Dear Bess: November 21, 1917 (postmarked)
Transcript
Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 21, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.
Lieutenant Harry S Truman postmarked this letter to his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, on this date in 1917. Lieutenant Truman and the men under his command were still training for what they knew was their eventual deployment to Europe to fight in the Great War. Truman was a man of responsibility. He writes that he is in possession of the payroll, $5000. That’s over $116,000 today. Truman makes mention of a picture…could it be the famous one that Miss Wallace had made up of herself that Truman carried in his shirt pocket during the War? That picture remains on the desk of President Harry Truman’s “working office” at the Truman Library today where, incidentally, you can see these letters for yourself!
On this Thanksgiving week, please be assured that we at Truman are thankful for you for your support of this and all National Parks and for your support of all Truman-related sites. They belong to you, we just take care of them for you!
Here’s the letter.
November 21, 1917 (postmark)
Dear Bess:
I am delinquent this time. This is Wednesday morning and I haven't written since Sunday but I have been going lickety split. I think I named over the various jobs I have to perform in my last and I am trying to make them all hit. So far I don't think there's more than one cylinder missing on each job. I am getting to be a hard boiled cooky if things don't go to suit me someone gets an awful currying. The mess Sgt. of our outfit has succeeded in getting the kitchen everlastingly balled up and Pete elected me to untangle it. Pete is making the best Battery in the Regiment. He stands ace high with the powers that be and also with his men. Tom McGee is also making a fine Captain. We go out to dig trenches again in a few days. I understand that we get to fire our battery from these positions. Hope so anyway.
Today is payday and I have $5000.00 in change on my mind. It is in the Adjutant's safe but two men and pick that up and carry it away. Col. Klemm sent for me last night and told me he would steal it himself if he got a chance. The Govt pays in $20 and $10 bills and every soldier in the regiment comes to the canteen to buy 5 cents worth of candy to get change.
Those pictures are not finished but as soon as they are I'll send one to you. They had to be made in Oklahoma City. I am of the opinion that we will get to stay here at Christmas. I have put in for leave to go home but I doubt if I get it. Everyone is plum crazy to go home and I have an idea that the higher ups will get off if anyone does. I am looking every day for that picture so hurry it up. I am so crazy to see the original I don't know what to do. Can't you come down somehow? Lizzie is running again. Write as often as you can for I sure like to get your letters.
Yours always, Harry.
Postmarked on this date in 1917, Lieutenant Harry S Truman writes to Bess Wallace about training, payroll, and pictures.
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-21-1917