Fort Logan Col.
Feb. 28, 1918
Dear Folks,
Arrived at Fort Logan this morning feeling fine. Left Omaha at 4.30 and ride
straight thro a 16 hr ride. There is 27 in my bunch all young fellows under
the Draft age. We only stay hee a couple of Days and them don’t know
where we will be. We sure kept everybody awake on the train coming out. Even
the conductors. Well Goodby and tell everybody Hello. Will dend address when
I find out where I will be stationed.
With Love,
Willie
(over)
P.S. Just had dinner all the beans & potatoes with coffee that we wanted.
Tasted fine for we were all hungry.
Ft Logan, Col.
March 1, 1918
Dear Marie and Pat,
Am feeling fine. Was just sworn in. Passed a fime(?) exam and expect to get
my uniform tomorrow. Been having pretty fair eats not much variety at the same
meal
but
the only things we have had twice are bread and coffee. Was vaccinated and
inoculated for typhoid today but the treats us fine here only all lights out
at nine and
arise at 6:00 o’clock.
Will send my address as soon as I am asigned to a Company. About time to report
at barracks so Goodby.
With Love,
Bill
Ft Logan, Col.
March 1, 1918
Dear folks,
Feeling fine , expect to leave here in a day or two. Was sworn in thes afternoon
and received a vaccination and first inoculation for typhoid.
Been having pretty good feeds only had beans the first day. Been having Meat,
Potatoes boiled with the skin on, brown gravey, Corn meal mush & mush(much?)
bacon macaroni and apple sauce but no butter
Our coffee is already sweetened and no sugar is put on the table
Expect to get our uniforms tomorrow. Want you to send me my watch and some hadkerchiefs
and will send you my address as soon as possible but please have them ready to
send as soon as possible as you receive it.
Just had a talk with Harold Cox who left the Valley the day before I did.The
bunch he is with is confined to their barracks with everything packed and ready
to move at once.
So long will right again tomorrow if I have time
With Love
Willie
Tell everybody Hello and tell Arthur not to forget the cigarrets.
In Denver on troop train moving
but don’t know where er are going.
Will write when er reach destination.
W. T. E
San Antonio Texas
March 8, 1918
Dear Folks,
Arrived here Wednesday Night feeling fine only in quarrrentine for fifteen
days account of one man in our tent coming down with measles. We have a large
size city here about ten thousand tents and sixty-five thousand Soldiers and
the aeroplanes are so thick the look like Mosquitoes flying around. there are
about five-hundred.
Took my trade test yesterday went thru fine as lineman.
Send my watch & chain but not my knife and send me some handkerchiefs at
once also tell Arthur not to forget the cigarrettes.
Goodby. Write to me at
South San Antonio Texas
Kelly Field No 1
Line 128
Don’t know How long I’ll be here but may be here six months or maybe
only six days. Will write again as soon as possible
March 10, 1918
Dear Pat & Marie,
Feeling fine been in quarantine three days because one of the fellows in our
tent took the measles all we’ve had to do was eat and sleep but I expect
that we will have to go to work about Tuesday. They sure feed us down here.
I don’t expect to be here long for they tell me that they are going to
have me in France inside of two months for they are needing linemen over there.
Harold Cox, who left the Valley a couple of days before I did is only a couple
of
tents away from me.
Its sure hot down here all the trees are getting green. It was almost 100 in
the sun yesterday and here we are with woolen underclothes, wool socks flannel
shirt, and wool trousers.
So long I rather march ten miles than write a letter.
Bill
March
16, 1918
Dear Pat & Marie,
Just received a letter from the folks. Haven’t had time to write for
nearly a week. Was up all last night guarding drafted men’s camp to keep
them from leaving There was 140 of us guarding them. At firs they put the drafted
men in with the enlisted but that didn’t work very so the keep them separated
now. There are almost 100,000 men here now. Nearly 35000 more than were here
when I came so you see how fast they are coming in.
Drafted men from all over the U.S. are coming here They shipped in about 200
new aero planes and 150 heavy trucks this week. so you see they are ready to
fight.
One of the Officers at Headquarters told me that they needed linemen in France
and that I was liable to go any time as soon as they had me toughened up enough
to stand the grind.
There is another lineman in the same tent with me He came in on the same train
I did and we are
are the only two linemen in our Division of about 2000 men so you see how scarce
linemen are. All the rest are Carpenters Mechanics truckdrivers and electricians.
