James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to father - September 4, 1918
Transcript
My Dear Father: - Sept. 4; 18. I just received a letter from Mother to-day. It was dated July 26 but was mighty joyful news. It must have been on an awful slow boat for I received one from her dated July 6 about two weeks ago. I get about one or two letters every two weeks. Everyone has been in different parts of the States, however, and all busy so I suppose that is why I haven’t gotten many. Most of the fellows average five or six every two weeks. You don’t know how welcome news is from home. I was walking along the trenches looking over the lines when I stopped in my old company command post. They gave me Mother’s letter. It was
Transcript
certainly fine to read it. She had a picture of I.O. another fellow and herself in grandmother’s yard at Long Island. I was sitting there in a dugout reading the letter with a shell whizzing over now and then. There was certainly a difference from that peaceful looking picture with green grass & leaves to the barren waste there was around me and every time you put your head up too high a bullet would sing. Don’t worry though I am keeping mine down and so is everyone. We are right in it now. I wrote I.O. a letter telling him a good bit about things. I haven’t got time to tell everything again so you can read I.O.s letter. Of course I will have a lot to say when I get back but I can’t say
Transcript
much here. I suppose this use to be a very beautiful part of France. It is somewhat deserted now. We are certainly going strong over here now, and I hope they never stop. It will be one glorious day when the war is over, but we will never be satisfied until the Boch are all out of the way. Well, I am feeling fine, Dad, and “the flag is still flying high.” The whistle of a shell never disturbs us now although I will admit it took a few whistles before I got use to it. I can drink a cup of coffee now and a shell can explode within fifty yards and I won’t spill a drop, provided of course I am in a trench. I have heard that Lieuts. Cox and Topping, who were gassed, will be all O.K.
Transcript
in a little while. I am sending you some little anecdotes which I picked up and which are quite true to the times. I enjoyed that photograph mother sent me more than anything. Send me as many as you can. I don’t remember that picture she referred to which I gave her to develop. Did you receive the money I sent you through the American Express Co.? I am sending you 1500 francs more to-day. I want to receive a letter soon saying that you took a fine trip on it with Mother. It will make me feel good. (I was unable to make a regular allotment.) Tell Mother I don’t need a thing and never will as long as I am over here, except some news now and then.
Transcript
Tell me all about what is happening. Just what the crowd is doing. I haven’t received a letter from you since I left the States but am hoping for one every day. Ever so much love to you and mother, I.O., & Jr. Remember me to every one. Burnie. JKB Hockaday 1st Lieutenant - Inf. 177 Brigade Headquarters. A.P.O. 761.
Details
| Title | James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to father - September 4, 1918 |
| Creator | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham |
| Source | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham letter to father. 4 September 1918. James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday Collection, 1917-1924. 1986.213.34. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In a letter to his father dated September 4, 1918, Hockaday discusses reading letters from home while in the trenches in France, and mutual friends who have been wounded in a gas attack. Hockaday served in the 354th Infantry Regiment. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; United States. Army. Infantry regiment, 354th; World War, 1914-1918--Trench warfare; World War, 1914-1918--Chemical warfare |
| Site Accession Number | 1986.213.34 |
| 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 4, 1918 |
| Language | English |