Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-04-25

EEOkGE l.. WOODSON.
JACK DENTON,
u. S. y. Base Hospital. Camp Mor-
rift, n. j., April Is 1919.
! Editor Clinch Valley News:
Probably this will be ~ surprise 10
YOU to hear from me, hut however,
feel thtt l should tell you that tha
Big White is still in the service yoJ
ut Camp Merritt, N. j., an ombark;.-
alton port just out Of New Yor! City
on the Erie Railroad
Mr.. Leslie, probably you remember
about two years ago stopped in your
office on my way to Bluefield where
had expected position with the
Norfolk and Western. Now if this
will not be too much trouble for you
to publish, shall give you some of
the experiences chat have had in the
army for the last eighteen months.
Working only short while with
thc n. and W., | was at home and
found that all the boys that had
known, and held as my best friends
for years, had gone and left me, and
felt as if would be held Stacker,
something that does not run in the
White generation, altho to my regret
] am sorry TO say that | had to stay
on this side but however, feel that
have done my duty as we'll us if
had been over.
| enlisted at Blucficld, w Va, and
from there | WAS sent to Columbus,
Ohio, taking the Medical Department
as the quickest branch of service of
getting overseas. From Columbus
was transferred to Fort. Ogletho.pc,
Ga. the most God forsakcn place in
the world, spending only ten days
there | was shipped to this place to
embark, and Oh arriving here we
were put in the Base Hospital for
duty. Finding that 1t would be i'm
possible for me to ever get across
tried to make my self contentcd.
would never have minded il so much
antil one day when walking through
the Corridors of TIE hospital | met
one of the old boys that had been de-
tailed to work in The hospital until
| his company was ready to go over.
! There we talked of the old times that
we had had together in Virginia A
call came that his company was ready
To embark. | went over with MIN t.
see him off, and on the final roll
cali | heard his name called out and
4 voice responded, "here" Right
! there ! must tell him goodbye, not
| knowing where | will ever see him
| again. Walking over to him with
ears in my eyes ! must say goodbye,
. md from fhn IN ~ ,rni.,n
rang out, Squads right" and there
is where | felt rs if did not have !.
friend in the world. How | wished
could have fallen in line ana marched
away to the boat and taken the long
trip with him over the sea. However,
turned and came back to the hos
pital very sad and disheartced, and on
the following day | received Il letter
from him saying that ne was in ward
SO with the "lnumps" having been
| taken off the boat with . high tenn
pcrture.
Studying n moment where ward 81
was | found that il is the next ward
/ to where was working and 81
course there is no need 10 say hos
much enjoyed this letter.
| .spcn! tarcc weeks with hin, aud
ave h!.n III; the special care / could
and also asked the rnrSes To 10 Tie
! wise. After three weeks he was sen
! 20 duty where &c joined another
casnn: Company 20 go over and while
waiting Cor the call to go. the arm
siice WAS signed This called for Il
/ new Company TO be formed, and h.
WAS soon transferred to Camp Lee,
Va, receiving his discharge and now
he has almost forgotten that he wa
N this war ut all.
! received letter from home tel
/ ling me that one of my friends was
in the nava. hospital at Pelham Bay,
only a few minutes ride on the sub
| way FROM New York City met him
n Hote! Aston in New York last Fri
/ day. We attended the Winter Garden
! Theatre, one Of the most Eoted the
aires in Jew York and there is where
I realized why the boys wanted TO
stay in the bright lights of old Broad.
way. While in school many years ago
! ] longcd fer the time TO come when
/ could wander up Broadway and see
the wonderful sights, but now since
| my dreams have come true ! ain viii
ling to come back to old Virginia, and
settle down and forget New York for
/ 1 have had fifteen long months here
PVT. EDWARD K. WHITE.
Goth. Co., U. S. Marines, 9Th Regt.
March %
Dear Sister.