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Friday, July 27, 2018

Letter From Deceased N.C. Soldier and Other News About Local Soldiers, 1918

“Richmond County Soldiers” from the front page of The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, July 18, 1918

As can be seen in the Casualty List in this issue, John Franklin Blalock was killed in action in France between June 1st and 18th. He was in the 49th Company, 5th Regiment of Marines, and enlisted in March of last year. He was born near Cheraw but spent most of his life farming in Wolf Pit township. His father, Julius Blalock, lives in Hamlet. Mrs. John Sandy Covington last Friday received a letter from young Blalock, written May 27th, from “Somewhere in France.” And his letter breathes such a splendid spirit that we are publishing extracts from it.

“Your letter was most welcome and felt to me just like a letter from mother. No, I am very glad to say I am still in France and not in Germany. I won’t mind going to Germany a bit, but I can assure you I shall never go there as a prisoner, for if they can’t kill me I think I have had enough training in that line to do it myself. Not that I mean to commit suicide but I just don’t intend falling into such ruthless and barbaric hands as a prisoner.

“How I would like to be back in St. Paul! Yes, I am sure that everyone at home is interested in we boys in France. I am sure everyone is doing his or her bit to keep us here until we shall have accomplished what we came for. We soldiers know that our people are wholeheartedly behind us---in conservation and saving to the end that this war may be shortened and we returned victorious. You who are putting forth every effort in producing food, and encouraging us by word and deed, are doing just as much towards winning of the war as we soldiers and marines who are actually on the fighting line. So don’t forget that while you loved ones at home are praying and working for our welfare, we will use every inch of our manhood to try to prove ourselves worthy of title of a true American. Write me soon, for your letters are a great relief in time of trouble and sorrow. I am, yours sincerely, John F. Blalock.

And so another bright life has gone into the maw made by the hateful Huns. Doesn’t a letter like the above inspire YOU to fresh resolves to SAVE and WORK and still ore to do your BIT I order that our boys may be unshamed when they return?

Frank P. Graham of Charlotte, who entered the Marines as a private, has been promoted to 2nd Lieut. He is at the marine training school at Quantico, Va. Frank is a son of Prof. Alexander Graham of Charlotte and is a brother of David S. Graham, who was a few weeks ago killed in action in marine activities on the western front.

Oscar Flowers, colored, on July 13th was classified in the Emergency Fleet roll. He has gone to the government shipyards.

Grady Garrett, who has been stationed at Camp Greene for some time, in the aviation personnel, is now on the high seas bound for France.

Herbert Stansill Smith, one of the 15 sent to Camp Jackson June 25th, was on July 12th given an honorable discharge on account of physical disability.

Fred Taylor’s address is Co. 7, Sec. 3, 2nd regt. Naval Training Station, Charleston, S.C.

Arthur Morgan, who last week completed a special mechanical course of two months at the State A. & E. College at Raleigh, [now N.C. State University], was sent Saturday to Camp John, Jacksonville, Fla.

Monroe Warburton was to report in New York July 15th for Y.M.C.A. work overseas as a motor mechanic, but on the 13th he received a wire ordering him to remain here until further advised. The delay is due to a congestion in headquarters in New York.

Ten of the technicians who have been training at the State A. & E. College for the past two months have been recommended to take a course at the Central Officers’ Training Camp to become officers Among the ten is Leon E. Pender of Moore County.

W.R. Bowles was in receipt of a letter July 10th from his grandson, Charlie Bowles, who is in France, in Co. L 120th infantry. The letter was dated June 13th. Young Bowles writes that they give the soldiers plenty of tobacco, but he was hungry for a plug of good old “Apple.”

Second class seaman Hal Ledbetter writes that the Wrightsville bathing girl is at least making an effort to conform to the regulations laid down by the Beach board of aldermen, and the bare legs of a week ago are now encased in dainty socks that extend almost above the ankle.

Norman D. Bridgers came home from Camp Sevier last week on a furlough, and just before returning to camp Friday night he and Miss Sallie Gertrude Cude of Guilford County were united in marriage, Rev. Mr. Page of Hamlet officiating. Norman is 22 and was sent to Camp Jackson with the “124” May 25th, and three weeks ago transferred to Camp Sevier.

Allison Page, son of Mr. Frank Page of Aberdeen, was wounded in action in France June 2nd. He is in the Marine Corps. Allison, who was a freshman at Trinity College [now Duke University], enlisted when only 19 and landed in France June 26th, 1917. Just a year later, his father, Capt. Frank Page who is with a railroad unit, landed in France for service. He has a younger brother, Frank, who is at a naval training station.

Joseph H. Haywood’s address is Co. 5, section 2, Naval Training Station, Charleston, S.C. He went there last week. In a letter to his parents a few days ago, he told them not to worry about him, that he was liking his new life and getting on nicely.

Mr. Calvin McQueen of Pee Dee mill No. 2 is determined that his son, Alex, shall read the home news; and he has ordered the Post-Dispatch to be sent to the young man, who is in Company b, 120th infantry, American Exp. Force, France. Alex volunteered two years ago and has seen strenuous service fighting on the Mexican border He landed safely in France about six weeks ago.

