Violette Collection of WWI Soldiers' Letters
Musdp Collection V1

Letters "A" through "R"
Letters "S" through "Z"

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For information concerning this collection or to request copies contact:
speccoll@truman.edu

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These letters were collected by Professor E.M. Violette, head of the History Department at the First District State Normal School, for their historic value. Some of the letters were the result of a campaign by the Normal School and the Kirksville Rotary Club to see that Adair County soldiers received mail, some were donated by the soldiers’ families, and nearly all were printed in the Kirksville Daily Express or the Normal School Index. You will find some editing marks on several of them corresponding to the shortened version appearing in the paper. All the mail from Europe went through the military censors, and most of them bear the stamp or signature of the Censor; none of them appear to have had portions removed, however.

A1	"A"
	Cpl. Marvin Dee Appleton, Somewhere in France, 4 Nov 1918, to Mother L/Sgt. T.R. Thornton Ansley, Pendleton, Manchester, England, 11 Nov 19--, to Miss Vinnie Durk Montgomery [Extracts from original letter]
A2	Lt. C.F. Acree, Chaplain, 126th Infantry
	Coblence Sector, Germany, 25 Dec 1918, to Friends France, 12 Aug 1918, to E.E. Swain, Kirksville, MO Anhausen, Germany, 9 Jan 1919, to A.P. Lockhart, Kirksville, MO [Europe] 14 Apr 1919, to Mr & Mrs W.C. Summers, Kirksville, MO [empty envelope] At Sea, nd, to C.H. Sears, Kirksville, MO
A3	Pvt. James M. Archer, Headquarters Division, AEF
	Somewhere in France, nd, to Sis & Delos Bordeaux France [postmark], 23 Oct 1918, to Sis and All
B1	"B"
	Fred Bailey, Somewhere in France, 6 Feb 1918, to Dad [as printed in Center Herald] Lt. C.E. Benson, Camp Greenleaf, Ft Oglethorpe, GA, 3 Mar 1918, to Mr. Dearmont, [as printed in Capaha Arrow, Cape Girardeau Normal School] Pearl Bragg, Co. K, 139^th Infantry, 23 Nov 1918, to Folks at Home [Mrs. Nancy Gates] Sgt. Byron H. Beatty, Divisional Laboratory, Somewhere in France, 27 Aug 1918, to Mr. & Mrs. Henry Lt. C.C. Beeth, 1st Cavalry, Camp Henry J. Jones, Huachuca, AZ, nd, to The Index
C1	"C"
	Cpl. George A. Camden, 351st Infantry, Houdelaincourt, France, 1 Jan 1919, to Rev. G.T. Kenner, Kirksville, MO W.R. Castle Jr., American Red Cross, Washington, DC, 6 Jan 1919, to James H. Slover, Youngstown, MO -- Pvt. Walter Jacob Slover missing in action Musician John A. Childers, 356th Infantry, Camp Funston, KS, 9 Jan 1918, to Prof. J.H. Heyd, Kirksville, MO Pvt. Haden J. Craig, 3rd Army, Coblenz, Germany, 22 Feb 1919, to Mother and All; Envelope from J.A. Craig, Greentop, MO forwarding letter to Editor of the Daily News, Kirksville, MO Roy Croson, Jefferson Barracks, [St. Louis, MO], 14 Aug 1918, to Mable Croson, Kirksville, MO
D1	"D"
	Harry M. Davidson, in France, 19 Sept 1918, to Mrs. Harry M. Davidson Vern Douglass, 74th Balloon Co., Ft. Crook, NE, 20 Feb 1919, to Folks at Home Pvt. E.W. Downing, 317 Mobile Laundry Unit, Remagren, Germany, 31 Mar 1919, to Mother J. Marcellus Dudley, US Navy, USS Denver, New York Harbor, 1 Jan 1918, to Mrs. J. Walker Humphrey, Kirksville Normal School, Kirksville, MO Photographs enclosed: Sailors on board the Denver; Bird’s eye view of the deck of the Denver from the crow’s nest; One of the 18 ships in their convoy crossing the Atlantic
