Category: World War 1

“I taken the flu…have been in the hospital every since…”

~ Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail" ~ Leave a comment
U. S. Army Camp Hospital No. 45, Aix-les-Bains, France. Influenza ward No. 1. Picture courtesy of the History of Medicine (NLM). http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/ig/1918-Spanish-Flu-Pictures/Influenza-Ward-at-an-Army-Camp.htm
U. S. Army Camp Hospital No. 45, Aix-les-Bains, France. Influenza ward No. 1.
Picture courtesy of the History of Medicine (NLM). http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/ig/1918-Spanish-Flu-Pictures/Influenza-Ward-at-an-Army-Camp.htm

[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: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  10 11 12]

American Red Cross

On active service with the American Expeditionary Force

Name:  1st cl Pvt A.L. Gooch, 89th M.P. C., Treves, Germany

Dec. 27, 1918

Dear Mother,

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.

“…I dont have time to get loansome…”

~ Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail" ~ Leave a comment

[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: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  10 11]

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…”” →

“You…never can begin to amagine what we boys went through…” WWI victory at last!

~ Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail" ~ 4 Comments

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[This is 11th 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 28 Nov 1918, two weeks after Armistice—the end of the war.  Up until this time, Nig (as he was known) could not disclose details about his unit’s activities and whereabouts, and letters were all screened by an Army censor.  In this letter he finally gets to share more fully what he has been going through as he describes his participation in the final decisive battle of World War I, and we get a sense of the magnitude of his experience.  Holding this letter in my hands I was moved by this first-person account of one of the most significant events in modern history.

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: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  10]

Lampicourt, Belgium

Dear Sis and Bob,

Well kids I have/ gotton about a dozen Letters/ from you since I written/ you, but I havent/ written any one.  As I/ was [in] the big Verdun drive/ that helped to finish/ the war.  And believe/ me we didnt have/ time to do any writing/ with twelve inch/ shell bursting all/ around me day and/ night.  And besides/

[p2]  I was on my motorcycle/ twenty five hours each/ day. You cant amagine/ and never can  begin/ to amagine what we/ boys went through during/ that drive up untill the/ armistace was signed./  All opprations seased/ the eleventh month the/ eleventh day and the eleventh/ hour and we was almost/ as proud to have the/ guns stop fireing as/ we were of pay day./ It seams so funny to/ sleep all night without/ the bosh aireoplains/ paying/

[p3] us a visit./  But the first of my short/ story which must be/ brief.  I will say I/ with the 89th Division/ went to the St. Mahil/ front shortly after/ Landing in france/ and taken our position/ in the front sectar./  Where the air was filled/ with gas and shrapnelle/ was contently falling/ together with the bosh/ aireoplain bombs and/ machine gun fire.  I’ll admitt it was/ a little scary at first/

[p4] and cant say I ever/ got to where I liked/ it.  But did get  a little/ more use to it.  My job/ was to paint signs/ take my motor [cycle] and put/ them up from about four miles from the front lines.  Clear up/ to where the dough (infantry) boys/ were.  And to where the/ snipers would spot me, / and they would throw one/ pound shell’s at me.  But/ they allways hit behind/  me.  No traffic goes that/ far up but annbulances / and amunition wagons/

[p5]  at night now and then/ a airoplain would duck/ down then I would/ desert my motor and/ take to a truck untill/ he left.

I would like to go into/ details and tell you lots/ but would take to long./  Will wait untill I get home./  That drive was near Toul/ (find these on map)/ On the drive towards, Mitze, / in which we capturd/ Mount Veet, we was/ relieved there after severl/ weeks of h__  .  From / there went straight to/

[p6] the Verdun front.  Went/ right into action and/ chased the huns from/ Gre  Recicourt to Stena,/ on the Muse river.  There/ we stoped when the armistace/ was signed.  We was going/ so fast it taken us three/ days to stop.  ha-ha./  Well we were picked as/ a part of the army/ of occupation to move/ to Germany, Which is a/ great honor, We are/ now on our way.  And/ taking a rest in Belgem/ Guess we will go through/ Luxingburg.  Will wash/

[p7] my feet in the rhyne/ and take a bath if I / need it may put it/ off untill I get home./  This is the prettiest/ country I have been / except Ireland, and/ these Belgam people/ are so kind and/ accomitating, But they/ have a right to be/ Dont you think?/  We are all feeling fine/ and got new/ socks, have to comb our hair/ and shave.  I removed my mustache.  You  aught/ to have seen it.

