Pvt. A.L. Gooch on his motorcycle, WWI 89th Div., Military Police
[This is 14h in a series of letters written by Private A.L. Gooch to his family in Duncan Arizona, while a part of the American Occupation Forces in Germany after WWI.
This letter was written 23 Jan 1919, after the end of the war but before Pvt Gooch had returned home. This letter is the last in the series of letters from Pvt Gooch to his family during WWI – at least the last of those I have found. In this letter, Pvt Gooch (known as Nig) was recovering from the Spanish Flu, had returned to his company, and was looking forward to his return home at some point. Original letters are in possession of Dayna Gooch Jacobs, King City, California. Envelope missing. Continue reading ““[They] gave thier Lives where we only gave our service. But we were all willing.””→
[This is 13th in a series of letters written by Private A.L. Gooch to his family in Duncan Arizona, while a part of the American Occupation Forces in Germany after WWI. This letter was written 27 Dec 1918, and it appears Pvt. Gooch has fallen victim to the great flu pandemic of 1918-1919. This pandemic is estimated to have killed an estimated 50 million people—a fifth of the world’s population. To put this further in perspective, WWI had 37.5 million casualties, including 8.5 million deaths, which is an incredible number, but 6 times as many people died of the flu in 1918-1919. It is said that the virus struck so fast and so violently a person could be stricken and die within hours.
Original letters are in possession of Dayna Gooch Jacobs, King City, California. Envelope missing. Transcribed by Dayna Jacobs. Slashes in the transcription indicate line breaks. Links to other letters: 123456789 1011 12]
American Red Cross
On active service with the American Expeditionary Force
Will try and write/ you a few lines, and am/ proud I am able to write./ I taken the Influenza the/ 10th of Dec. have been in/ the hospital every since and/ have had quite a time./ But am feeling better/ now. Think I will be up/ in afew day and go back/ to my Co. where there must/ be lots of mail awaiting/ me and sure am anxious/ to get it. havent had a/
[p2] letter in some time./ Well I supose you all / had a wounderfull time/ xmas. you know how/ well I would like to have/ been with you. But my/ Xmas wasnt so bad at that,/ if I did lay in bed all day/ and wish. We had a very/ nice Turkey dinner. and/ that night the nurse gave/ us all a sock full of / choclets, candy and nuts, so you see it wasnt bad. I think I would have died/ had it not been for the/ nurses. they sure treat you/ fine bring me milk, and hot choclelete most every day. I dont know if I can get/
[p3] well or not for this isnt/ a bad place to stay. All I hate I am afraid I wont/ get fat again before I/ go home. ha, ha.
Well this is quite a town/ heare. I can hear the street-/ cars and the trains every/ day. it seams almost real/ again. Will send you a card or two.
Well, there is not much news/ We’ll be home some time sure.
With Lot of Love to All
1st class
Pvt, AL. Gooch
89th Military Police Co. American E.F.
Letter from Pvt A.L. Gooch to his family, 27 Dec 1918, p1
[This is 12th in a series of letters written by Private A.L. Gooch to his family in Duncan Arizona, while he served in France during WWI. This letter was written sometime in 1918, but is otherwise undated.
Original letters are in possession of Dayna Gooch Jacobs, King City, California. Envelope missing. Transcribed by Dayna Jacobs. Slashes in the transcription indicate line breaks. Links to other letters: 123456789 1011]
1918
Dear Mother,
At first chance I am writting you a few/ lines to let you / know I am still/ living and enjoying/ life. There is many things I would like/ to say. And probly can/ latter. I have been/ very sick for the past/ few days with a cold/ in my lungs. But/feel fine now./ Well I am still seeing/ sights and enjoying/ them very much. This/ is a very pretty world/ Continue reading ““…I dont have time to get loansome…””→
On Granny's Trail 