Letter 7 - Aug 5, 1918

Letter # 7 Addressed to Mr. J. J. Thompson
Sedona Ariz
Postmarked Aug 5, 1918

Aug 5, 1918
Inf 133 Co. H
Camp Cody, NM

Dear Mother,
I got out of the hospital the 2 of Aug.  I got two letters from you while I was there and I wrote three to you while I was there.  There was 70 more soldiers moved into the Co. from the Casual Camp the 2 of the month so there is over 2 hundred here in this Company now.  We are out of quarantine now so we can go to town. 

I will send you some pictures now.  I have had them about three weeks but I was at the hospital and the pictures in the company.  I sent Frank and Lizzie one and was going to send you one when I wrote to you again but I went to the hospital before I wrote to you.

The first day I drilled after I got out of the hospital I got awful tired for it was awful hot and I was weak but I am getting along pretty good again.  Now they are drilling us awful hard here now. 

There was a train run into an auto in Deming the other night and killed the driver and three soldiers and lightning struck one while I was in the hospital.  I am going out to the rifle range the 6^th and see what kind of a shot I am.  See if I can shoot straight enough to kill Germans. 

I sure would like to be home now and get some good meals to eat.  Everything they cook here tastes alike.  They mix it all up in your plate till I am getting awful sick eating sick junk. 

Well as I don’t know any more to write I close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.

Your son,
James Thompson

Letter 8 - Aug 9, 1918

Letter #8 Addressed to Mrs. J. J. Thompson
Postmarked Aug 12, 1918

Aug 9, 1918
133 Inf. Co. H
Camp Cody, NM

Dear Mother,

I got two letters yesterday, one you wrote July 24 and one you wrote Aug 1th.  They are giving us plenty to do now.  We are going out to the rifle range tonight to practice shooting.  Tomorrow from the way things look now, we are going to leave here in a very short while.  We turned in all of our blankets but one.  We have only got one blanket and a shelter half to sleep in now.  I don’t know whether we will leave or not.  You don’t know one day what you are going to do the next in the army.  

If we leave I think it will be about the 15^th.  We had to load everything on the train the other day.  They said that it was to get in practice in loading the train.  We loaded wagons, horses and everything and then we had to get in the train with our packs on and then we had to unload again.  

Viola’s niece Nellie was here and saw me.  As she saw me I did not know her for I have not saw any women here yet that I knowed.  You said that you had not got any money yet.  I guess none of the people that send money home have got it yet. They say that it takes a long time to get it straightened out for there is so many to fix up.

I got last month’s pay the 2th of Aug. I got $8.50. When you get that money you will get it all at once. I wrote you a letter after I got out of the hospital. I sent you two pictures in it. I am sending you a picture that I bought here. 

Well as it is getting close to working time I will have to close for this time.

Your son,
James Thompson

Letter 9 - Aug 17, 1918

Letter # 9 to Mr. J. J. Thompson, Sedona Ariz
Postmarked Aug 1918

Aug 17 1918
133 Inf Co H
Camp Cody, NM

I got a letter from you the other day and sure was glad to hear from you.  I started to answer it yesterday but did not have time.  I had to go on guard last night at 6 o’clock and did not get off till tonight.  Till six tonight.  When you guard you are on two hours and off four hours for one day and night. 

We are going out to the rifle range in the morning and finish up shooting.  I have been out there three times and shot 160 times and have got fifty more to shoot tomorrow.  We have turned in the most of our clothing and are drawing woolen clothing.  They all think that we will leave here about the 20.  They say that we are going to New Jersey but you can’t tell anything about it. 

I got a letter from Lizzie, Frank and Albert.  You can tell them that I won’t answer them now.  I will wait and see if I move from here in the next day or two. 

Well as I am tired and sleepy I will close for this time and go to bed for I have to get up early in the morning.  Well goodbye till I hear from you again.

James Thompson

Letter 10 - Aug 20, 1918

Letter # 10 to Fred Thompson
Flagstaff, Arizona
Postmarked Aug 20

August 20 1918
133 Inf Co H
Camp Dix New Jersey

Dear Brother,

I got your letter the day I left Camp Cody, just before I left.  I wrote you two letters while I was there and did not get any answer.  I left Camp Cody the 23^rd at 3 o’clock and got here at 3 o’clock in the morning.  I seen lots of country on my trip.  I came through 8 states.  I was in Kansas City but I did not get to see much of the city for we only stopped about a half hour and took a march.  We had to get off the train every day and take a march in some town. 

I like this camp better than Camp Cody.  There is not so much sand.  We are only about 40 miles from New York.  You asked me how I liked soldier life.  It is damn good exercise when you get a sixty pound pack on your back beside your rifle.  They are drilling us pretty had now.  There is none of the Flagstaff boys in my company now but Hackthorn.  He asks me about you every once in a while.

When do you think they will make a soldier out of you?   It may be a good life, but I would rather be a farmer. We have got houses here to live in.  It is better than the tents that we was living in.  I don’t know how long we will stay here.  There is lots of Negro soldiers here.  They was about all there was here before we came but about all of Camp Cody is here now.

