Jaci Dawn

Eugene, Ore. July 7, ’17

Dear Mother and Dad,

      I was wondering what had happened to you folks when i didn’t hear from you, but your letter came yesterday today and I was glad to get it and hear that you were all right.

      We are to leave sometime after the 15th because they are full up at Allentown now. I guess I told you about it though.

     I am studying French, drill, and first aid and having a good time. I am having the best time I have had in years. I guess it is because I have nothing to worry about.

     I may have to get to work before long is we are not called, but I am going to study as long as  possible for a sergeancy (sic). I have great hopes of getting one the longer I work. You know $60 per month will be better than #36 and the satisfaction of being boss will be worth a lot too. “Doc” says that French will be a great asset to us after we get there and I am picking it up so fast that I surprise myself. That is what comes of college training. It doesn’t take long to learn a new thing, no matter what it is.

     I had a letter from Uncle Harry. We won’t be able to come this way before I go. He is not very enthusiastic about this war, and no sensible person is. I’m glad that I am in a position to witness the struggle from a vantage point. Just think of what I’ll learn! Believe me, I’m going to profit by it too, if anyone does.

     I believe I go into a thing with my eyes more or less open, and that is what most of these fellows are not doing. When I come back, I’ll have yarns that will put the old professionally bull-slingers in the deep, cool shade.

     Well, I am going to down to see “Doc” this afternoon. I write more next week.

“Bon soir”

Dale

~~~~ Getting feisty there, I think. I think that if his life had not been cut short, he would have been true to his word in profiting from the war and what amounts to a forced enlistment (“beat the draft – enlist”).

Throughout this time of transcribing my great-uncle’s letters home, I have come up against letters stuffed into the wrong envelopes, out of order, or missing parts. It’s a little frustrating. I found yet another such letter in the envelope for the above letter, but this one is a true bonus. It is a letter to Dale from Norma Harvey. Norma attended Pacific University (a Quaker college in Newberg, later changed to George Fox University) and graduated in 1917. My first online search for any information regarding her pulled up that she was elected “May Queen” in 1917, an event she alludes to in her undated letter to Dale. She also embodies the anti-war movement that existed in the States at that time (should any of us be surprised that there was then, is now, and possibly always will be – a group of people to whom war will never be the answer?):

Dear Dale,

     Your letters have of late been so chillingly forward, that were I not possessed of a most amiable disposition, I should write only after long intervals, and might even suggest that since the effort put forth in accomplishing the aforesaid letter was manifestly so painful, you could at your own discretion quit.

     I don’t want to say that tho, and I won’t till I get even a more belligerent attitude toward life that I’ve entertained this week.

     Ethel has, I s’pose told you that thru the political machinations of about 5 people, I was made MayQueen. Please don’t congratulate me. It was a rotten deal anyway you look at it. To be sure, I rejoice that the proletariat are victorious but ~

     You are enjoying spring Vacation now aren’t you? Would that we had another one coming soon. Half an hour’s work tires me to death – I think I shall tell my doctor when I see him next Saturday that if he can’t do more than he’s been doing of late, I’ll have to cease my trips to Portland and save my money for a wake.

     Which indirectly reminds us of war. You won’t, I hope, abandon still further you Socialistic principles and yield to any “Youn man, your country needs you” persuasion – It would be interesting, but I’m infused with either Quakerism or Socialism, to me, it is wrong to kill. Newberg is rather slow in the formation of a company – Mothers of H.S. boys are extremely anxious and I presume those boys can get anything they want now.

I have to go

                 Goo’bye

                                N.B.H.

Will you be up to see us this week?