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Date Original
1918 May 25
Description
Letter from Harrell Burke in Paris, France to his father in Arkansas.
Biographical/Historical Note
Jasper Harrell Burke served as a clerk for the Army Mechanical Repair Shops, American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I from January 1918 to June 1919. He enlisted as a private and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by May 1919.
Transcription
Somewhere in France
May 25, 1918
Dear Papa
Happy Birth Day to you.
And hope for you many more.
I hope when I shall have attained
your age I will be just as well
and energetic as you are. Well
came down to facts about this
war it seems as if we are in
for a good many more months
of it or at least that the way it
looks to me, but I am hoping
for the end to come soon so there
will not be so much butchering
of human life. It seems if the
Germans are doing the lowest tricks
that can be performed by humans.
Such as bombing Hospitals where
it is impossible for people to help
themselves. Enough to make
sain [sic] men go mad.
I met a man down at the
clubrooms the other afternoon
who was from Des Arc and
was in Wynne last Spring nailing
up some of those signs for the
Bankhead highway. When I
got thru talking to him I felt
like I had had a short visit some
where clost [sic] to home. His name
is Bethel[.] maby [sic] Mr. Herman will
remember the name. Our
Club has issued a regular member-
ship card. Captain Ladd made us a
fine talk and give us a deffinition [sic]
of Masonry that will remain with
me for a long time.
I guess the political pot is
boiling good and proper around
there this time. How does the
Sheriff's race seem to be coming
out. are there any other canidates [sic]
in the ring beside Reg & Jim
Harrell.
Since Parks has paid all his debts
what will the court do with all of
those true bills against him? From
the way mama or Lucille talked
in one of their letters guess you
people will have Mr. Woodward
for Principal next year. How is
Mr. Willis getting along.
Papa for fear you all did not
get my letter with the request
in it signed by an officer for
my Shorthand [sic] manuel [sic] & Masonic
manuel [sic] get Caraway to get permission
for you to send at least the Short-hand
manuel [sic] & grammar that I had
while I was in school. The reason
I am asking this is that an article
came out in the Stars & Stripes that
there would not be any more
packages sent thru the mail even
with the officers signature.
Suppose the steel bridge across
St. Francis river is Finished. If
you don't get permission to mail
those things to me mail them
to Walk-Over Shoe Co., 34 Boulevard
des I latiens, Paris France. if you have
to do the latter write me about a week
before you ship them. With love
to all, I am,
Your sincere son,
Pvt J Harrell Burke
M.R.S. 303 A.P.O. 708
American C.F.
Physical Description
Letter, 4 pages, 8" x 10.5"
Subjects
World War I; War; Soldiers; Correspondence; Family
Contributor
Harrell Burke
Geographical Area
Paris, France
Language
English
Identifier
MS.000074, Box 1, Folder 4, Item 5
Resource Type
Image
Collection
J. Harrell Burke papers, MS.000074
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Letter, Harrell Burke to his father, 1918 May 25, J. Harrell Burke papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
Military History | United States History
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Additional Content
Finding aid for J. Harrell Burke Papers
