[Letter of Robert Lincoln O’Connell to his mother, June 1917]

Wash. Barracks, D.C.
Saturday

Dear Mother,
	
	Since I wrote last I have found out that I may not 
get to France afterall. I went to ask for a few days off and 
he began asking me about the bother I have in talking and 
finally said that while I might get along well enough in 
peace times, it would be risky to take me on active service 
and that unless I showed a big improvement in a month, they 
would have to give me a discharge. If I am sent home at all, 
it won’t be till the regiment is ready to leave, which will 
be next month, or early in August. We are all going to the 
rifle range Monday and today the men are busy putting up the 
tents 

(2)
on the parade ground, for practice. The tents hold eight 
cots and will be taken to the range, which is about 
20 miles down the river and five miles from the nearest 
town, at a spot called Bellvoir. An officers training 
camp is nearby, so there will be a lot of men there. 
This week I have been fireman, keeping the boiler going 
for the baths. I just put on a little coal, once in a 
while, and spend the rest of the time reading. There was 
a black and white scrap up the street, last night. It 
seems that a nigger lady and a soldier had an argument 
and she hit him with a beer bottle. Then other coons 
and a couple of soldiers pitched in and the soldiers 
started for home right away. There they got more nerve 
and help and went back to clear the street. I don’t 
know how they finished but I saw one of them 

(3)
this morning, with his left eye bandaged. He was telling 
about it and feeling of his side very carefully. We 
should have been paid this week but it has been held 
up till next week. We can get credit at the canteen, 
up to five dollars. Last month I had two dollars worth 
and will be able to send home about nine dollars, after 
taking out the $1.50 for laundry and some pocket money. 
I met Bob Dunn last Sunday. He is going to college here. 
Monday evening, Ed Butler and 200 others came down from 
Slocum. I haven’t seen him since. Today we all got 
another knock, as they call inoculation, this time 
for ‘trench fever.’ By the time they get through 
drugging us, we won’t be able to die. I have had 
letters this week from Sarah, Aunt Sarah, and Madeline 
Ward and a postal from Jim Anderson. 

(4)Last week I heard from the _______. If you see 
George Callahan, tell him how it is. I had sent in 
my resignation. I hope we get paid next week as I 
need some more stamps, sounds like a lot but it isn’t.
I don’t know whether to be glad or not over my prospects. 
It would be something to be proud of, and the first 
troops are sure of a big welcome in England and 
France and special attention from the Germans. 
Very few of the first troops will ever see home 
again, but I have got used to the idea of going 
to France and now am wondering what will come next. 
Don’t expect anything certain for a month yet. 
Everyone will be busy tomorrow packing. We will 
go by boat and expect work enough to take the 
extra weight off. Is Charlie Hallihan as welcome 
as ever? If he falls off the wagon many more times 
he will be apt to scratch himself. Will write again 
in a couple of weeks.
	Your loving son,
		Rob

[Transcribed by W.J. Shepherd, 4/19/2009]