Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-02
RICHARD A. GREENE,
Headquarters 317th Labor Battalion,
q. M. Corps, u. S. A., a. E. T.,
Via New York.
August 20, 1918.
Major A. +. Lucdkc,
Infantry, u. S. Army,

August 20, 1918.
Major A. +. Lucdkc,
Infantry, U. S. Army,
Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky.
My dear Sir: l am writing You in
reference to the death of man of
the 317th Labor Battalion whose
home is in New Albany, Ind, just
across the river from Louisville.
The man is Henry w. Richardson,
Company \. 317th Labor Battalion,
and was transferred from Company
A, list Provisional Infantry Regimer'
He died at sea, July TO. 1913. OF
acute Pneumonia ana was hur'ad at
sen for tho reason that the boat on
which we c3mo over, h&ii no baskets
ana no cmnulminr material so we
could NOT take the body to II seaport,
from where it could be sent homo.
This eXigcncy created n condition
which is something OF a violation Of
the agreement between the Govern
ment and the people. We are trying
to do something in the battalion to
take the place OF what 1t was the
intention Of the Government TO do,
but which cannot now DE done. The
men have raised some money and we
wish to erect a monument in the
cemetery OF this mans homo town
on a plat now owned or to be nc
Quircd by his mother or at such
other place as his mother may wish
to have such monument erected
with suitable inscriptions to explain
to future generations why such
monument was erected and who it
was erected by. I have promised
the men who have supplied the
money that each one should have his
name on q printed list deposited in
the foundation Of tho shaft.
We will have about four hundred
dollars to spend and what we want to
ask you to do is TO take up the matter
of letting the contract to some relia
bic firm in that part Of the country.
I am not familiar with the cost Of
this class of work in that part Of the
country, but know something Of it
further West. You might do this:
See two or three firms and tell them
what we want and how much money
we have and let them give us the
specifications, drawings and photo
graphs of what they propose to
furnish. Then we will choose tho
one most satisfactory and give them
the contract.
I would want these specifications,
drawings, photographs, etc. sent here
in order that the committee, who
has this matter in hand could make
the decision.
| also wish to ask You to go or
send some one to see Richardson's
mother, who lives at Al Vincennes
Street, New Albany, Indiana. Find
out where she wants the monument
placed, and tell her she can have
service held there when it is com
pleted. Information Of where it is
to be placed will also be necessary
before the builders could bid. The
enclosed copy shows approximately
what inscriptions will be required.
l am enclosing q copy Of q letter
l have just written to Richardson's
mother, which will give you or any
line on what has been said and done
Now, Major, realize that this is
quite a lot to ask busy man to do
but I felt sure you would do it for
me. Sometime when you're fighting
'em i'll France and I have been rele
gated to the comforts Of home will
do as much for you. Nearly every
mail brings mo communications and
memories of Camp Taylor, all of
which are not unpleasant.
Please remember me to Captain
Booming and tell him to hustle along
all OF that seven million men we are
going to get. If we had two million
OF them here right now, this job
would not last until Thanksgiving.
Thanking you in advance for all
am asking and inviting your atten
ton to my correct address, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
CAPT. CHARLES C. CHURCH,
317th Labor Bait, @. M. c.. II. & A