History Lesson

I transcribed another letter last night, one that Archie wrote from Camp Dodge on Mother’s Day, May 11, 1918. What a good son he is as he writes to his mother, mentioning that “Today is what they call ‘Mother’s day' and everyone is asked to write to their mother today if they have any mother.” He said he was going to write anyway. Archie mentions Liberty Bonds and a $10,000 life insurance policy that he has made out to his mother. It seems that his unit experienced another round of inoculations. Archie says their arms were so sore that some avoided the officers so they did not have to salute. Research shows that he probably was getting vaccine for small pox, typhoid, and perhaps tetanus antitoxin and diphtheria antitoxin. This journey will certainly be a history lesson for me.

SUMMER MUSINGS

September 8, 2011

I have begun copying, scanning, and transcribing all the letters.
So far, I have finished 4 letters. The first letter (to his sister in North Carolina, dated May 6, 1917) was about Archie in Des Moines, Iowa and how he went to be examined by the army, that he did not want to be drafted. Ironically, he was exempt from the draft “on account of my teeth” and a rupture. Ultimately he served in the U.S. Army, so we begin the mysteries.
The second letter, dated July 10, 1917, describes Archie’s work in Guernsey, Iowa. He was working as a farmhand and helped cultivate corn, “sixty five acres over there times and thirty five acres for another man.” He mentions going to a dentist in Victor, Iowa. Another man had a toothache and Archie “had some roots pulled.” I need to research dentists in 1917! Also, it seems that now Carnforth, Iowa and Victor, Iowa are the same city. More research! Archie also mentions his brother in law, Earl H. Beardsley, who also served in the Great War, Co. E, 37th Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces.
The third letter, sent to his mother and dated April 29, 1918, addresses his arrival at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He mentions the Hotel Randolph in Des Moines. I researched this hotel and it still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Archie mentions how good and plenty the food was at his first meal at Camp Dodge.
The fourth letter, dated May 5, 1917, is on Army and Navy Young Men’s Christian Association stationery, but was really written May 5, 1918. He writes about “examination vaccination and innouculation.” He further states that Camp Dodge “is said to be one of the best camps in the country as the men are fed and treated better here than in most camps.” It is noteworthy that Archie mentions he is one of the few who does not use tobacco. He also writes of the drilling. Camp Dodge is still a military installation and serves as the headquarters of the Iowa National Guard.
This work is going to be very interesting, but difficult. So far I have a lot more questions than answers. I am excited to really work on this project. I want to honor my Granduncle Archie Harvey and his service to his country.