Page 6, The World War I Letters of John E. Kuhl, 1918-1919
Published with permission of the the author, Lanelle Krueger
Full-text of the letters can be read in the book at the Odebolt Public Library
~~~~Transfers to Jacksonville, Florida~~~~
On train going south
Tues June 18Dear Folks,
Well I’m on my way south. I think I’ll land at Jacksonvile, Flor. We are in the State of Miss. now. We came from Jeff. Barracks south along the river in to Arkansas and Tenn. This country sure looks different then Iowa. Right where we are now you can’t see anything but hills rocks and timber and lots of negros. The towns do look different to. I don’t know if I would call them towns. Half of them don’t have streets. Just a bunch of shacks strung around here and there.
I sure am enjoying myself. The corn down here is all eared out what there is of it. We came from St. Louis to Memphis Tenn. on the Iron Mountain road, but are on the Frisco now.
This sure is a happy bunch. They are all glad they are leaving Jefferson Barracks. I have an awful nice fellow for a partner or a buddy as the soldiers call them. His name is William Stuckmeyer. He is from Ind.
We are getting down in a better part of the country now. It looks a little like something.
You find out if there is anyone I know down at Jacksonvile and let me know if there is.
Well I guess I have to quit, is to hard to write when the train is moving. Will send a telegram as soon as I get there. Am feeling fine.
From your son,
John
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Jacksonvile Fla.
June 20Dear folks,
Well I have a few minutes time so I think I better write to you. I haven’t had time to send that telegram. If I don’t get a chance to send it today I’ll let it go.
Well we got here last night about 6 o’clock. It sure was some trip. It was werth something alright. As near as I can figure it out I am about 1300 miles from home. It just took us 50 hours to come from Jefferson Barracks. We came by the way of Memphis Tenn, Burmingham, Ala., Fitzgerald, Gor. and then down to Jacksonvile. Those were the biggest places we went though. It sure was some country to look at but that’s about all. We had 25 cars on our train when we got down here. We had 1200 men all together. They made us get out twice a day and take a little hike. It seemed fine to get out of that train and run around a little. The red cross gave us a feed at all the places we got out.
This country is all together different then I thought it would be. The lay of the land is level and swampy. Most of the land is covered with pine timber. The trees all have some kind of a long gray moss about two to three feet long. The soil is nothing but sand. We are about 18 miles from the coast. I saw a little of the sea through the timber as we were comeing down on the train.
This is a big camp. Things look pretty good. It isn’t very hot down here. The sun is pretty warm but if you get in the shade there is a nice cool breeze. It rained quite hard this mornning but five minutes after it stopped you couldn’t tell it rained. They say it rains here every day. I think they are going to put us in quarenten for about two weeks. I’m glad I came here instead of going to Texas. They say it’s awful hot there.
I wish I could get out and get to work. I’m getting tired of hanging around. The time goes awful slow because we have to get up at 5:30 every mornning.
I saw four elegators this mornning. They have a pond here with them in. As soon as I get squared around I am going to get a pass and go over to the sea shore. I have only got one letter from home so far. That one I got from Lulu.
(Note: He how writes with a different pencil.)
I’ll be glad when I get squared around so I can get mail. Well I had supper since I started this letter. Guess I’ll try and finish it tonight. Will you have Lulu make me a bag about 12 inches long and about 6 inches wide with a draw string in the end. Make it of the same stuff my red cross kit is made of if you can get it. Don’t make it any bigger then I said. I want it to put my razer and things in I can’t get in my kit. I have them in a towl now and that isn’t very handy. You can send me some more stamps too. Send the little books because I had 3 or 4 of the others stuck together so I couldn’t use them.
After a while I’ll have you send some more things. I would like to have some films for the kodaka because I can’t get to a place where they sell them.
Well we got pretty well squared around. We have beds with springs and straw ticks.
My address is Receiving Co 28
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Jacksonvile
Fla.Well Mamma I guess I’ll have to quit for this time. It’s getting dark. I won’t be able to send a telegram so guess I’ll let it go. It won’t be long before you get this. How is everybody up there. Tell them all “hello.” Am feeling fine.
From your son,
John
Odebolt, Iowa
June 24, 1918Dear Johnnie,
We just got your letter this forenoon and was very glad to get it. Lulu went to the Post office yesterday as soon as the train was in. Thought maybe we would get one but it did not get here till this mornning. Am glad you enjoyed the trip. Did you get enough to eat? How often did you get some?
Did you only get some twice or more? I suppose now that you are in camp you will get your meals regular.
Am sorry you had to go so far. Am afiad you will not get home now before you have to go across but hope you can. I saw in the paper that the boys from Deming were ordered across. Have not heard if any of the boys from here had to go or not. You said you only got one letter since you left. Several were written but sent to Jefferson. I wrote one last Sunday but did not mail it because we got yours that you were leaving Monday so will send with this. We are all well as usual. Hope you keep well and do not let the alligators get you.
