Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-01-19
Their Old School Teacher
Here Writes Cheering Letter
To 5 of Her Boys In France


has sent to his wife in this city, who
is a daughter of J. P. Cannon, letter
which he recently received on the
other side from Mrs. Leola Drummer,
of Atlanta, formerly his teacher IN
the old Rees Park school here.
1t is wonderful letter to be re-
ceived from home by soldier. so far
away in France. 1t was addressed to
Lieut. Brooks, but meant also for four
others of her former pupils here, John
D. WheatIey, Ben Hollis Hawkins,
Grover Craps and Chas. Giddings
who, she wrote she understood were
in the same regiment. Lieut.. Brooks
enjoyed the letter from his former
teacher so much that he did not want
Mrs. Brooks to miss it, so he sent 1t
back to Georgia and it found its way
to the Times Recorder, where it may
interest a large number of former
acquaintances and friends of Mrs.
Drummer. The letters follows:
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. q, 1913,
48 West Peachtree Place,
First Lieut.. Leon Howard Brooks,
327th Infantry. Sind Division, Co. c,
American Expeditionary Forces, via
New York, Somewhere in France.
Dear Lieut.. Leon: Yes! this is
miss Leola), in other words, Mrs.
Drummer, your old school teacher at
Rees Park school, Americas Georgia.
When you were my little bright eyed
pupiI-the very brightest, Reatest and
dearest little boy in your class-don
tell the other this-I often thought
that a great future of some kind was
in store for you-Where you would
stand out above your companions in
whatever you undertook, but little did
l then think of this great world war
and the high honor and distinguished
services you would be called upon to
render "Our Country" under "Old
Glory" and "The Star Spangled Ban
ner," about which we used to sing,
talk and write in those happy child
hood days Of yours. No dohbt, yOh
have often thought of those days and
have wondered if Miss LeOla ever
thought of you in these dreadful but
glorious events which are happening
all around as-"Over There" and
"Over Here" Just let me assure you
that l do think of you every day and
have never failed to remember you
and all my other boys over there. Es
pecially do l ask Gods blessing on
each of you each day that He will give
you courage, endurance, health and
persistence to go forward over The
Top" and drive back the Kaiser's
forces so far they will never more re-
turn I feel sure you are just the
sort of soldier you ought to be to
whip THE Hun" and in this last
drive or drives, have imagined you
more than ever as being in the midst
of it all-happy on your way, carry
ing your boys with you as far as any
man can go-perhaps through Metz
before this letter reaches you. Oh,
how proud Of you all I am. read
the papers each day, trace the maps
and watch the great things you are
doing "OVer There" Over there is
a big word for us all you know. What
a wonderful and great opportunity you
are having in these great days of help
ing the cause of humanity-helping to
make the world safe and free after
the war is over.
was not SO fortunate as to have
boys of my very OWE to give to "Our
Country" but have five of you boys
over there, whom l taught when be-
ginning your school work. have
placed a service flag over my mantle
with star for each of you. Your
star-the middle one of five-and the
largest, stands out among the rest,
you being the first lieutenant created
them all. am told John D,
Wheatley, Ben Hollis Hawkins and
Grover Craps are officers with your
82nd division over there. and then
Chas. Giddings, who is a private in
your own division. the 327th, Co. NJ,
annex, makes total of FIVE for whom
l pray each day, and from whom am
always anxious to hear. When you see
Chas. Giddings greet him for me. Il
am writing him also on same mail as
this.
am certainly due you and all my
boys" who were at Camp Gordon an
explanation. / did not know any of
you were there until a very few days
before you left for France. Heard Of
H. kI,o., 49, f,yo