Picked up a horned toad while on guard duty this morning and maybe I will send
it home if it lives. We had some rain storm last night and it sure good cold
we wore our overcoats and raincoats on guard and then very nearly shook our
shoes off. Well So Long the whistles blowing for us to line up.
Bill
March 16, 1918
Dear folks,
Received your letter yesterday. Been out of quarantine since Mon. morning.
Been on main guard for the last 24 hrs. 2 hrs on 4 hrs off guarding the drafted
men to keep from running off. We were stationed every 100 yds. We were also
guarding quarantine camps.
I’d rather have the wrist watch because when on duty all buttons must
be buttoned and every pocket has a button on it. It doesn’t matter what
kind of handkerchiefs either white or tan
Don’t sell my belt & climber. I may need them before long. You said
I didn’t tell you about my trip but there isn’t much to tell. When
we left Denver we were going west but in the morning when we woke we were in
Kansas going East. We went almost to the Eastern edge of Kansas them South
and west again and the next morning when we woke we were in Texas and traveled
south all day and finally arrived at Kelly Field’s
We are expecting a call either to move to another camp
or to another part of this camp but mail addressed here will follow me.
With love Willie
March 29, 1918
Dear folks,
Haven’t much time to write as we are all packed and waiting for orders
to move. We may be here a week yet or we may leave in 15 min. Send the Handkerchiefs
and Watch as soon as possible because I need both badly. Received two letters
from you yesterday. The first mail I have had in three weeks, almost. Will
write to Uncle Tommy as soon as I get time.
With love,
Willie
Dear folks.
Well arrived at last but of course don’t know how long we will be here.
Got here yesterday morning and it has been raining ever since.
This is a small camp here only 5 miles from Newport News.
We were only about 31/2 days coming from Texas by way of New Orleans, Birmingham,
Albama Atlanta Georgia and up through North & South Carolinas into Virginia.
Our route was all kept secret so of course we did not get the benefit of the
Red Cross and we were not even allowed to buy anything at places we stopped.
Haven’t received the hand kerchiefs yet but they will be forwarded here.
haven’t time to write more now.
With love
Willie
William T. Emge
8th Balloon Detach ASSC?
Aviation Section, Morrison
Va.
Camp Morrison Va.
April 18, 1918
Dear folks
Send watch by registered mail and it will get here quicker and send it as soon
as possible because I don’t expect to be here long. Wrote you this morning
and received your letter after I had mailed it. Haven’t got Mrs Dixon’s
cake yet.
With love
Willie
Dear folks.
Haven’t had time to write for some time.
Frank Haight and Pete Jensen, two boys from home are here. Just found them
tonight.
Don’t know how long we will be here but It may be two months or 24 hrs.
Got the kit and handkerchiefs Saturday but didn’t have time to write since.
Got a letter from Uncle Tommy and also another from you but you never write very
much at a time. I wish you would send that watch and hurry it as much as you
can.
Was playing carpenter down here the other day helping build barracks but try
to keep out of it as much as possible.
We are only a little way from the James Bay and we go over and gather oysters
once in a while.
We got some more clothes today, don’t know what we will do with everything.
Tell Marie I can’t write to her this time because I am out of stamps and
money.
With love
Willie.
Private Wm. T. Emge
8th Balloon Detach.
Morrison, Va.
June 10, 1918
Dear Folks,
Well still at it and expect to be for some time but sure will be glad to get
home again.
Went to church last Sunday but didn’t stay for the sermon for you know
I couldn’t understand a word.
It’s raining here today and we are not very busy. We are fairly well
fixed here. Spring water, good drainage fime plae for a camp.
We have a piano and phonograph also. So you see we have some amusments.
The Iowa boys are only a short distance from here and I am going to hunt them
up and see if I can find any of the Boys from home for there are several of
them there.
I wish you would ask Mrs Burke, Franks address and give her mine to send him.
With Love
Pvt. William T. Emge
Co. A 2nd Ball. Squadron
American E.F.
Ames Iowa
October 14, 1819
Dear Bill,
I havent had an answer from either one of my letters to you so do not know
whether you got them or not. I received one from you some time ago I was certainly
glad to hear from you. I hope your are feeling fine. I never felt better in
my life
I have some sad news for you so be prepared to know the worst. You have probably
heard that the Spanish Flu started in the East and has spread across the country
taking toll at every place. It took 12 or 14 from college. This place has been
under military rule & quarantine for some time. They have checked it now.
