Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - November 17, 1917
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[ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINTH FIELD ARTILLERY LETTERHEAD]Lawton, [Oklahoma November] 17, 1917 Dear Bess: I am writing this Saturday morning because we had to go to school last night after a ten mile hike in the afternoon and I didn't have pep enough left to write last night. The lecture was on shoes and what goes into them and how to make a soldier walk farther than he can. I nearly went to sleep but I guess I got something out of it. We dug trenches yesterday afternoon about five miles west of here and got wet coming in. What do you think of that for a country that hasn't had a rain in two years? It also rained last night. Came down in sheets. This morning is as fine a spring morning as you'd care to see. I told the whole canteen force they had to go dig yesterday and they went. It nearly killed the barber and the tailor. The tailor said there was some difference between a number 10 needle and a number 2 shovel. We had some inspection this morning. The Colonel was all wrought up. Made everyone do setting up exercises until they were black in the face. I got the canteen all rigged up and he never even came around. I've got to eat up our mess sergeant because our kitchen had some dust on one two-by-four alongside the stove. Knives and pots & pans
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[ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINTH FIELD ARTILLERY LETTERHEAD]have to be polished and shined like a Christmas tree. Yesterday was a grand day in spite of the rain because I had a letter from you and one from home. Mrs. Klemm was here yesterday. She sure thinks you are fine. I think so too so we had a fine agreeable conversation. I am hoping you can come to see me before we have to go to Mineola N.Y. or some other shipping point. There are all sorts of rumors running wild down here about going to France in six weeks but I don't pay any heed to them until I am officially informed which will no doubt be at least two days beforehand. I have a chance to get this mailed special delivery and will have to quit. Write often to Yours always Harry.
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Special Delivery ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINTH FIELD ARTILLERY [ms illegible: stamp] Miss Bess Wallace 219 Delaware St Independence [Missouri]
Details
| Title | Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - November 17, 1917 |
| Creator | Truman, Harry S. |
| Source | Truman, Harry S. Letter to Bess Wallace. 17 November 1917. Papers of Harry S. Truman Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs; Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace, 1910-1919. HST-FBP_4-64_01. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, |
| Description | Letter from Harry S. Truman to his future wife, Bess Wallace, telling her about camp life in Oklahoma. Captain Harry S. Truman commanded Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment from July 11, 1918 through the end of the war on November 11, 1918. During his military service Truman frequently wrote to Bess informing her of his experiences. |
| Subject LCSH | Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 129th; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | HST-FBP_4-64_01 |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | November 17, 1917 |
| Language | English |