Duncan’s folks came over here last night after church and brought some ice cream along and stayed quite awhile. Well Thursday is your birthday. Am sending you a little package. Hope you can use it and let me know if you get it. It is an air pillow. You have to blow it up and if you go anywhere you can let the air out and put it in your bag so you will always have a pillow. I did not know what to send you that you could use. Got the stuff for the bag but have to make it yet but will get it made right away and send it.
They are going to have a service in the church next Sunday night for the boys that left after they dedicate the flag and put the stars on.
Well I hope it is not any hotter there than here. It is awfully hot here. We are all well, and hope you are.
Lovingly,
Mamma
Louise M. Kuhl
Odebolt, Iowa
June 24, 1918.John E. Kuhl
Receiving Co. #28
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Jacksonville, Fla.Dear Johnnie:
…Yesterday we rather expected to hear from you so I came down town right after that morning train came in. I was just down by the bridge near the corn cribs when I noticed everybody looking up and I did likewise and saw a balloon sailing along towards the north. I could not tell how large it was because it seemed to be up a great distance. That is the second one that has been seen here within a short time.
…Irvin Lesher called to me yesterday and asked if I could tell him your address… Penny stopped this noon and got your address and said he was going to let you know that he was still alive. Alveda Larson asked mamma in the store where a letter would reach you…. Dave Larson told papa last Monday that he had written you eight pages and had sent it to Jefferson Barracks…
…They are having quite a little excitement here about the pro-Germans. I heard that they had old man ____________locked up in jail over at Sac City and to-day they were going to take _____________ and ______________ over to Sac City.
I am sending you some stamps in this letter, and will make the little bag that you wanted, to-night and send it to you. I will get the films just as soon as I get time to go down to Dahlstrom’s. I suppose you just want those vest pocket size films?
I have plenty to do at the office and have quite a little Red Cross work to do. I am trying to get a sweater done this week, and Mrs. George Mattes called up and asked if I wouldn’t make a comfort kit because they had to get several ready for this quota, and Friday night the Queen Esther Circle handed out scrap books for jokes that they wanted made for the Hospitals. I have mine about half finished now but it takes quite a little pasting to get one of those fixed up.
Well, you will be getting the other letters about the time you get this one so you will have plenty to read, and I am sending you all the papers that we got, so I guess that will do for this time.
With love from us all, OLE.
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
June 24Dear Mamma, Papa & Lulu,
Well Mamma I guess I’ll write this letter to you.
I don’t think I’ll get to finish this because it is 5 o’clock and 5.30 we have supper.
Well I got my third and last inoculation or shot in the arm this afternoon. They give you that so you don’t get typhoid fever. It makes some fellows sick but it don’t bother me very much. It only makes my arm a little stiff for a few hours. I told the Maj. to give it to me in the right arm because I was left handed. He said one place was as good as another.
The officers here are awful nice. At Jeff. Barracks they were awful cranky.
It rained almost all afternoon here today. It is quite cool here now. It sure was warm yesterday. It was only 105 degrees. I didn’t notice that as much as I would 85 or 90 at home. This sure is a funny climet. There is always a nice breeze.
Have you folks wrote any letters to me? I only got the one Lulu wrote me. That special delivered. Maybe there will be one here tonite. We get our mail twice a day. Our mail tent is only about 100 ft. from ours. I started to wash some of my cloths today but when it started to rain I quit. That washing isn’t as much fun as a fellow thinks it might be. I can tell you one thing a fellow will learn a lot in the army.
We got some netting to put over our cots at nite. You need this down here. There are all kinds of bugs here. A fellow was sleeping on the ground the other night and a rattle snake bit him in the arm. They took him to the hospital. I don’t know if he died or not. One of the guards was killed by lightning the other night. It was raining and he got under a tree.
I went to church last night. I thought I better tell you about it. We went to the Y.M.C.A. That’s where they have the preaching.
Some time if you want to send me something you can make a fruit cake or send something sweet. We get enough to eat but we don’t get anything like cake or pie. Won’t a fruit cake keep. I’ll tell you what we had for dinner yesterday. On Sunday we get a better dinner then we do during the week. We had mashed potatoes and boil beef, some peas, bread and apple butter, and oysters and lemonade. That wasn’t bad was it? If you don’t get enough you can go through the line for the second time. Some time when we have some hard tace I’ll send Lulu some. They don’t have it as often here as they did at J. Barracks.
I wander if some of them palm bushes would grow up there. If they would I’d get some and send them up home.
Lulu ought to be here and see the wild peas. They aren’t quite as big as the sweet peas, but look the same.
You tell papa if there is any of my cloths he can wear to take them. I suppose you got the letter I wrote from here the second day I was here. I tried to send that telegram but I couldn’t get out of the detention camp. They are awful strict about that because they can’t tell what sickness some one may have. No one has been sick in our company so far and I hope now one does. If they don’t we get out of here in 14 days. If some one does they have to stay here another 14 days.