In Missouri Valley and in the camps
where Valley boys were, it took its toll. One of the saddest in Mo Valley was
that of Stella Jones. Her Flu was followed by double pneumonia & after
her death they found that her appendics had broken.
Neal Haggerty was buried Sat or Sun.Rolo Young died at Camp Dodge Sat Night.
Poor Vic is nearly crazy with grief so Blanche write. Fred Henderson feels pretty
bad because his father married a Stone woman. Howard Jones said that she used
to belong to every & any body.
There are Number of Valley boys here, H. Jones. F Chambers, F. Reels, F. Henderson,
Dean Lotta, Micky
myself. I am the only boy here from
Harrison County who is in the Navy. I signed up for four years. Blanche feels
pretty bad about it but four years
won’t be so very long.
I don’t see very much of the other boys but they were alright yesterday.
Nobody is allowed up town but I was sent op with a box for the Recruiting Station
this evening and believe me I got a good feed. I ate at the Sheldon Manor,
very classy Hotel. We have not got our uniforms yet so was in civilian clothes
with out a coat but that didn’t make any diff to me. The supper cost
me 75¢ and I had to run the last car down to get back on time.
The navy is the pick of the school one of the Army guards said this AM as we
were going to chow, “J.C. but that bunch of D— sailors have got
more pep that the whole rest of the school put together. There are about 140
of us and we all pull together
Well Bill I’ll be pleased to hear from you soon.
Your old Pal
Kirk C Barret.
P.S. Bill Cody & Scotty were married a wk ago Sat at C.B. He is in the Army.
My address is 2112 Lincoln Way
Barracks # 2
Kirk
Green & Smith were married July 3.
Oct
28, 1918
Dear Sis,
Well alls well in France and I finally forced myself to write altho I hate the
job.
Our company was cited some time ago for bringing down a German plane so you see
we are doing a little bit to bother fritz.
I’ll be wearing my first sevice strip by the time you receive this, but
the time sure has past fast. It seems only a short time since I left home.
Well how is every thing at home anyway(?) I suppose the old town looks the same.
You said Arthur was going to school somewhere. Send me his address so I can write
to him.
What is Pa doing now, still in the shops(?)
Well will write again soon.
With Love
Willie
Private William T. Emge
1st Bal. Co.
1st Ball. Wing
American E. F.
Oct 28, 1918
Dear Sister,
Well alls well
in France and I finally
forced myself to write
altho I hate the job.
Our company was
cited some time ago
for bringing down a
German plane so
you see we are
doing a little bit
to bother fritz.
I’ll be wearing
my first sevice strip by
the time you receive
this, but the time sure
has past fast. It seems
only a short time
since I left home.
Well how is every
thing at home anyway
I suppose the old town
looks the same.
You said Arthur was
going to school some
where send me his
address so I can
write to him.
What is Pa doing now, still in the shops
Well will write again
soon.
With Love
Willie
Private William T. Emge
1st Bal. Co.
1st Ball. Wing
American E. F.
Dear Sister,
Our Company Commander received today a letter inquirin about me and saying
that you had not received a letter for three months. My mail must have been
lost for I have written at least every two weeks.
I wrote to you, Dad and Arthur the other Day so I don’t have much to
say this time.
I ask you to send Artherr’s address but received it the next day in a
letter from Dad.
With love
Your Brother
Willie
Pvt. William T. Emge
1st Bal. Co. 1st Bal. Wing
American E. F.
Magnolia Iowa
School House
10° below
Dear Bill,
You never know where you are going to fine me. This is the day after Thanksgiving
and I am teaching in Magnolia. I have the third and forth grades. Alice is
sick and I am subing in her place. She thinks she has the Flu but I think not.
I brot? Glen up here with me so I know she won’t stay ill very long.
I received your letter Wed Nov 27 it is the first time I have heard from you
for so long that I had just about come to the conclusion that you had stopped
a bullet or had died of diafluprutus. It is colder than thunder and enough
snow for good sledding but we came in a car and nearly froze up. Will be having “bob” parties
pretty soon. You remember those uncomfotable affairs where you sit on your
feet or some else will sit on them for you and sit on the top of a hill and
wait for people that ahead of you. Still we are bord? (hard?) enough to go.
