At Camp: The Story of John P. Ambuehl
“Dear Sister...Well we got our rifles yesterday so were out and drilled with them today. They are pretty heavy to carry around but will be used to them pretty soon…
[John] Wells was over here just a while ago. We visit pretty often. Whenever we get together we always ask when we are going home. Tonight when he asked me I said tomorrow. But I guess it will be a couple of tomorrows before I get home...So don’t look for me until you see in the paper - peace.”
October 15, 1917; Camp Dodge, Iowa
“Monday I was hauling hay for the mules and Tuesday I was working in the kitchen. Started about 6:30 in the morning and didn’t get through until 10 o’clock at night. That was a day and a half I tell you and I didn’t get a minutes rest."
November 1, 1917; Camp Dodge, Iowa
"Night came at last and am over to the YMCA now. It is a little better to write here than over in the barracks. I suppose you know that is what the buildings around here are called. I can write with music now. They got a phonograph here and it is always saying something or else singing.”
November 1, 1917; Camp Dodge, Iowa
“This sure is some Camp. They can’t send us out of here any too soon. Like I used to say - wish I was home and my dog was here - but not anymore. I believe if my dog was here he would die for sure. But I can stand it. They can do with me what they want.”
January 6, 1918; Camp Pike, Arkansas
“When the Lieutenant told us that we were to go across [to the front] well it didn’t bother me a bit. It seemed like I felt better. They couldn’t scare me if they told me I had to go tomorrow. If or when the time comes don’t you worry about me. I am going over if I must and I am coming back again. I know I am so I’ll be home when the war is over or before so don’t worry about me...Just feel happy like I do because I am all right...Uncle Sam looks after me once in a while.”
February 23, 1918; Camp Pike, Arkansas
“We were on the rifle range. We have to get up at 4:45 in the morning and don’t come in until 6 or 6:30 in the evening. Don’t feel much like writing then. Bed feels better...It is a lot of fun to shoot and I am doing better than I thought I would. The first day I got 8 bullseyes out of ten shots...On the 200 yd. range i got 6 out of ten but on the 300 yd. range I didn’t get any. Pretty good. Ha ha. I think I can do better next time.”
March 3, 1918; Camp Pike, Arkansas
“Had my dinner now and when I came back the fellows had hidden my writing stuff. Didn’t find my good pencil so this will have to do. Don’t know how long I can write until they come around and bother me again. They think it is a lot of fun. I guess it is for them but isn’t very much for me. There is a whole bunch out playing ball. The weather is just fine for that.”
March 9, 1918; Camp Pike, Arkansas
“We got here [at Camp Greene, N.C.] this morning about 3 or 4...This Camp is pretty good. We sleep in tents. Eight in each tent and there are 300 in this Co. Its the Casual Co. No.1 but don’t write me any letters because we will be moved almost any day.”
April 15, 1918
“I am in the Machine Gun Co. now...One thing I want to say is don’t you worry about me. I am all right and take everything the way it comes. Always will and always did. And I am not alone. Who is with me? Oh the Lord is with me so I [shouldn’t] worry when I have him. Can’t tell all I want to but I sure feel safe.”
April 25, 1918, Camp Mills, Long Island, New York
The rest of the story:
After nearly eight months in various training camps around the United States, Ambuehl was sent to France as a machine gunner. He was fatally wounded near Verdun in October of 1918, and passed away less than a month before Armistice.
Learn more about John P. Ambuehl
Letters referenced in this exhibit are from Ambuehl to his sister Elsie, taken from Dear Sister: A Collection of World War I Letters, compiled by Carol Frost
Exhibit page created by Rachel Dark