World War I through the Eyes of a Mid-Missourian

J H Pattrick Goes to France
hometown newspaper article

Telegram from Mother and Dad

Dear Mother and Dad
explaining decision

War Diary: with Pershing on the HMS Baltic

Letters from the Baltic

War Diary: London

War Diary: Arriving in France

Dear Mother and Dad
arriving in Paris

<< back to Enlisting

Dear Mother and Dad: Decision

(excerpt)

1324 L St., N. W.,
Washington, D. C.,
May 22, 1917

Dear Mother & Dad:
It is almost midnight and I have just received your dear message and have just finished sending you a night letter which will explain more in detail than my first one.

I feel much better now since I have heard from you and finally made the decision, altho it has certainly been one trying day of my life. Some time ago I felt that this sort of a position was what I was best fitted for and I have certainly let nothing go unturned in getting it, and now as it is open I think the only wise thing to do is to accept it.

While I haven't said much about it, I have given each and every one of your suggestions just as much thought as any of the many I have been working on. It wouldn't look right for me to try to get out by pretending to farm- they are going to see to it that no one is going to be exempt unless they have a mighty mighty good reason. It's is too late to get in as an officer now and as sure as I live I believe I would be included in the draft and that would be the very worst thing under the sun that can happen to anyone.

The more I have thought over it and talked with such men as the Y.M.C.A. secretaries, deacons in our church, and everybody in general, the more I am convinced that I am doing the right thing. When they begin to draft them in a few weeks now it is going to be take most trying time this country aver saw and when that does happen I think we will look back on my decision today as a very wise and good one. By taking this now I need never have any fear of ever having to serve in the trenches and still I will not be squirming out of my duty and I can ever look everyone in the eye and say that I did my duty. . . .

You will never know how much I appreciated the telegram which you sent tonight. I know how much it must have cost you in heart throbs and tears and God forgive me for what anxiety and worry it has caused you but Heaven knows I have tried to do my duty and I hope you will think it is for the best. Had you said in your telegram not to go I would not have decided to go but in the days to come I feel that we will all find it was the best thing to do. . . .

It is late and I must close, but I will write more tomorrow and every day until I leave and just as often as I can thereafter. Tomorrow I will write about other matters, such as mail, etc., after I get the information myself. It is quite late so I must close.

Your loving son,

A Joint Exhibit
of the
University of Missouri
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia
and the University of Missouri-Columbia
Museum of Anthropology

Acknowledgments and World War I Links

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