Dr. Everett Powers letter to Marian Powers - Dec. 20, 1918
Transcript
Camp Dodge, [December] 20, 1918 1 P. M. My Dearest:- your letter which was forwarded to me at Dubuque was returned this morning. This was the letter which contained check. Was mighty glad to get letter and check also. As am running rather low on funds. Had my entire expense to Dubuque to pay. Will get my mileage back and will not have board to pay for the 15 days. I was away from here. Am back down at Bldg 302, but only temporarily Ithink. Today lends some encouragement to my getting home. Maj. D. told me this morning that I might go that orders were to let men over 45 out if they wanted to get home for Xmas but doubt if Ican make it. As it takes time to get papers through. Do you want to miss Xmas day at home? Or had I better come on home if I can get away from here Tues. night? Am just asking so that you can answer. Do not know that it will be possible to even do this. Lt. Neumann is wild since he has found that there is a chance for me leaving and him not getting out at the same time. Is raining here this afternoon am enclosing some Kodaks. Keep for me. Will try and write you more at length tomorrow. Want to get this in mail so that you will get tomorrow afternoon. Am mighty anxious to see you. Just lots of love. Devotedly Everett.
Transcript
Camp Dodge, Iowa. [December] 20th, 1918 7.30 P.M. My Dearest;- Just sent a letter off tp you on short notices, as I want tp ask you a question,and at the same time tell you that there was a bare possibility of me getting my discharge. Also sent you a bunch of Kodaks. First about this question of the French child, if it will wait until I get home you had better do it,and let us talk over the proposition, if not guess you can go ahead,and will try and get by with it. There are some things that I would like to talk over before doing any thing unless there is some special reason why it can not be deferred. Sorry that you are to lose your girl,better take Sadie back unless Mrs. King objects to your taking her away from her. Have never opened the last bunch of Presses as they were not forwarded to me, and have not had a chance since I got back.Have finished the first bunch, and will get at the last tonight, when I get this letter written, as Lieut. Neumann has gone to town,and I will have an opportunity to . Will see what it has to say about the Orphans. Felt so miserable all day yesterday that I did not get much done.Had a sore throat and a severe headache, but am about all right today. It began before I left [Dubuque] and I could not get rid of it,and my train was an hour late, so that it was midnight, when I got out to [Camp Dodge], and then the men in the barracks seemed glad to have me back, so came in and chatted, and I did not get to sleep until One, and as my head was aching,did not get up unit ten the next morning. Did not have any work assigned me,so went in town with Lieut. Newmann in the afternoon, and stayed for supper and went to the Empress with him afterward. Have a very good show. I did not want to go, but he insisted, so I went. Would amuse you to hear the boys talk about the way Newmann acted about me being away, so long. He is simply crazy to get away, and when I go, if I do, he will be worse than ever. We got back a little after ten, and then had baths and went to bed. This morning I did not do anything, but had to be around in case I was wanted. This afternoon worked. Am going to make a strenuous effort to get out of here next week, and as soon as I can make it. Write me whether you want to come to Kansas City the day befor Xmas or Xmas day? If I do not get away until Xmas Day from here, will sure have you come to meet me there, and we will spend the day bumming. Think the Kodaks of the house were fine. Am mighty glad to get them, thank you for them. Am also glad for the informatjon in Emmas letter, has sized up, there had been some kind of trouble there, and did not want to get mixed up with any of it.Am glad to hear that Mrs. Hallett is better, it is such a relief to her mother I know. You need not join me in the Red Cross, you know I am paying into those things anyway, more than my salary justifies. When I get back to making money again then I can think of it. Can attend to Geographic and other Journals after I get home, unless they do not let me out. If you will suggest something, will get Miss House something in Des Moines, as it would be away from home, and seem a little different than purchased there. Was glad to get that check today, for I amy not get my mileage before I leave, and unless I do,would be pretty short for change. Am not surprised one bit at the answer of Miss Hesselberg. Is perfectly characteristic. She only
Transcript
meant to be frank, and to one who did not know her,and her peculiarities it would seem more than that. You must have lots of sickness there from the papers and your accounts of it. Is rainy and warm here tonight, good weather for sickness, but in [Camp Dodge] do not think there is much. They all had their turn sometime back. Is much warmer here than it was in [Dubuque]. They have discharged about 15ooo men here, but are bringing in a lot of them every day from other places, so do not diminish the number any. Will keep you posted as to what my chances are, and when I am likely to get out of here. 2:10 P.M. Saturday. Have my papers partly made out for my discharge, am expecting to get away in afternoon or evening Monday. Send me Special Del. at once if you want to meet me in [Kansas City]and I will then wire you. If I do not hear will expect to reach there Wednesday. Might be some slip so that I can not get away. Am never sure. Just lots of love. Devotedly Everett. In town after thinking it over unless you do not want to get home until Xmas morning think we had probably postpone your [Kansas City] trip. If it were possible for me to get away sooner, but can not. Monday night will be soonest. Will wire you if I can get off Monday noon, and you can take 3:30 [MS illegible: 1 word] at Joplin for [Kansas City] and I will meet you at 9:45P.M. Will likely be a mob in [Kansas City] Tuesday. Do just what you really want to do about this anyway that you care to do suits me. Only I felt sure that you would want to be there Wednesday morning. (Xmas Morning) If I do not get to [Kansas City] until Tues. morning we would both be on train two nights [MS illegible: 1 word] spend one day in [Kansas City] you might go [MS illegible:1 word] Monday and stop off with Aunt T. A special Del sent at once [written sideways in margin] [MS illegible: 2 words] me about as soon as wire. Lots of love. [Everett]
Details
| Title | Dr. Everett Powers letter to Marian Powers - Dec. 20, 1918 |
| Creator | Powers, Everett |
| Source | Powers, Everett. Letter to Marian Powers. 20 Dec. 1918. Dr. Everett Powers Collection. AR Box 1918. Powers Museum, Carthage, Missouri. |
| Description | Dr. Everett Powers wrote to his wife, Marian Powers from Camp Dodge, Iowa on December 20, 1918. Dr. Powers served in the Medical Corps as a physician at Camp Dodge. In this letter Powers discussed his pending discharge and made plans to meet his wife in Kansas City for Christmas. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Medical care--United States; Military discharge; Influenza; Epidemics |
| Subject Local | Medical Corps; Kansas City; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | AR Box 1918 |
| Contributing Institution | Powers Museum |
| Copy Request | The Springfield-Greene County Library District offers broad public access to its collection to enhance education and scholarship. Written permission is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected images(s) beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. For more information on using this image, contact the Springfield-Greene County Library District. |
| Date Original | December 20, 1918 |
| Language | English |