Lonnie J. Butler of Hoffman landed overseas over a month ago. A letter written to his relatives June 18th stated that he is well and enjoying his new experiences,. His address is Truck Co. 1, 1st Corps Artillery Park, A.P.O. 703, American Exp. Forces, France, via New York.

Dr. P.M. Abernethy has been a practicing veterinarian here for several months. About 10 months ago while in Iowa he put in his application for the Medical Reserve Corps. Last Saturday he received notice that after July 21st he must hold himself in readiness to report for duty on 24 hours’ notice. A veterinary branch of the army now has 1,700 officers and 10,000 enlisted men.

Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Abbott went to Camp Meade, Maryland, last week to see Mrs. Abbott’s brother, Andrew Jackson Cottingham. Cottingham’s home is in Roberson County but at the time of the registration last year he was working at Camden, New Jersey. He was drafted and sent to Camp Dix by the Camden board six weeks ago, and 10 days ago was transferred to Camp Meade. Last Thursday his division left camp for a port of embarkation and by now they are on the high seas Franceward bound. Quick work that: six weeks training; but then these men will be drilled and trained for two or more months in France before being assigned to actual fighting. Let us hope young Cottingham will be as good a soldier as his namesake, “Old Hickory.”

Shem Kearney Blackley of Hamlet, one of the 1919 registered men, was on July 16th accepted at the enrolling office of the Navy recruiting station at Wilmington.

Mrs. R.D. Phillips of Laurinburg received a letter from Don Phillips last week stating that he just returned from a week’s stay in a hospital, recovering from a slight gas attack.

James F. Hicks spent Sunday here with his sister, Mrs. E.B. Morse He is one of the May 25th 124, and is in Co. K, 324th infantry. If his regiment has not already left Camp Sevier for a port of embarkation, it will leave within the next day or so.

Robert Stansill and David Easterling have been transferred to the clerical department of artillery in 81st division at Camp Jackson and will be sent north to a port of embarkation within the next day or so. Henry Dockery will also be sent.

George Gladstone Phillips, a telegraph operator, who a few weeks ago applied at the enrolling station at Wilmington for admission into the Navy, a few days ago received a wire ordering him to report at Charleston Navy Yard July 22nd for duty. He will be in the radio branch. And so another Rockingham young man responds to the call of humanity to do his bit in his chosen field.

Arthur Stanback, colored, is another man who deserves credit for changing his status when he found he could conveniently do so. He lives in Cordova, and was placed in Class four by reason of a dependent wife. He and she appeared before the exemption board a few days ago, and she waived claim for dependency so that he could be placed in Class one and be called to the colors. All this was voluntarily done.

Troop train on which was William Dockery of Company L, 322nd, passed Charlotte at 7:35 Tuesday northward bound. Ollie Morgan, Co. K, 322nd, passed Rockingham on train Tuesay night for port of embarkation. It is expected that a large number of our boys at Sevier have gone north in the 81st division during the past few days, and others will go tonight and tomorrow. The bulk of them are going by the Southern. One troop train from Sevier on which it is expected with be Richmond County boys, will pass Hamlet tonight at midnight. The Rockingham Canteen ladies will serve this train with fried chicken.

Among those who were sent in the past few days to Camp Upton, preparatory to embarkation, is Zoll Oscar Ingram. Young Ingram was sent with the15 squad to “Camp Jackson June 25th. On July 11th he was transferred to Camp Sevier and two days later was on a train en route to the port of embarkation. The 81st division was ready and he and other freshly drafted men were placed therein to bring it to full strength. An American division consists of 20,000; a British, 18,000, French 15,000, German 12,000. Ingram is a son of J. Addison Ingram of Steele’s township, and a margin of but seven months stood between him and “out of the draft.” He was 30 years old Jan. 21st, 1917.

Several weeks ago the exemption board at Camden, S.C., wrote the Richmond County board that they could induct two Richmond County negroes there, if the local board desired. They were Alex Huff and Will Dyes. The local board sent the proper papers to Camden board and the Camden board inducted them and started them on the train to Camp Jackson. The next heard of the two was at Hamlett, when they were arrested by Chief Braswell. It seemed that they headed north instead of south, and didn’t go near Camp Jackson. And so Chief Braswell was sent with them by the local board to Camp Greene, and they were turned over to the military authorities as deserters.

There is a man in a neighboring county who will probably go through life bewailing the injustice of the exemption board that certified him for service despite the fact that he presented a letter written by his wife to prove that he had a dependent family. Here is the letter:

“Dear United States Army: My husband ast me to write a recommend that he supports his family. He can’t read, so don’t tell him. Just take him. He ain’t no good nohow. He ain’t done nothing but play a fiddle and drink lemon extract since I married him, eight years ago, and I gotta feed seven kids of his. Maybe you can get him to tote a gun. He’s good on squirrels and eating. Take him and welcome. I need the grub and his bed for the kids. Don’t tell him this, but take him”

Wonder if there are any wives in Richmond county who would like to pass a husband on to the army.

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