 Charley just got here this evening.  Well as I am getting sleepy I will close for this time.  Tell all of the folks hello for me.  I will be back when I kill all of the Germans. 

Goodbye.  Your brother,

James Thompson

Letter 11 - August 22, 1918

Letter # 11 to Mr. J J Thompson
Sedona, Arizona
Postmarked Aug 23

August 22, 1918
133 Inf Co H
Camp Cody, NM


Dear Mother

I got the letter last night that you wrote me with Charley’s letter.  He was over and gave it to me.  I will write you a line or two as I am going away in the morning if nothing happens.  They have got most of the stuff loaded on the train now.  I don’t know where I am going but I will soon be on my way.  We had the best rain here last night that we have had since I have been in Camp Cody.  It rained purt near all night.

 I sure would like to be going home instead of going to some other camp.  135 and 136 Inf has already gone.

Well I have not had much to do today.  They haven’t drilled since yesterday noon.  Well as I do not know any more to write I will close for this.  Don’t write any more till you hear from me.  I will write as soon as I get settled again. 

Your son,
James Thompson

Letter 12 - Aug 28, 1918

Letter # 12 to Mr. J J Thompson

Sedona, Arizona
Postmarked Aug 29

Aug 28, 1918
133 Inf Co H

(letter damaged, in fragments)

Dear Mother
I will drop you a line to let you know where I am.  I left Camp Cody 23^rd at three oclock and landed here at three this morning.  I had a long ride and saw lots of country.  I am several miles from home.  We  was five days and nights on the train and they would not let us get off only when they would stop and give us a little march in some city every day.  We took a march in Kansas City and we stopped in Saint Louis, MO about three hours and all took a bath.

Charley was still in Camp Cody when I left.  I guess he will come here when he leaves.  There was one more train load in (unclear) Inf and then 134 Inf was going to start.  We are only about 40 miles from New York here.  Well as I have not got much time to write I will close and right you more when I get settled and get more time.  I got a letter from Fred the day I left Cody, just before I left.  You can tell him I will answer when I get time.  This leaves me well and I hope that it finds you all well.  Goodbye till I see you again.

Your son,
James Thompson

Letter 9 - Aug 2, 1918

Letter #9 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ     Postmarked August 3, 1918

Co B 134 Inf
Camp Cody NM
Aug 2, 1918

Dear Mother,

I got a letter from you yesterday and today I got yours and Claras letters and one from Fred and one from Green.  You ask me how much I owed on the mules.  I will send you a bill of what I have payed and from now on I will send the money there each month as I haven’t heard from what I sent last month yet.  I will only have $20.00 to send in this letter as I want to send Germany $5.00 that I got from him when we first come here and I will keep $5.00 myself. 

I will make the money order out in Green’s name as he seems to be going to town the most.  How much did Ab pay Pendley?  I think I owed him $30.00.  I will make a bill of what Ab and Green pays and pay them when I can.  You said Derrick was asking what he owed Jimmy.  He owes me $9.75 if he ask about it. 

Dennis Hibbin was out with what they call the war strength Co. and I think it was a machine gun off a long ways that he was shot with.  I got a letter from Jessie D. yesterday telling me about her wedding before Brian Homer left for the Navy.   Jim came back from the hospital yesterday and came over here in the evening and we went out and seen my Captain about having him transferred over here and the Captain said he thought we could.  I think we will leave here in a few days but I don’t know where we will go.  Today was pay day and there is poker and craps games everywhere.  Last pay day about half of the boys were broke before night.  This is the way I made my payments.  I will send that note back and the payments are marked on the back.  Ab can figure what the interest is if he knows how.  The dates on this note may not be just the same as they have them as I sent the last two payments by mail.

I think Joe Wyatt can tell the boys where to find Ed Postin and if they can’t find him they can turn the money over to George Babbitt.

Well I will close for this time.

As ever, Charley

Letter 10 - Aug 10, 1918

Letter #10 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ     Postmarked August 12, 1918

Co B 134 Inf
Camp Cody NM
Aug 10, 1918

Dear Mother,

I got your letter you wrote August 1^st day before yesterday just before we started out to the hangar.  The bunch that came down when I did finished shooting in four trips but there was 80 more came here from casual camp about a week ago and we have been out twice with them to march together for them and will have to go out with them twice more.  All we have to sleep on out there is one blanket and a rain coat.  I got the boxes you sent.  I have some towels and some more things here that I brought with me and now the government has issued us towels and razors and other things so I am going to send mine back.  I think we are quarantined tomorrow until we leave here.  I think it will be about 10 days yet but we won’t know where we are going until we are on the road a day or two.

But if we should happen to go across to France I don’t want you to worry because you know that whenever our time comes to die we die where ever we are.  If we cross now it will be because they want a big lot of men over there before winter and we would train over there.  We see the papers here every day and if there is any truth in the papers they are killing and capturing thousands of Germans every day.   Fred sent me a bill on them things and $4  was what he wanted for the dresser and I don’t think he will take it since he got my letter but if he still wants it let him have it and tell A. P. to not pay him for it.  Well I will close and write Ab a few lines. 