D2	Pvt. Purdy Davis, 354th Infantry
	Somewhere in France, 27 Oct 1918, to Mother, Mrs. H.K. Davis [Europe] 1 Dec 1918, to Mother, Mrs. H.K. Davis Tries, Germany, 2 Mar 1919, to Mother [Europe], 9 Nov 19[19], to Mr. & Mrs. H.K. Davis -- Suppose Earl is in France on his way home; should be on our way home by Christmas
D3	Pvt. George T. Douglas, 351st Infantry
	France, 18 Sept 1918, to Folks at Home France, 20 Sept 1918, to Folks at Home Houdelaincourt, France, 26 Jan 1919, to Folks at Home Mrs. Clyde I. Douglas, Kirksville, MO to Editor of Daily Express, Kirksville, MO; 2 letters dated 25 Feb 1918 22 Oct 1918 forwarding her son’s letters for publication
E1	Cpl. W.W. Eagen, 318th Engineers
	Aldegand, Germany, 3 May 1919, to Sister
E2	Charles A. Epperson, 7th Training Corps, Coast Artillery
	Ft. Monroe, VA, 27 Oct 1917, to W.J. Bray, Normal School, Kirksville, MO Camp Mifflin, Long Island. 19 Feb 1919, to [Prof.] Jamison
F1	"F"
	W.B. Fell, Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA, 6 July 1918, to Ed Mechanic Roy E. Fickel, 139th Infantry, [Europe], 7 Oct 1918, to Miss Frances Hoag, Kirksville, MO Sgt. Elmer E. Fortney, 1st MG Batt., 1st Division, [Europe], 21 Oct 1918, to T.E., Fortney, Kirksville, MO Ray Fiscus, 139th Infantry, Some where in France, 6 Aug 1918, to L.F. Gibbs, Kirksville Trust Co., Kirksville, MO
G1	"G"
	Seaman Henry C. Gardner, Mare Island, CA, 4 Jan 1918, to J.E. Aeschliman, Kirksville, MO Pvt. William H. Gauer, Co K, 4th Infantry, Somewhere in France, 26 Aug 1918, to F.E. Miley, Greencastle, MO; with transmittal letter from Miley to E.M. Violette, 1 Dec 1919 Pvt. John S. Gothard, 70th Regt., Coast Artillery, La Roussiere, France, 24 Nov 1918, to Father, John Gothard, Kirksville, MO Ezra [Grimm], Hospital Center [France], 11 Mar 1919, to Dollie [Grimm] Sgt. Major Francis Karl Grassle, 823rd Aero Squadron, England, 26 Oct 1918, to Dr. George [Still] Hugh J. Gwyn, Holliday, MO, 20 Dec 1919, to Mr. Violette [written after discharge from Marine Corps]
G2	Lloyd Gardner, 139th Infantry
	Some where in France, 7 Oct 1918, Mrs. Emma Gardner, Greentop, MO Some where in France, 19 Nov 1918, Mrs. Emma Gardner, Greentop, MO Vignot, France, 14 Dec 1918, Mrs. Emma Gardner, Greentop, MO
H1	"H"
	Ralph Haley, 17th Aero Squadron, [France], 15 Mar 1918, to Dr. A.L. McRae, Rolla, MO [as reprinted in The Missouri Miner, Missouri School of Mines] Harry Hanes, France, 14 July 1918, to Mother, Mrs. William Noblinger, Millard, MO Pvt. Loys Hotchkiss, 18th Infantry, Somewhere in France, 21 Sept 1917, to Lewis Clevenger, Brashear, MO Clifford E. Henry, US Navy, 10 Aug 1918, to Prof. E.M. Violette, Kirksville, MO
H2	Sgt. E.W. Howey, 139th Infantry
	Cormercy, France, 26 Dec 1918, to E.E. Swain France, 7 Oct 1918, to C.C. Givens & The Bunch, Kirksville, MO France, 14 July 1918, to Rev. W.B. Christy, M.E. Church, Kirksville, MO France, 7 Sept 1918, to W.E. Evans, Kirksville, MO
I1	Pvt. Carl R. Ibach, 3rd Provisional Squadron, Military Aeronauatics
