 | |
| John Francis Lavery 1895-1919 This photo was from his mother's locket |
This is the text from two letters that Grandpa's oldest brother, John, sent home to his sister, Ann, in Pittsburg, Kansas when he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1918.
Ft. Riley, Kans.
Sept. 10-18
Dear Sis--
Read both Lenora's and your letter today. Sure glad to hear from you as these were the first news I've had of home a long time, almost a week, tell them not to send any soap as I got some here but to send the dish towel and soap case you know what I mean one like you girls have in your room or on on the same order, tell Pa to get off of that walking the floor and worrying his head off, for I'm O.K.
Saw Francis Keegan Sat Night and he told me about Francis Cassidy. Charlie Ferns is up here. He is stationed in the barracks next to mine, he's registered but they haven't sent him home yet, Believe me Ann there sure are a bunch of cripples up here in uniform, limited service men. Tell everybody Hello & good luck, Well write soon & often for I do like to hear from you, With Love
John
Group E.G.M.O.T.C.
P.S. Tell Lenora M.O.T.C. means Medical Officers Training Corp.
Ft. Riley, Ks 9/15-18
Dear Sis--
You might think you write crazy letters but I don't. Well here it is Sunday again my second one here but seems like a million years since I've seen you. Well here's hoping it isn't very long untill I do see you. Well Ann tell Charles & James to study hard at school and to stick to it, not to be a fool like I was. Here's a penny for little buddy. Tell him I don't get as many here as I did at home, (in many ways)
Paul Byer's one of the fellows that came here from Pbg. got a box from home last night, Fried Chicken and Devil's food cake, believe me we made short work of it. Made me think of home, but what's the use, Well how's everybody at home, well I hope, I'm O.K. I expect to be transfered anyday now as some of them that came here when I did have been assigned to company's. Well write soon, has Lenora forgot how to write.
Your Loving Brother
John
Group E.G.M.O.T.C.
Shortly after John sent these letters he caught the so-called Spanish Flu. This was the peak period for the Flu Pandemic of 1918 and Fort Riley was ground zero for it in the U.S. By the time he recovered from the virus the war had ended. John was briefly stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana before he was sent back home to Pittsburg. Kansas. He went to work at a brass foundry and while working there he took ill from the fumes and died in September 1919, his lungs no doubt weakened from his bout with the flu the year before. Although John never went overseas I still consider him to be a casualty of the war.
John mentions eating fried chicken that was sent from Pittsburg. If you read the Flu entries above you see it is believed to be avian in origin. I can't help but wonder about this.
NOTE: John mentions Francis Cassidy and Charlie Ferns in the first note. They are first cousins of his father, Michael Lavery, or John's first cousins once removed on the McLean side (Michael's mother). Due to birth order situations they were closer in age to John than to Michael. I hope that is not terribly confusing.
