John H. Thacher letter to Pards - March 10, 1919
Transcript
Souligne, France Near Le Mans. March 10, 1919 110 Ammunition Train 35 Division. Dear Pards: As you will see from the caption and signature to this a whole lot of things have been and happened to your little army friend since he last wrote. Nobody can ever tell what is going to happen to him in the Army. You may be working like sixty and think you’re on the job every minute and getting along well and some wild girls in your command that you never heard of may wander off against order, fill his canteen at an old well, get typhoid, and blooey! You are Court Martialed out of the Army! Or you may think you are bound for home and be handed an envelope detailing you to take charge of a prison camp in Russia. Or you may receive an order to teach law in an A.E.F. University Or you may be thinking
Description
John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
how all round no account you are and how many men there are who are better officers and soldiers, and just then you may be promoted! The last was about my case. I came home from a special detail in which I was ordered to defend three drunken officers of another regiment, in a General Court Martial. – all glum and wet and muddy climbed the stairs to Maj. Miles billet for a whack at his fire before going to my own cold storage refrigerator for the night. There was a light in his room and he was waiting for me and when I came in he was saluting and “marching time” vigorously, just as a raw rookie might do in the presence of a high ranking officer. When I asked him what all the row was about he called me “Major Thacher”, so I started out to phone for the nut doctor to come quick with a straight-jacket and some kind of soothing mixture. But he pointed to a bunch of tissue paper that had letters of accep- [acceptance]
Description
John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
[acceptance] tance and Oaths of Office and copies of orders, by Command of General Pershing [John J. Pershing] – with seals and signatures by Chiefs of Staff, so I judged that if somebody was kidding me he was going to a lot of trouble about it, and maybe it might be true although I doubted it. In fact, I doubt it yet, although that was a week ago and I have signed the letters of acceptance and the oath of office all the rest and have been in command of a battalion for nearly a week. The fly in the ointment, - and there always is one, - was that I had to leave the regiment, especially the old 1st Battalion as there were no vacancies at the time in the regiment and take a Battalion in the Ammunition Train which is a part of the same Artillery Brigade I had noticed the work of the Train all through the campaign and liked its spirit and efficiency, so was not surprised to find a bunch
Description
John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
of likely young officers in my battalion and a well set up lot of [Missouri] and Kansas and Texas boys to command. One of the Captains was in Battery “D”, and the last time I had seen him he had whipped up his horses and brought a train load of shells in to us at Charpentry in the Argonne, just in about the nick of time – losing a few horses by shell fire, enroute. I have a good Adjutant, which is a big help – (even though he is from U. of [Pennsylvania]) Lord knows how long we will be here. We are drilled and de-loused and equipped and slicked up, in this area, presumably to make a paralyzing effect on you folks at home when we arrive. So you must be startled as hell! By jingo, it’s all agony of inspectors and reports and criticism by higher-ups that we all have to go through with now. I think we will sail about the last of April. My best to Miss Albus, Miss Marsh, Boys Capt Houghton & the Boss. The Stars come regularly as does the Hershey & cigttes. Bless you all, children. Now brace yourself, while I write. John H. Thacher Major 110 Am. Train 35 Division Command John H. Thacher Major A.T.
Description
John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Transcript
110 Amunition Train 35 Division American Ex. Forces Rozzelle & Vineyard Kansas City, [Missouri] 927 N.Y. Life Bldg.
Description
John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division.
Details
| Title | John H. Thacher letter to Pards - March 10, 1919 |
| Creator | Thacher, John H. |
| Source | Thacher, John H. Letter to Pards. 10 March 1919. John H. Thacher Papers. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri. |
| Description | John H. Thacher wrote to his law partners telling them about his recent promotion to Major. Before the war, Thacher worked as an attorney with the firm Rozelle, Vineyard, Thacher, and Boys. He served on the Mexican Border and was later drafted into the Federal Army as Captain of the 129th Field Artillery. After Harry S. Truman took command of the 129th Field Artillery, Thacher was appointed adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery , and later assumed command of the 110th Ammunition Train of the 35th Division. |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | March 10, 1919 |
| Language | English |