	Greenville, SC, 11 Jan 1918, to Miss Dola [Caldwell] Camp Greene, NC, 8 July 1918, to Miss Dola Caldwell, Kirksville, MO [picture postcard "Roll Call, Camp Greene"] Camp Greene, NC, 15 July 1918, to Miss Dola Caldwell, Kirksville, MO [picture postcard "Lakewood, Charlotte, NC"] 278th Air Service Squadron, [Europe], 7 Sept 1918, to Miss Dola Caldwell, Kirksville, MO [postcard]
J1	Pvt. Rueben M. Jepson, 4th Infantry
	Some where in Germany, 25 Dec 1918, to Mother Meisenheim, Germany, 23 Feb 1919, to Editor, Kirksville Daily News, Kirksville, MO
J2	Sgt. James R. Johnson, 34th Infantry
	Thiaviourt, France, 21 Dec 1918, to Mother France, 17 Nov 1918, to Mother, Mrs. W.L. Johnson, Kirksville, MO
J3	1st Lt. L. Glenn Johnson, 354th Infantry
	Prum, Germany, 15 Dec 1918, to Mother, Mrs. W.L. Johnson, Kirksville, MO [Europe], 31 Oct 1918, to Mother, Mrs. W.L. Johnson, Kirksville, MO
K1	"K"
	Pvt. Pete Kachulis, 351st Infantry, Camp Dodge, IA, 14 June 1918, to George England, Kirksville, MO H.W. Kretzmeier, 7th Regiment, Radio School, Camp Perry, Great Lakes, IL, 5 May 1918, to Dr. E.H. Henry, American School of Osteopathy, Kirksville, MO
L1	"L"
	Everett Milton Lemasters, 4th Regiment, Camp Perry, Great Lakes, IL, 18 Jan 1918, to Prof. W.J. Bray, Kirksville, MO [postcard] Pvt. Roy Lilley, Kelly Field, England, nd, to E.M. Violette, Kirksville, MO [postcard] Otho B. Lynch, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, KS, [Sept 1918], to E.M. Violet [sic] Pvt. James E. Lees, --th Infantry, [Europe], Sept 1918, to Mother, Mrs. Mary Lees, Kirksville, MO Lewis Little, Convalescent Camp [Europe], 5 Dec 1918, to Mother, Mrs. Phoebe Lewis Sgt. Hugh A. Luck, 354th Infantry, Somewhere in France, 14 Nov 1918, to Rotary Club, Kirksville, MO
M1	"M"
	Raymond Marquess, Naval Hospital Base, Hampton Roads, VA, 3 Aug 1918, to Mrs. J.W. Marquess, Kirksville, MO Pvt. Clifford Morrow, 4th Infantry, Miesenheim, Germany, 12 Mar 1919, to Mother, Mrs. Anna Morrow, Kirksville, MO Lt. W.W. Martin, Stationary Hospital No. 11, Rouen, France, 30 July 1918, to Dr. J.E. Wright, Kirksville, MO John O. McConnell, Camp Merritt, NJ, 4 Jan 1919, to Miss Stella McConnell, Green Castle, MO Pvt. John D. McDowell, 321st Field Artillery, [Europe] 1 Jan 1919, to J.T. Miller, Jr., Kirksville, MO Ray Martin, 89th Division, France, 16 Sept 1918, to the Folks 1st Sgt. Carl McKeehan, 139th Infantry, Some where in Germany, 4 Aug 1918, to Prof. J.R. Howey, Kirksville, MO Cpl. D.E. McMillin, 13th Engineers, Some where in France, 1 Nov 1917, to Friend Pvt. Dee Moore, Signal Corps, [Europe], 25 Nov 1918, to Father, M.C. Moore, Kirksville, MO
M2	Pvt. Francis McCabe, 4th Infantry
	[Europe], 9 Aug 1918, to Brother [Europe], 9 Aug 1918, to Father & Mother, Mrs. Mary McCabe, Novinger, MO [Europe] 15 Oct 1918, to Mother & Father, Mrs. Mary McCabe, Novinger, MO
M3	Earl D. Martin, 137th Ambulance Company
	France, 5 Oct 1918, to Folks France, 13 Sept 1918, to Folks
M4	Bugler Guy Miller, Drum Corps, 4th Battalion, Queen’s Own
	Culverden Castle Camp, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, 15 Aug 1918, to B.F. Bonfoey, Kirksville, MO Culverden Castle Camp, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, 1 Sept 1918, to E.E. Swain, Kirksville, MO
N1	Pvt. Kenneth E. Newton, 19th Provisional Motor Transfer
	Bessenheim, Germany, 20 Jan 1919, to Folks
O	[None]