 As ever, Charley

Letter 11 - Aug 15, 1918

Letter #11 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ     Postmarked August 15, 1918


Camp Cody NM
Aug 15, 1918

Dear Mother,

I am writing in answer to your letter of the 8^th.  We are still getting ready to leave but I don’t know where yet.  I have had it easy the last two days we have been going out and scattering out over the country in lines and making out like we were slipping up on the Germans and I have been in the front line both yesterday and today and we would walk a little ways and then drop down until about 9 o’clock.  We stopped and let the other lines go ahead and my line would all stick our heads under a mosquito bush and go to sleep until about 2 o’clock and come back to camp.  We got quarantined again this evening.  Somebody in the Co got the measles.  I heard a man say just now that we leave in a week from today but I will believe it when we get started.  We have been having lots of rain here lately and it isn’t as hot as it was in June and the grass is coming up green.  I don’t think we can go to any healthier place than this is especially when it rains enough to keep the sand from blowing.

I mailed a picture this evening to myself.  It is a picture of a boy I have been running with since I been here.  You can keep it for me.  I have some more of them pictures like I sent before.  I will put them in this letter.  I promised Clifford and Pendley a picture but I intended to have some good pictures taken before I send them one.  But I don’t know now when I will have some taken.  Well I had to quit writing and go in the mess hall and listen to a talk on gas and now it about to dark to write.  I got that letter from the forest service and I will write them a letter and if I have to pay that I will have them send the bill to Green.  Well I will have to close for this time.

As ever Charley

Seen Jim yesterday and he is getting along all right.

Training about the dangers of mustard gas

Camp Cody soldiers lining up for "chow".

Letter 12 - Aug 20, 1918

Letter #12 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ     Postmarked August 21, 1918


Co B 134^th Inf
Camp Cody NM
July 20, 1918 

(Note:  By context with other letters and postmark on envelope in appears this letter was written Aug 20 even though he dated it July 20.)

Dear Mother,

I will write you a few lines this evening as if they don’t change things we will leave here the 22.  I haven’t had any letters for over a week but may get some tomorrow.  Jim is here this evening.  He never got transferred yet but both regiments will go to the same place when we leave here.  The 135^th reg that Myron Loy was in left here this morning.  I got a letter from George Babbitt this eve.  He said he got the money I sent all right.  Well as I don’t have anything else to write I will close for this time.  I will write again as soon as I find where we are going to stop. 

As ever, Charley

Letter 13 - Aug 23, 1918

Letter #13 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ     Postmarked August 25, 1918


Camp Cody NM
Aug 23, 1918 

Dear Mother,

I will write you a few lines to day and am just laying around.  Jimmie left to day and I leave some time tomorrow.  All the bedding we have had for the last week is one blanket, a slicker and an overcoat but I sleep all right.  We turned in our cots today so will sleep on the floor tonight. 

I am sending two post card pictures that was taken here last Sunday.  There are ten thousand men in this picture but I am not in it.  There was one taken right after this with sixteen thousand men in it.  I was in it.  I would have liked to got one of each kind that was taken with the big camera.  These cards were taken with a smaller camera.  The big pictures are plain enough to find anybody but they cost $1.50 and I haven’t got the money to buy any. 

You can wash this handkerchief and give it to Guy. 

Well I don’t know anything else to write.

As ever, Charley

Postcards from the road - Aug 27 & 28, 1918

St. Louis, MO  Aug 27, 1918

We stopped here about two hours today.  Stopped in Kansas City yesterday.  Am getting awful tired riding on the train but guess won't stop for a few days yet.    C.S.T.



Aug 28, 1918

Still on my way.  Will get there tomorrow I think.  Have seen all kinds of country today.  We are stopped here in Pittsburgh today for about an hour.  C.S.T.

Letter 14 - Aug 29, 1918

Letter #14 to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, Ariz
Postmarked Aug 30, 1918

Co. B 13^th Inf
Camp Dix, N Jersey
Aug 29, 1918

Dear Mother

I will write you a few lines this evening.  We got here today about 3 o’clock.  Write as soon as you get this as I don’t know how long we will be here.  Some say we will be here about 10 days and others say we will be here 60 days.  I am sure glad to stop.  have been on the train about six days.  Eat and sleep while we was traveling.  We would get off every day and would walk around in some town.  I had a good time and seen lots of country on my way here if it was tiresome riding so far.  I have been in eleven states now.  (Unclear – scanned off edge of page).

We went swimming in a pool in Kansas City.  I seen Montgomery Ward store from the train.  We sure seen lots of girls on our way here.  One town in Indiana there was a bunch of normal girls at the depot and they wrote their address for us.  I got the name and address of three and one place at a ranch in Missouri.  There was two girls standing at the side of the track with packages of grapes to hand in with their name and address in the package.  I got one package but another man grabbed it out of my hand.

I seen Jim since I got here.  He is all right. 

Well I will close for this time.

As ever, Charley