Earl S. Parish to Mr. Wells Parish
Title
Earl S. Parish to Mr. Wells Parish
Creator
Parish, Earl S.
Identifier
WWP22791
Date
1919 April 22
Description
Earl writes to his father from France requesting help in getting the necessary affidavits for his discharge.
Source
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
Language
English
Text
April 22nd 1919.
From;- Parish, Earl S. Pvt i/c No - 4,722,404
To:- Wells Parish.
Subject:- Getting Home.
Dear Dad:-
The foregoing is only a military form of writing letters and does not need to be used in this case. Wrote a letter to Mother last night and mailed it this morning but have done a lot of thinking since then and am quite sure that I have enough material for another short letter.
So many fellows are going home now on convoys to be discharged when they get in the states and it seems that it might be worth some effort on your part to do what you can in any case.
I don't want any one to think that I'm dying of home sickness or anything of the kind for I can stand it over here, as long as the next one but they have to send men on every convoy and of course they are only taking those that have their affidavits here.
Last week they needed fifteen men and the last five chosen had put in their affidavits but they had not been passed upon and they sent them anyway. If the war was still on and plenty of work, we would not have time to think about going home but there is nothing to stay here for.
Of course every one can't go home at once but there are a lot of fellows that have no home and don't care very much when they do get home.
Not a sign of any one moving out of here yet so were good for several months yet in this place, I mean Base 100.
There is a general order out now and tells the classes of men that are given preference in returning home. I haven't seen a copy yet but am going to look into the matter this afternoon.
Of course business connections would be any grounds, if any, and I think that is given second consideration. Sickness in the family comes first, if I'm not mistaken.
The affidavits would be one from you and one or two from disinterested persons. Perhaps such a man as M. Durham or some-one else.
Is Dean S. Hace back at his old place now. If so, he would be the man to have write them up, as he knows the army and law also.
If you had affidavits for Newton you probably know all about the procedure to go through but I thought I wouldnt come amiss to express any thoughts.
Now these are some of the facts and you can do as you like about it.
If orders don't change and you do send affidavits.
I have reason to believe that it will mean several months less army army service for me.
It generally takes a week to a month for the papers to go through over here and I don't know of any being turned down yet in this unit.
It's merely up to our detachement commander, for if he signs them, there isnt much chance of them being turned down.
I would have done this before but I kept thinking that there might be a chance of the unit moving this spring or summer but have about given up all hopes.
It seems to be a whole lot easier to get out over here than it does in the States as over there they are letting most every one go but over here they just send those that are actually needed at home.
So much for that subject.
Am still at my same old job in the Medical Supply and it will be five months tomorrow since we landed here in this place. The weather is fine to day and too nice too be penned up in the army over here.
As ever,
Your sonny,
Earl
3 PM
Just went over to the Red Cross hut after some envelopes and when I came back through the QM, Shroyer said that he and Durnil were going home Thursday and they just received this affidavits from the States last Sat.
They are both married men but both were single when they registered.
I just looked out the window and the old Frenchman that lives right back of this building was hitching up his cows.
Red Polls would never do for the French as they have no horns to tie their yoke to. Its not a yoke either but just a stick that they tie to the horse and the load is pulled by the head instead of their shoulders.
Now I hear the German prisoners chattering outside as they are emptying the ash cans etc.
Will call this enough for this time as I have some work to do.
Sincerely,
ESP
From;- Parish, Earl S. Pvt i/c No - 4,722,404
To:- Wells Parish.
Subject:- Getting Home.
Dear Dad:-
The foregoing is only a military form of writing letters and does not need to be used in this case. Wrote a letter to Mother last night and mailed it this morning but have done a lot of thinking since then and am quite sure that I have enough material for another short letter.
So many fellows are going home now on convoys to be discharged when they get in the states and it seems that it might be worth some effort on your part to do what you can in any case.
I don't want any one to think that I'm dying of home sickness or anything of the kind for I can stand it over here, as long as the next one but they have to send men on every convoy and of course they are only taking those that have their affidavits here.
Last week they needed fifteen men and the last five chosen had put in their affidavits but they had not been passed upon and they sent them anyway. If the war was still on and plenty of work, we would not have time to think about going home but there is nothing to stay here for.
Of course every one can't go home at once but there are a lot of fellows that have no home and don't care very much when they do get home.
Not a sign of any one moving out of here yet so were good for several months yet in this place, I mean Base 100.
There is a general order out now and tells the classes of men that are given preference in returning home. I haven't seen a copy yet but am going to look into the matter this afternoon.
Of course business connections would be any grounds, if any, and I think that is given second consideration. Sickness in the family comes first, if I'm not mistaken.
The affidavits would be one from you and one or two from disinterested persons. Perhaps such a man as M. Durham or some-one else.
Is Dean S. Hace back at his old place now. If so, he would be the man to have write them up, as he knows the army and law also.
If you had affidavits for Newton you probably know all about the procedure to go through but I thought I wouldnt come amiss to express any thoughts.
Now these are some of the facts and you can do as you like about it.
If orders don't change and you do send affidavits.
I have reason to believe that it will mean several months less army army service for me.
It generally takes a week to a month for the papers to go through over here and I don't know of any being turned down yet in this unit.
It's merely up to our detachement commander, for if he signs them, there isnt much chance of them being turned down.
I would have done this before but I kept thinking that there might be a chance of the unit moving this spring or summer but have about given up all hopes.
It seems to be a whole lot easier to get out over here than it does in the States as over there they are letting most every one go but over here they just send those that are actually needed at home.
So much for that subject.
Am still at my same old job in the Medical Supply and it will be five months tomorrow since we landed here in this place. The weather is fine to day and too nice too be penned up in the army over here.
As ever,
Your sonny,
Earl
3 PM
Just went over to the Red Cross hut after some envelopes and when I came back through the QM, Shroyer said that he and Durnil were going home Thursday and they just received this affidavits from the States last Sat.
They are both married men but both were single when they registered.
I just looked out the window and the old Frenchman that lives right back of this building was hitching up his cows.
Red Polls would never do for the French as they have no horns to tie their yoke to. Its not a yoke either but just a stick that they tie to the horse and the load is pulled by the head instead of their shoulders.
Now I hear the German prisoners chattering outside as they are emptying the ash cans etc.
Will call this enough for this time as I have some work to do.
Sincerely,
ESP
Original Format
Letter
To
Wells Parish
Files
Collection
Citation
Parish, Earl S., “Earl S. Parish to Mr. Wells Parish,” 1919 April 22, WWP22791, Earl S. Parish Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.