A LETTER TO MOTHER

In February 11, 1918, Lieutenant John Madden wrote a letter to his mother, Sarah Jane Fitzpatrick, from his training base at Camp Taylor, Kentucky (now a neighborhood near Louisville).

Dear Mother,

Got your letter yesterday and I’d begun to think you’d all forgotten to write any more. I hardly got a letter all week, 2 or 3 Sunday and Monday. I’m sorry I waited so long without writing, but if I should wait again don’t ever think I’m sick. I’m getting fatter every day. Glad to hear you’re all doing so well. Has Billy grown any? Ruth wrote to me quite a while ago, but I haven’t answered yet. I answered Grace’s letter the same day I wrote to you.

We’re certainly not doing much drilling and I haven’t been doing any. We were in quarantine up till Saturday and as I was going to that Gas and Flame School, I stayed in another barrack, [with] Frank Redolfi, Billy Andreaux, Werner Smith and some more fellows. I never had so much fun since I’ve been in the army. I’m hoping Spring is here to stay. The last week has certainly has been fine. The end here from that wetting snow and ice is 6 inches, deep and slushy as water. This is absolutely the worst place for sticky clay I ever saw.

We’re not supposed to tell away any military news any more I’ve heard; I wasn’t here when the announcement was made. Some of the boys left camp the other day, those from the Reg[iment] went to Texas. I guess they’ll go across pretty soon. None have been transferred from here to France that I knew. There is a brigade of regulars here, the 45th and 46th (Rube Voyles is in the 45th) who are leaving pretty soon for France. I guess you get as much dope about the duration of the war as we do, probably more. A fellow from Staunton got a letter from his bother in France, who said they were betting the war would be over by Feb 15th (this month). There were also bets the war would end in 60 days, by the last of March, and I guess, any way, a fellow wanted to bet. There’s no use figuring on the end, I think, it’s like waiting for a dead man’s shoes.

I haven’t heard from Horace yet; that kid sure writes a good letter. I got a letter the other day. Did I tell you about it? From Larry, with a letter from George Clarke enclosed. I haven’t answered it yet but I’m going to soon. Well, rather I’ll try to never wait so long again before answering your letters, I can imagine you felt worried, but after all there are worse things than going across. We won’t go any place for a long time. I believe we’ll be training camp veterans probably after all this is over. Take good care of yourself and DON”T WORRY. My love to all of you.

Your son,
John

Notes –

1. The references to being “sick” and “quarantine” John refers to is in response to the 1917-1918 Great Influenza epidemic, which killed over 43,000 American soldiers and sailors in the close confines of their training bases and ships.

2. The “Gas and Flame School” taught officers how to employ chemical weapons and flamethrowers in the offense.

3. The war didn’t end in February or March, 1918. It lasted until November 11th.

4. Shortly after this letter was sent, John Madden left Camp Taylor, and deployed to France. He served as an officer in an artillery unit until the war ended, and returned home to Gillespie in early 1919.