We are having a party tonite the first one since Tella did and I am not contemplating
a very good time.
Doc was operated on for appendicits but will be able to come home.
The funniest thing happened Yesterday
Howard and Kirk started home from Ames and did leave Ames but never got to
M.V. We can’t understand it unless they hopped a freight and went the
wrong way for they were both so homesick they nearly went up the spout(?) Was
a good thing they are not going to France or they never would get back. When
they cant even come home from Ames with out getting lost.
We had community singing last nite in the K.C hall to show how thankful we
were. I think we are more thankful than we can express in words because it
is too deep for expression.
Some times I feel that most every thing I had to be thankful for is gone but
when I look around at the trouble and sorrow some people have I count myself
rather lucky.
Visper(?) and I are inseparable you know her don’t you. I laugh at her
fool talk till I nearly convulse and she don’t meant to be funny.
The Flu has run its self out in M.V. about fifty died with it. But around this
burg it is bad now.
I saw a picture of your young brother and it was good he was in uniform.
I have not sent those pictures no wonder you havent them yet. Good reason. I
will or else save them for you. You will be home before long you know. It is
nearly noon and I could eat a hard boiled door knob.
Ans Soon
Hilda
Can’t write more. Prof is making his appearance.
Dear Sister and Brother
Its sure dull over here now with no excitement to keep you going but then I
don’t
think well stay here long now.
With Christmass Greetings
your Brother
Bill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Dad
Alls well over here and I Hope to be back with you soon.
With Christmass Greetings
Your Son
Bill
Dec. 22, 1918
Dear Dad,
How are you anyway I haven’t heard from you for quite a while. I wrote
to Marie today she can tell you where I am so I don’t have much to write.
Your Son
Willie
Pvt. William T Emge.
Co. A 2nd Ball. Squadron
American E.F.
Dec. 22, 1918
Germany
Dear Sister and Bro.
It has been some time since I wrote but I sure have covered a great deal of territory
since then. We crossed the Rhine a couple of days ago and are camped In a village
near Coblenz quite a large city at the junction of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers.
Our Company is billeted out around the village and another lad and myself have
a regular home with an old man and his wife and their son and his wife.
The son has been a soldier six year but he says “Dutchland nix Goot, American
goot” and that seems to be about the sentiment all over Germany.
We received almost as great a welcome into Germany as we would get in the U.S.
altho not quite.
We expect to be here all winter at least It is not very cold here yet there has
been very little frost but we are looking for cold weather and lots of snow before
long.
Feeling fine now getting plenty to eat and about 10 hrs sleep a day and just
enough work to keep in condition and also a lot of wine and beer.
Hoping everybody at home is feeling good.
With Love Willie.
Pvt William T. Emge
1st Bal. Co. 1st Bal Wing Amer E.F.
Dec. 23.
Received your letter written Oct. 29. I haven’t received Arthur’s
letter yet. Some times It takes almost three months for my mail to get here.
Why I even received a letter yesterday Sent in August.
You say the Spanish flu is bad over there. It hasn’t done very much damage
over here. We have had two or three cases in the company but they were sent to
the hospital and all have returned to the Company now.
Dec.25, 1918
Merry Christmass about 3 in of snow this morning.
I’m enclosing a picture of the Old folks daughter and her baby. The baby,
Katherine calls me Uncle now.
Jan. 4, 1919
Dear Dad,
Well still feeling fine I guess I’m to onery to get sick.
We are still living with the Dutch and all signs seem to show that we will
be here for some time tho I hope not.
What are you ding now and are still keeping house.
I am having a rather easy time just at present nothing to do but eat sleep
and answer the Telephone while the resto of the company drill and work. Bought
you a Dutch razor the other Day but am going to bring it home when I come.
Have you still got the old farm or have you sold it. Ithink I will take up
farming when I come back unless something else turns up. I received a better
frim Arthur He seems to be satisfied at School only of course it would be better
if Mary was there.
Tell Uncle Tommy hello and also Mrs Tierney, Ryan and all the rest. Tell them
I think of them all quite often.
Your Son
Pvt. William T Emge.
Co. A 2nd Ball. Wing
American E.F.
Jan 10, 1919
Coblenz, Ger.
Dear Bro,
Just received your picture. It sure looks natural and makes me think of Home.
The hat sure looks queer too on top of a uniform. It’s very seldom we
see on of them. We all wear caps over here. Caps with no beak. a sort of skull
cap is what they look like.
