The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1917-07-03
COOLEY, LOYAL TO THE FLAG.
Fl. Mckinley, P. l., May 81, 1917

Fl. Mckinley, p. l., May 81, 1917
Dear Editor and Friends This
is the last day of May,the time wher
Old Kentucky is in her glory. And al
so the time of year for corn bread
buttermilk and good old turnir
greens and as a side issue I'll men.
ton a few poached eggs. fresh from
the new mown hay and some ham
what am. Just at this time of year
the summer girl blooms out. OF all
the girls from coast to coast and as
far east as the Orient. ] think the
Kentucky corn fed girl beats them
all. Although / never possessed the
heavenly pleasure of sweetheart
but God bless them, love them all,
for my mother was woman. This
land known as the dark and bloody
ground is also filed with gentlemen
of the tenderest hearts. with courte-
sizes and mariners of a knight of the
dead age. They are gone but their
souls live again in the hearts of the
Kentuckians. You find them every
where even to the utmost parts OF
the earth and wherever you meet
him YOU have a feeling you have met
a friend from down home, for always
the good fellowship that exists only
among Kentuckians prevails through
out the world. They are noted for
their gentle manners, love of moon
shine whisky and turning of the
cylinder with a quickness that de-
ceives the eye. A man is ALWAYS at
home and is never lonesome if he
is from Kentucky The old command
or 9th Infantry is filled with the best
brand of these gentlemen. Just ask
Cabell Woods, if you don't believe
me. I'll bet ten to one he is coming
back, though / don't know it. When
any Old Kentucky Home" is played
this far awav, it causes flutter of
the heart and a tear drop the size of
a rain drop to stand in your eye, and
be your home a mansion or cabin,
YOU lone for the good old days back
home. The notes of a violin brings
back memories of father you told
goodbye and will probably never
see again, and in making up your
bunk, you will have a memory of a
bed mother used to make and biscuits
too. Yes. wish for life that even
the Kaiser himself would envy, but
friends a blood stained battle flag
and the needs of our country looms
un before me and closes from view
all the pleasures which | have just
pictured to you. I'll lay down my
life, and follow it to eternity before
I'll see its standard broken and its
stars and stripes trampled in the dust
and its followers ruthlesslv murder
ed by a War God, called the Kaiser.
I may be in this war who known, but
if | am snuffed out by this persecu-
tor of humanity, / hope that nv
country may live or forever and that
my friends will know that l died in
a faithful discharge of my duty to
uphold the emblem of this country,
and all I ask of them in return is
that in the future wears my comrades
end | will not be forgotten and each
Nav give us the honor Justly due us.
I may enjoy few enlistments with
the good st. Peter, but thank good
ness / will try to have German
with me. / hone that every able
bodied man will enlist in this time
of need. None but the yellow coward
will turn his hack on his country in
time like this. / don't think we
have a man in our country like this
Let us hope not Why should man
fear. the sickle of death? There is
but one death which is sure and GER
tain. Why not spend your life in a
cause that is Just? Hoping every one
will have a circus making Germans
rlay hockey with grave yard on the
western front. / am as ever, an old
residenter, NJ. E. Cooley, Co. l.. 31st
Infantry.