[p8]  Poor old Bob.  I was/ afraid he was too late,/ But I sure am glad/ for his own [?]/ as well as yours .  Also/ glad there is no more/ into it than there is./  Had better close will write/ the next chance and will/ see you before long/ Today is Thanksgiving.  Sure/ [___? ___?] Will dream of turkey tonight as well/ as something else.  We had/ pie for dinner.

With Lots of Love to All,  Your Boy

Censored by Pvt A.L. Gooch

89th Military Police Co

1st Leut [?] American E.F.

 

 

“…You aught to see my mustache…”

~ Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail" ~ 2 Comments

It’s been awhile since I posted anything from the series of World War I letters written by my grandfather, Allen Lee Millard Gooch.  Here is one written in late September of 1918 from “Some Where in France.”  They were not allowed to disclosed their location.  A.L. (or “Nig” as he was known) was a jack of all trades back home in Duncan, Arizona, including a sign painter, and in this letter it appears his many skills are coming in handy on the war front.  You can read his previous letters if you want to catch up. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Continue reading ““…You aught to see my mustache…”” →

“If I could barber all day I couldn’t carrie my money”

~ Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail" ~ 3 Comments

[This is 9th in a series of letters written by Private A.L. Gooch to his parents in Duncan Arizona, while he served in France during WWI.  This letter was written 8 Sep 1918.  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: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8]

Some Where In France

Sept 8, 1918

Dear Mother:

Your letter of/ July 3d received and you/ know how proud I/ was to get it.  I also/ got a letter from/ Aunt Sarrah and Pinkie,/ and five from Doll/ all in a bunch./  I am realy too tired/ to write when I have/ time and then I have/ to slip off, for every-/ body wants a hair cut/ I cant begin to do it/ all.  I get to work/ about two hours evenings./  If I could barber all/ day I couldnt carrie/

[pg 2] my money. [Note:  A.L. Gooch was a jack-of-all trades and worked as a barber back home in Duncan, Arizona] I have had/ two pay-days here and/ they failed to take out/ the allotment Dont know/ why, But I sent you/ $285.00 of Franc’s a few/ day’s ago.  That means/ $50.00 in American money./  And  I still have my/ pockets full of this/ stuff they call money/ here but it looks/ like soap coupons to me./  Will send you some/ more soon.  If I dont/ spend it all at the sal-/ vation army but for/ doughnuts.  We can buy/ most any thing we/ want here at the/

[pg 3] commissary or the/ Y.M.C.A. and just/ as chap as we can/ buy in the states./  As there isnt many/ thing’s we want/ for except letters/ from home, it seams/ so long to wait./  I guess you think I/ neglect writing, But/ I cant write every/ time I would like/ too. I guess there wasnt much/ to the letter I got from/ Jess, and I am sorry/ I written to Doll the/ way I did, But I hadnt/ heard from her in/ so long, I thought her/ letters aught to reach/

[pg 4] me if Jessie’s did.  But/ I finaly got the letters/ she written and answered/ them, Guess she will/ get over it.  And dont/ think that I let/ anything worry me/ for you cant worry/ in the army. Well I have seen our/ anti air craft guns fireing/ on [‘enemy’ crossed out] enemie/ aireoplains, also saw/ enemie gun’s fire on/ our plains but haven’t/ saw any brought down/  Can hear the guns/ roaring all the time/ But it doesn’t worry/ us any we sleep sound./  This is just about/ as interesting as the/

[pg 5] hunting trips we/ use to have. Ma I havent met/ any Adventist boys/ as yet.  I sent you/ the slip I signed as/ an iclanaglegment [acknowledgement?] to/ the Adventist church./ I am sending my/ searel number to/ be used in writting/ to the government in/ case you dont get/ my mail or loose/ track of me.

Write me soon as you/ get the money I sent/ you.

Please dont worry/ about me mother for/ I am doing fine and/

[pg 6] feeling good.  Sure/ would like to see/ those kid’s.  Tell all/ hell’o and to write./

With love and best wishes

Your son

Pvt A.L. Gooch

Troop A. 314th M.P.

Searel No. 2186203

American E. F.

Censored bye

R. McClaushan (his signature)

Lieut. Inf. M.A.

P.S. heard from sis and Bob but haven’t answered yet.