They are starting some sort of a school in the University of Coblenz now for
the Boys who have to stay over here and I think I will take up a mathematical
course or an electrical course. I haven’t decide yet but will know by
tommorrow night.
I have one or two Dutch souvenirs I would like to send home but can’t
just now. I may have to carry them with me.
I have eight times on my switchboard now about eight miles of w?re to take care
of and most of the work to do myself for the other operator is just learning
and our sergeant can never be found when we want him we see him about once a
week. Besides the telephone work I generally have one or two lights to install
every day so you see I am fairly busy altho I have a good deal of time to myself
and a great many privileges the rest of the company do not have.
My roommate received his Christmass box last night about three lbs. of chocolates
and we sure ate chocolate for over here what I have or what any of us fellows
have is just as much ???? as his for we never think of borrowing or lending.
We all use it and when it is gone we go without. Of course there are some Hogs
but they soon have that taken out of them.
I am going to have some pictures taken this payday and will send you one as soon
as I get them.
Take care of yourself kid and when I get home we sure will have one big time.
Your Brother
Bill
Pvt. William T. Emge
1st Bal. Wing
American E. F.
WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
August 18, 1919.
AGCD 201 (Emge, William T.)
Mr. William H. Emge,
Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Dear Sir:
With reference to the telegram from The Adjutant General announcing the death
of your son, Private William T. Emge, 1st Balloon Company, further investigation
shows that he died of broncho-pneumonia February 18, 1919, and not February
16th, as was previously reported to you.
With deepest sympathy in your loss, I am
Respectfully,
P. C. Harris,
The Adjutant General.
W-G
B
Struthers Ohio
10/13/19
Dear Mrs Emge:
I rec’d your letter in answer to my inquiry some time ago, but have been
extremly busy for the last three weeks. I will just give you a little story as
to this rather sad misfortune to all you folks, but never the less one of the
most glorious caused for the laying down of (ones?) life for the world.
We were running a hospital at ??????????? Germany as you know the flu was much
worse in France than here in U. S. But altho lots of cases in Germany it was
not so bad as France. We were having all the patients we could take care of.
They were brought in from the different camps and of not ? had we left them or
??? ad sent them on to the Base Hosp. ?? (He?) as all bad ones nearly came in
from his company to the recreatine center at ????? where for three days the soldiers
did as they pleased. Eat, dances, sleep and
shows etc. He? came in and only ate two or three meals as his meal ticket showed
I think. He? was in a bunch of thirteen (unlucky) first at all. He and a fellow
DelSargro? from Can?uto?rO? were side by side. I took their temperatures after
fixing them best I could. His & the other were the only ones high. 101.6° The
rest weren’t so bad. They were there for three days temp 101 to 103 up
and down. He seemed quiet and didn’t seemto want to cause any bother. He
only wanted something to drinik. His case was considered bad so he was moved
to another ward for those worse off. From there on it was first?quite? a struggle
of Flu-Pneumonia which you will know? for your self. He died easy and seemed
content when he passed away. He had chances to see a priest as they were there
most every day administering to the boys. I took him down and dressed him ???
in his uniform. We got our caskets from
a German casket factory. It was fixed nice inside and varnished on the outside.
He looked real nice. I fixed a large American Flag over the coffin. The next
morning his friends came and took him away. They all lifted? filed? ?? a part?
him and asked so many questions and all seemed to like him so well. I ran across
the ring and said to myself I would bring it with me as I ??? you would cherish
it. I hope the few addresses of friends ??? will be of some value. These of the
company address camp? he? found by writing Washinton D.C.
19181224
Ray Barns – Beaverdale Penn.
???? S Perkins – Portland Oregon
Lester L Han??? - ???? Cal.
Jere R Fitch - ???? Cal.
C L? Johnson - Durango Col.
TC Brown - ???? Kansas
?. C. Brown - Pittsville? C?l.
R. I. Roberts - Brownsville Jct. Mo?
L. J. Ball Co E
G.F Ball ??dy.
???????????
Frank?Kent?Trent? Burls? Co L
Floyd Hardy Co L
Eugene Hai?ber “ “
J. F. Houghlin? “ “
F C Osborn?
Hoping these few memories will be of some comfort to you and anything else I
might? tell.
Sincerely
R D Hutchins?
135 Section Struthers Ohio