The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-04-11
MOST INTERESTING LETTER

MOST INTERESTING LETTER
The following interesting letter has
just been received, which we pass on
to Times readers with considerable
pride, which has been aroused from
a knowledge of the fact that the writ
err, an old army man, has not the hab-
it of being overly communicative,
as his many friends in this commun-
ity can testify. The fact that he thus
unbosoms himself to The Times indi-
Gates that what he says is as one
friend to another. 1t is such knowl-
edge that causes The Times editor
deepest appreciation of this very I'M
usual letetr, from the bottom of his
heart, and we cannot think that a
confidence is being violated by pass
ing it on to The Times many readers,
just as it was written:
Scott Field, Belleville, ILL.,, April 3.
The Pennington Times, Pennington,
| Mo.
Greetings: - Attached herewith
find check for one dollar and half
for renewal of subscription for The
Times, the best county paper in the
|
efficient editor.
| / am on the last part of my thir-
teenth straight year in the Army, with
three years double time allowed for
foreign service in the Philippines and
Mexico brings my total time up to
more than sixteen years and if the
proposed Air Service Bill passes with
the Twenty-Five Year Retirement
Rider attached, next Congress, then
/ will have little more than eight
years to serve to retire, and at that
rate l will be placed on the retire
ment list with pension of about one
hundred and forty dollars per month
at the age of forty years. Sounds
pretty good but then you must re-
member that / came in the service
when was nineteen years. of age
and also / have been through some
pretty hard knocks all over the world.
l was telegraph operator in charge of
the telegraph offices in General Per-
shing's headquarters in the Philip
pines and in Mexico. l was one and a
half years in U. S. Army Transport
as Wireless Operator in charge of the
Radio Station plying between San
Francisco and Manila via Japan and
the Hawaiian Islands. Travelled one
hundred thousand miles on the Pacific
Ocean (Red and China seas). Made
one trip to China with Red Cross flour
for the refugees there. Made one trip
to Alaska with infantry to be station
ed there. Installed telephone system
for New York National Guard at
Sparta, Wis. Government Cable OPP
orator in San Francisco. Charge of
Radio Tower and Telegraph School in
Omaha. In charge of Mule Wireless
Pack Set on Culberson's Ranch in New
Mexico right near the Mexican line
ninety miles from the nearest railway
before we went to Mexico, little over
thirty miles from the place where Viii
la came across the line and Massacred
the Americans. First Signal Corps
man to cross the line with the Per-
shing Punitive Expedition. Been in
the Air Service ever since it was or
gained, rode in number two airplane
told B type, Wright, number one is il.
Smithsonian Institute. Have held the
grades of Private, Private LIST Glass,
Corporal, Sergeant, Sergeant list
Glass, First Sergeant, Supply Ser
geant, Disbursing Sergeant, Acting
Post Quarter Sergeant, Acting Post
Ordnance Sergeant, Post Sergeant
Major, Inspector, and now hold the
highest rank attainable by an enlisted
man, namely, Master Electrician,
Aviation Mechanician, or M. E., A..
M, as we are called. The majority of
the men holding this rank refused a
commission when the war was de-
clared due to the fact that it is nearly
as good as Captaincy without the
frills, etc.
1 | think that / had better close as
this is more than have ever told any
one in all my service but thought !
would loosen up little as you should
know something about each and ev-
cry one of your subscribers.
I certify that the above is true to
the best of my recollection and you
may print any part you see fit, pro-
vided you re-write what is printed.
Best wishes to all and hoping that
you continue in your good work, please
allow me to remain,
Your friend,
MARVIN c. WILLIAMS,
A M. E., A. NJ, A. s., A.
p. S.-When you see my father 1.-THE
Colonel) tell him am expecting let
ter from him.
You may add that during the pres