P1	"P"
	Chester A. Purdy, nd, to Editor -- This is a final page “PS”; rest of letter missing Pvt. C.R. Phillips, [Europe], nd, to H.L. Phillips, Kirksville, MO [empty envelope] Eber K.I. Peck, Ambulance Company 105, Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, SC, 20 Dec 1917, to Miss Dola Caldwell, Kirksville, MO [Christmas card] Eber K.I. Peck, Ambulance Company 105, Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, SC, 14 Feb 1918, to Miss Dola Caldwell, Kirksville, MO Cpl. Charley Piersie, 110th DAP, Gr. Mouthairon, France, 5 Dec 1918, to Brother, Sis & Niece, Aaron C. Piersie, Kirksville, MO Ray Potter, 39th Infantry, Some where in the World, 25 Nov 19--, to Mother, Ms. Sadie Potter
P2	Sgt. Royal G. Payton, 356th Infantry
	[Europe], 2 Sept 1918, to All at Home Some where in France, 29 Aug 1918, to Miss Mintie Payton
Q1	Albert M. Quinn, 326th Machine Gun Battalion
	France, 25 Oct 1918, to The Kirksville Daily News, Kirksville, MO
R1	"R"
	G.B. Ren---, London, England, 18 July 1918, to Waldo Harmon, Elsberry, MO [picture postcard, Houses of Parliament, London] Major J.E. Rieger, 139th Infantry, Front Lines, 21 Oct 1918, to [no addressee] encloses newspaper clipping “Son Falls in Fight, Father Takes Place: Major [Clay C. MacDonald], Chafing in Division P.O., Joins Battle When Lieutenant Dies” Sgt. R.W. Rice, Camp Raritan, Metuchan, NJ, 29 Jan 1919, to Dr. George A. Still, Kirksville, MO
R2	A.P. “Mack” Rotta, 443rd Emergency Transport Service Engineer
	Some where in France, 23 July 1918, to Mother; forwarded by Mrs. Elizabeth Rotta, Lexington, MO to Kirksville, Daily Express for publication St. Nazaire, France, 1 Aug 1918, to Mother
R3	Mechanic Irwin M. Runyon, 139th Infantry
	Some where in Germany, 3 Aug 1918, to Friend, Moses Stoneking Some where in Germany, 9 Aug 1918, to Friend, Carl Some where in Germany, 12 Aug 1918, to Friend, Sam & the Rest of the Tribe Some where in Germany, 4 Aug 1918, to Friend, Mrs. Viola Madigan Vigert, Minse, France, 2 Feb 1919, to Friend, Mrs. Viola Madigan, Kirksville, MO
R4	Sgt. Joseph Rutherford
	Some where in France, 4 Nov 1918, to Folks La Foyer de Soldat, France, 6 Nov 1918, to Folks France, 8 Nov 1918, to Folks France, 15 Nov 1918, to Mother & All, Mrs. Esther Rutherford, Kirksville, MO

For information concerning this collection contact: speccoll@truman.edu

Manuscripts Table of Contents | Special Collections

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Violette Collection of WWI Soldiers' Letters Musdp Collection V1

Manuscripts Table of Contents | Special Collections

Violette Collection of WWI Soldiers' Letters
Musdp Collection V1