If not delivered in Ten days return to
E.H. Garland
Co. 5 346 Infantry
Camp Pike, Ark
ARMY AND NAVY DEPARTMENT
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF
YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS
(IN THE FIELD)
GENERAL OFFICE
124 EAST 28TH STREET, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
Eugene H. Garland letter to his sister, Ollie Garland
Date Original
1917 Sept 27
Creator
Garland, Eugene Howard, 1893-
Biographical/Historical Note
Eugene Howard Garland of Alum, Arkansas, was inducted into the Army at the age of 24 7/12 years in Benton, Arkansas, on September 18, 1917. He served in Co. E, 346th Infantry from September 18, 1917, to November 14, 1917; then in Co. G, 39th National Guard Division (Co. D 153rd Infantry) until May 18, 1818; and then in Co. D, 7th Infantry until his death at the Second Battle of Marne in France on July 15, 1918. Before serving overseas (France) from June 7, 1918 to July 15, 1918, Eugene Garland was stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas; Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; and Camp Merritt, New Jersey. Eugene was born in Dardanelle, Arkansas, in 1893 to James T. Garland. The day he wrote this letter, his brother, Simon Turner Garland was sent his Draft Induction Notice, and soon joined him at Camp Pike and Camp Beauregard. This material is part of the Garland Family Papers, 1914-1919, (SMC.138.04), which is mostly comprised of letters from Simon Garland and Eugene Garland to their sisters, Ollie C. Garland and Laura A. Garland during World War I.
Camp Pike, known as Camp Joseph T. Robinson since 1937, is located in present day North Little Rock, Arkansas. Named in honor of Brigadier General Zebulon M. Pike, Camp Pike served as a home and training camp for the 87th Division (National Army) and then as a replacement training facility after the division deployed to France during World War I. Construction totaling about $13,000,000 on the camp began in June 1917 and was substantially complete by November 1917. The post was a demobilization station and home for the U.S. Third Infantry Division as World War I came to an end. Between World War I and World War II, the camp served as the headquarters of the Arkansas National Guard. During World War II, Camp Robinson became a replacement training center, primarily for basic training and medics, and a German prisoner of war facility. As of 2014, Camp Joseph T. Robinson serves as a 33,000-acre training facility for the Army National Guard and is the headquarters for the Arkansas National Guard.
Description
The letter from Eugene H. Garland, Camp Pike, Co. 5, 346th Infantry, to his sister, Ollie Garland, 800 Summit Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas, is on Y.M.C.A. stationary and is dated September 27, 1917. The envelope is postmarked September 28, 1917. The letter details Eugene’s experiences at Camp Pike, since he was inducted into the Army on September 18, 1917. He describes how he is still in quarantine and can rarely leave his barracks. After the completion of his examination, Eugene hopes to visit his sister Ollie in Little Rock on a Sunday soon. Since he has not received his uniform yet, Eugene requests clothes from home and comments on filthy condition of his current clothes.
Physical Description
1 letter (5 pages - fronts) and 1 envelope
Subjects
Military camps; Military training; War; Religious groups; World War I (1914-1918); Families; Draft; Soldiers;
Related Resources
Draft Induction Notice from the War Department Local Board for Saline Co., Ark. ordering Simon Turner Garland of Alum, Ark., to report for military duty in Benton, Arkansas, on October 2, 1917. [Postmarked Benton, Ark., Sept. 27, 1917], Garland Family Papers, 1914-1919, Smal Manuscript Collection (SMC.138.04), Item 4
Geographical Area
Camp Pike, Pulaski County. (Ark.); Little Rock (Ark.)
Language
English
Local Identifier
Garland Family Papers, 1914-1919, Small Manuscript Collection (SMC.138.04), Item 5
Digital Resource
Document
Digital Collection
The Great War - World War I at Home and Abroad
Contributors
Garland, Eugene Howard, 1893-; Garland, Ollie C., b. 1880
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Preferred Citation
Letter from Eugene H. Garland, Camp Pike, Co. 5, 346th Infantry, to his sister, Ollie Garland, 800 Summit Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, September 27, 1917, Garland Family Papers, 1914-1919, Small Manuscript Collection (SMC.138.04), Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights and Usage
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Eugene H. Garland letter to his sister, Ollie Garland: Envelope back
Biographical/Historical Note
Camp Pike, known as Camp Joseph T. Robinson since 1937, is located in present day North Little Rock, Arkansas. Named in honor of Brigadier General Zebulon M. Pike, Camp Pike served as a home and training camp for the 87th Division (National Army) and then as a replacement training facility after the division deployed to France during World War I. Construction totaling about $13,000,000 on the camp began in June 1917 and was substantially complete by November 1917. The post was a demobilization station and home for the U.S. Third Infantry Division as World War I came to an end. Between World War I and World War II, the camp served as the headquarters of the Arkansas National Guard. During World War II, Camp Robinson became a replacement training center, primarily for basic training and medics, and a German prisoner of war facility. As of 2014, Camp Joseph T. Robinson serves as a 33,000-acre training facility for the Army National Guard and is the headquarters for the Arkansas National Guard.
Transcription
If not delivered in Ten days return to
E.H. Garland
Co. 5 346 Infantry
Camp Pike, Ark
ARMY AND NAVY DEPARTMENT
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF
YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS
(IN THE FIELD)
GENERAL OFFICE
124 EAST 28TH STREET, NEW YORK, U.S.A.