Don’t foreget to send me the paper from home and the other things I asked for if it isn’t to much trouble.Who has Georage got working in my place? Did Joe Rrupp get the job. He asked Georage about it the same night I quit.
I suppose I ought to write to Joseph Mattes because he asked me too. But I don’t want my letters poplished like he has been doing. I don’t think it would hurt to write to the red cross to, but that’s another one I don’t like to write.
Tell Lulu she can give Brynt my address some time when she sees him. I wrote to him from J.B. so he don’t know what my new address is. The next time you write you can send one the Duncan girls names. I don’t know how to spell them and they wanted me to be sure and write.
... You can give anyone my address who wants to write because letters from home will seem good when they come. None of the fellows get very many. But I’ve got the lest of any in our tent.
Well I guess I’ll have to stop and get ready to go to bed. I go to bed all the way from 8.30 to 9.30 every night because there isn’t anything to do in the evening.
Is everything the same in Odebolt as it was when I left.
Well I hope I’ll hear from you folks before this letter gets to you. All our mail from Jefferson Barracks is sent to us here.
“Good bye” for this time. I won’t write till I hear from one of you.
Your son,
JohnSend all mail to.
28th receiveing Co. Rec. Camp
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Jackonsvile Fla.
Odebolt, Iowa
June 27, 1918Dear Johnnie,
We just got your letter and am so sorry you did not get any of our letters but did write but that seems the way with all of them at first and Lulu sent the papers too. She sent the Chronicle today. There is a continued story in it you might like to read. It is Outwitting the Hun.
We had quite a thunderstorm early yesterday mornning. It struck Nitches chimney. They are building a new one today and it struck Turners and Borams too.
I will send you a fruit cake tomorrow. Have to go up town and get some of the things to bake it. Am afiad it will be to late to bake it and get it ready to send it tonight and will try and think of some more to send with it. If there is anything you would like just tell me and I will send anything you want. Have had the blues ever since we got the letter thinking that you do not have enough to eat and then not get our letters. I suppose you got Lulu’s telegram by this time. She sent it before she came home to dinner.
Some of the boys left this mornning and they had two extra coaches on the train this morn with boys going to camp.
Have they started you to work yet and what are you doing. Did you get the work you wanted or did they put you in something else. Tell us what you are doing. You asked if the palm trees would grow here. Do not think they will. It is to cold here unless it was some small house plant. Do you get any fruit to eat such as oranges. You must be awfully careful if there are rattlesnakes there that you do not get bit by them. I did not know they were there.
Am glad you went to church. Hope you can go every Sun. Do you have a good preacher. I went out to Iuriks with Fred Gilberts to Aid Society yesterday. It was a fine ride. The first I had since you left. Everything looks fine in the country. If nothing happens they sure will have a big crop. Our garden is doing fine too. Are eating new potatoes since the 19 of June. Can’t think of any more to write before you get this and keep well and don’t get to homesick.
With love from
Mamma
[written on law office stationery]
Odebolt, Iowa, June 27, 1918.
John E. Kuhl
Receiving Co. #28
Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Jacksonville, Florida.Dear Johnnie:
I am all alone this afternoon so I guess I will write you a short letter. Mr. Helsell has gone to Des Moines to the State Bar Association and will be gone until Saturday morning.
I sent you a package this morning… Mamma sent you an air cushion and I sent you that little bag you asked for. I will send you a fountain pen just as soon as it gets here. Mr. Hatch said he thought it would be here about Saturday…
They are getting ready for a big Red Cross Carnival here Saturday. They are building all sorts of stands out in the street. Right in front of the bank, or rather right next to that little park they are putting up a great big platform and I understand that is where they are going to have their dance. I am enclosing you one of the bills they are handing out. Mrs. Robert Adams, Lillian Hanson, Mae Ivey, Helen Grey and Kate Pelton are on the committee for June and this Carnival is what they planned…
I am also sending you a clipping from the Des Moines Register about the Soldiers’ Insurance. It seems as if some of the boys are getting stung with some kind of insurance written by men who claim to be government agent. What kind of insurance did you take out?
Saw Hanna McCorkindale last night and she said Jimmie had a nice long letter from you and was glad to hear from you. When any of the kids hear from you they generally tell us right away. Johnnie, if you have time you better send Mr. Albert Davenport a card… When you were first gone he used to come over every day and ask if we had heard from you…
…There were three weddings here last week. Eleanor Burnquist was married to some man that she met at Ames and is going to live on a plantation in Louisiana. Ted Ingels and Miss Smith were married and left for a wedding trip…; and Nell Furrows was married to Victor Keller. He is going into the army and she is going along to Des Moines and finish her business course and will go to work until after he comes back from the army.
Bill Kistler and Dick Korneisel go to Camp Dodge this noon…
Well I must close for this time and get to work.
With Love from all,
OLE.
[Editor's note: View old postcards of Camp Joseph E. Johnston scenes.]
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