city had to be put “off bounds”. I’m going to sneek off and go up there pretty soon however. The largest town I was ever in over here was Southampton, England. We took the ships here to cross the channel to France. Our first disembarkation was at the town of Tillsbury, England, and we took trains there for Winchester. There was a large camp a little way outside of this interesting town. We stayed there for about four days. It was this little town of Winchester that I showed my platoon through the great Cathedral and the big hall where the Knights of the Round Table gathered. It doesn’t seem so very long ago as I look back upon it now. From here we took the train to Southampton. I had about four hours to burn around this town and I saw quite a bit of it. We then took some small, but very speedy little channel boats and under the darkness of night and a heavy fog we slipped out of harbor and landed safe and early the next morning in that great French port of La Havre. These were the speediest boats I have ever been on. They averaged about thirty knots all the way across the channel. The town of La Havre was a real city. All we did, however, was to march through it, camp one night on the outskirts, and march through it again to take the train. We took the train to the little town of Reinacourt east of Paris. This was in the
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[page 2] vicinity of our training area. I was located at Trampot, about twelve miles from Reinacourt. It is just a quaint little French farming town. Here is where we did our training for about two months and then took trucks for the little town of Minorville north of Toul. This was in the St. Mihiel Salient. This trip into Germany has been wonderful. It has really been a pleasure. I have seen plenty of it now, however, and now that we are settled down here to stay for a while, I am getting some awful “hankerings” for home. Mother asked me in one of her letters about staying in the army after getting back. I am saying right now, however, that I will never remain in the army. I think the training is wonderful for a fellow and I would be one of the first to volunteer if need be again, but as far as making it a life job, - there is absolutely nothing doing as far as I am concerned. I have seen just enough of it in my brief experience and seen it from all sides and I am firm in my convictions. The idea of clicking your heels and carrying out the orders of a fellow just because there is somebody backing him up doesn’t go with me. I prefer the man who through his own perseverance, ability at winning friends and character gains the respect and obedience of those under him and thus makes his word law. Besides in civil life one has the whole world to expand in, while in the army, you are continually tied down by army regulations, laws, customs, red tape, etc. I have seen just enough of the social life to know that after a few years of it, I wouldn’t give a whoop for it. I don’t know what I am going to do when I get back, but don’t worry about that; just leave it to me. I believe any fellow with a little common sense and a little ability to use it can make a success at anything. I might make several attempts and possibly fail several times, if you call it failing, but there is one thing certain and that is that nothing can ever keep me down. If you happen to hear of anything worth while, however, you might keep an eye open for me. Well, good bye for the present, Dad. Give my love to Mother and I.O. and Junior and give my best to whoever you see. Tell Mother that Christmas box was wonderful. I don’t see how she got so much in it. I received a letter from Mary Keck or Mme. Canmartin from Paris some time ago. I also wrote her. Much love, Burnham.
Details
| Title | James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to dad- January 1, 1919 |
| Creator | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham |
| Source | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham Letter to dad. 01 January 1919. James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday Collection, 1917-1924. 1986.213.51. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In a letter to his father dated January 1, 1919, Hockaday discusses the trek to Germany, influenza, and his thoughts on leaving the military after the war is over. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; United States. Army. Infantry regiment, 354th; Influenza |
| Site Accession Number | 1986.213.51 |
| 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 1, 1919 |
| Language | English |