Clarence M. Stuver Letter to Family - May 15, 1918
Transcript
[YMCA letterhead] May 15 1918 Dear Mamma, Papa & all. I will try and write you a few lines this evening. I am feeling fine and as you see am still in Boston. I am still in the Guard guarding at here at the Brig or on the outside world it is called a jail. They brought in a bunch of boys tonight from [Great Lakes] one that was in the bunch I knew while I was up there, he is a deserter now and was just put in here to await trial. he was only gone 42 days and will get 18 months, any way over at Portsmouth. I dont see why
Transcript
[YMCA letterhead] their are so many that jump ship desert, & overstay their leaves of absence when they know so well what they will get when they get caught but their are sure lots of them that do. yes they have Marines on all the Battle wagons that are on the other side and most all other ships that go back and forth have some marines on them. I dont care much to be a marine for they have I think the worst job of all. The nickname for them are Leathernecks, for a soldier is Roughnecks & we are called Gobs. I dont know where they got the names but they are sure queer ones.
Transcript
[YMCA letterhead] well I guess I will have to stop for this time, hoping this finds you all well and with the rush season about over tho I know it has just begun. I sure hope that everywhere they raise a good crop this season for that will help a whole lot in winning and it will make it easier on those that are not actually on the firing line for all have to eat and living by this time must be high. Well write again soon With Love to all Clarence S.
Details
| Title | Clarence M. Stuver Letter to Family - May 15, 1918 |
| Creator | Stuver, Clarence Monroe |
| Source | Stuver, Clarence Monroe. Letter to Family. 15 May 1918. Clarence Monroe Stuver Collection, 1918-1919. 2012.93. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter, dated May 15, 1918, Clarence Monroe Stuver wrote his family from Boston concerning his current job of guarding the brig. He noted that many of the prisoners were deserters. Stuver also mentioned the distinct nicknames given to members of different branches of the military: Leathernecks, Roughnecks, and Gobs. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Desertions. Guard duty |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Leathernecks; Roughnecks; Gobs |
| Site Accession Number | 2012.93 |
| 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 | May 15, 1918 |
| Language | English |