World War 1 – Page 2 – On Granny's Trail

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

Posted on April 22, 2014April 6, 2014 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

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.

Letters, Military, World War 1

“…I dont have time to get loansome…”

Posted on April 16, 2014February 4, 2015 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

[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.

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…”” →

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

Letters, World War 1

“…You aught to see my mustache…”

Posted on November 29, 2013December 17, 2013 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

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…”” →

Letters, World War 1

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

Posted on April 22, 2013April 22, 2013 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

[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. 314^th M.P.

Searel No. 2186203

American E. F.

Censored bye

R. McClaushan (his signature)

Lieut. Inf. M.A.