Ward's Postcards Enroute to Nitro, WV

After waiting several days for transportation, we (Companies E & F of the 20th Infantry Regiment) are finally loaded into Pullman cars for the 870 mile ride from Junction City, Kansas to Nitro, West Virginia. The trip took three days -- from Tuesday noon, December 17, to Friday noon, December 20, 1918. I sent postcards to my mother Hattie, my brother Willis, and my sweetheart Minnie, from several points along the route...

I mailed these first two from Lawrence, Kansas:

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Post Marked: Lawrence, Kansas, December 18, 1918

On board train Tuesday night. We left this P. M. Expect to reach Nitro sometime Friday. We have pretty good accommodations & are not crowded. It is a long train however & we go very slow.

To Mr. Willis Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
Post Marked: Lawrence, Kansas, December 18, 1918

On board train Tuesday night. Well, we pulled out this P.M. and expect to arrive Nitro sometime Friday. A lady gave us postcards and apples in Topeka. Am well.

I mailed two more postcards from St. Louis, Missouri -- one to Minnie and one to my mother. I will only show one since the image and messages are identical.

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Post Marked: Saint Louis, Missouri, December 19, 1918 9 A.M.

Wednesday P.M. [December 18]. Have reached St. Louis & must stop for about six hours to water & feed the horses & mules. The trip has not been very tedious as yet, but we are only half way there.

Finally, I mail two more postcards from Milltown, Indiana. Milltown is 25 miles northwest of New Albany, Indiana, and on the route of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Postmarked: Milltown, Indiana, December 19, 1918

Somewhere in Indiana. We are hung up out here in the brush somewhere waiting for them to fix a drawbar. Our train is so long it broke in turning a sharpe curve this morning. Am well. – Ward

To Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
Postmarked: Milltown, Indiana, December 19, 1918

We are hung up somewhere in Indiana waiting for them to fix a drawbar. Our train is so long that it broke in turning a sharpe curve. We haven't had a hot meal since Tuesday noon and won't get any until we land in Nitro. Am well. – Ward

Letter 88 ~ November 6, 1918

I let Minnie know I'm running out of patience...

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

November 6, 1918

I am still waiting for my transfer but not patiently. I sure hope I won’t have to stay here much longer. I may still be here Saturday tho. Hope you are well & that school is doing fine.

Letter 86 ~ November 5, 1918

I send my brother Willis a postcard on election day. I screwed up and dated the card as October, however.

Addressed to Willis Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
[November] 5, 1918

Dear Bill [Willis] --

I am still laying around up here in this hole hoping to be transferred any time but it hasn't come yet. We voted today. Hope your hand is well now.

Letter 81 ~ October 31, 1918

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas
Post Marked: Junction City, Kansas, October 31, 1918

[Minnie]

I still keep well but there seems to be no news. I received a dandy box of candy from you today but it is all gone now. It sure was fine.

Hope you are well. As ever, -- Ward

Letter 69 ~ October 25, 1918

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas

Post Marked: Junction City, Kansas
October 25, 1918

Am feeling fine. Can’t write much because we have been in the trenches at night. We are going to put on a big trench attack tomorrow & go back to camp about Sunday if present orders are not changed.

Letter 67 ~ October 24, 1918

Post Card Addressed to:

Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas

Postmarked: Junction City, Kansas
October 24, 1918

Well I can still eat my three squares a day. Got 2 letters from you today. The weather is improving & things look a little better. Had another battle today only on a larger scale.

Letter 51 ~ October 12, 1918

I send Minnie a postcard with a quick note...

[Camp Republican]
October 12, [1918]

I am well but am drilling extra hard in a company of picked men. We will be sent to Smoky Hill Flats Monday for intensive special training. Will drill tomorrow so may not get time to write but will write when I can. Am sure glad I got in on this detail.

Letter 46 ~ October 10, 1918

I drop my mother a postcard....

Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

October 10, [1918] A.M.

We came in from drill about 10 A.M. on account of rain. Thot I would drop you a line to let you know that I am still well. Mama, could you bake me a good big cake and send it right up?

Letter 41 ~ October 8, 1918

Sensing that my mother and sweetheart may be fearful of my contracting the Spanish Influenza ("S.I."), I fire off two postcards to reassure them that I am "still on deck and as fit as a fiddle." Both cards contained essentially the same message.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have mentioned the fifty cases of influenza being taking out of our camp on October 8th. It seems to have undermined my intent to reassure them of my continued good health.

Letter 4 ~ The Original Postcard

New recruits arriving at Camp Funston

This is the original postcard I wrote to Minnie from the YMCA at Camp Funston. Please excuse my penmanship. It was a long, rough day.