SOLDIER'S LETTERS
IN THE LOCAL PAPERS

This will be added to as time permits. If you have an original or a published letter
from a Lauderdale county World War I soldier you would like to share, please e-mail me. Pat M. Mahan

Florence Herald, 8 Aug 1918

FROM CAMP MILLS, L. I., N.Y.
Dear Editor:
     I like camp life very well, but I had some rather be at home. We are in a pretty camp, but is very dirty sometimes. Had a fine rain the other night and it has not been so dusty since.
     We had a nice trip from Camp Sevier, S. C. We left there July 22. It took us about 41 hours to make the trip. We came through Washington, d. C., and stopped there and took a little parade, and the Red Cross gave us coffee and cake. We saw the White House where our Uncle Sam stays, but we did not get to see the old man. We also came through Philadelphia and Baltimore and New York City, besides several other large cities. There were big crowds to met the train at some places to see us go by. The Red Cross met us at several stops and they always had something good to eat. I think the red Cross is a fine organization as well as the Y. M. C. A. They both treat the soldier boys well.
     I sure did hate to leave South Carolina, for that was a nice clean camp, though we sure did get some hard drills there---harder than we get now. We don't know how long we will get to stay out on this island. We are expecting to go to Hoboken, N. J. soon. I guess we will go from there to France. We may land in France before the last of August. That shows that we got our training very fast, as the most of this company have only been in service two months.
     Wishing the Herald and its many readers health and happiness until we get this scrap settled, I am as ever,
                                                                                                                      N. J. TIDWELL

Florence Herald, 8 Aug 1918

FROM CAMP SHELBY
Dear Editor:
     How is everybody back in dear old Lauderdale. I am O. K. and liking army life fine, but think I will like it still better when they assign me to my company.
     We have an easy time in the detention camp, but not much privilege. Don't get to go anywhere except to a morning picture show or exhibition of some kind.
     I think I will be sent to my company Saturday. Don't know where I will be assigned, to infantry or artillery.
     Cheer up boys, don't worry about coming to the army. It is not so bad. Of course we realize our friends and relatives miss us, and we miss them, but if we stop to study about them we might get blue. We must look to the happy future when the war is over. Then we Sammies can return home rejoicing. Boys, leave a good mark behind you at home and when you are called to the colors it will be a consolation to you to know you have been honest with everybody and treated them right.
     All you good writers come on with our letters, for we soldier boys sure do like to read the news from home. 
     You who are left at home need not worry about your boys, they are well taken care of, and we hope to return home soon. All we ask of you is to remember and drop us a letter as often as possible and remember us in your prayers, and we feel sure we will return home safely. Will be glad to hear from any one at any time.
                                                                                                                       PRIVATE WILEY W. STULTS
     Co. NO. 2, Detention Camp 10, Camp Shelby, Miss.

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