Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1918 — Harry Hickman Now a Naval Storekeeper. [ARTICLE]

Harry Hickman Now a Naval Storekeeper.

Mr. and,Mrs. Aaron Hickman received a double letter a few days ago from their son Harry, who has been serving in Uncle gain’s navy on the U. S. battleship Oklahoma, which we publish below: U. S. S. Oklahoma, June 21, 1918. Dear Mother and Father: Received your letter some fewdays ago and was glad to hear from you and that everybody is well at present. lam in the best of health about all the time. 1 got a letter from Ephriam and Lewis the other day and they said everybody was well there. Well, Ma, the war is Still going on. J don’t know when,, it will ever end, it seems like it never will, but I think one big naval battle will end it all and I will be in that 1 think, at least I want to be. “Nub,” you know-, is sick yet. He is still on the hospital ship. He was getting along fine the last time I saw him. 1 suppose old Rensselaer is quite dead now- that all the young boys have gone away; at that it is not Rensselaer alone for every place in the whole country is the sarne, even the big cities like New- York and Philadelphia, they are all dead too. Did Eva tell you that I had been promoted again? Well I have gone up as high as I can without getting a commission. I am a chief storekeeper in the pay department of the ship. It is not like a storekeeper on the outside. I have charge of twenty-nine big store rooms. They hold about as much as the city of Rensselaer. Where is “Billy” Eigelsbach; is he still in Rensselder? Give my regards to everybody. As there is not much news I will close for this time, with lots of lave to Ma and Pa. and Pa. As ever, your son, HARRY HICKMAN. U. S. S. Oklahoma, c o Postmaster, Fortress Monroe, Virginia. Jupe 28, 1918. • Dear Mother and Father: Just arriving in from sea again so thought I would write again. We had a fine trip this time out, no rough weather to contend with and everything went fine. This is about the first time that it has gone that way. We most generally have a bad trip of it. We are doing lots of drilling now, keeping prepared for action at any time. 1 don’t know when we will get it for you never can tell. How is everybody around town getting along, same as ever I suppose. Earl Hemphill is back on the ship. He is alright now and working with

me in the ship's store rooms. You know I have twenty-nine of them to take care of and it’s a big job. 1 have thirteen helpers now. We handle about everything that is made, from a carpet tack to a "14’’ gun. I got a letter from Lewis about a week ago, but I have not answered it yet, but will tomorrow I think if I get time. Ephriam wanted one of those pictures but I haven’t any more. I will send him one as soon as I can. I wrote to Don Warrem’s sister to get nis address. I haven’t heard from him for three years now. Is Billy Eigelsbach still there? If so, tell him that I ’will write as soon as I can. Well, Ma, there isn’t much to write about right now, so I will close for this time. With love, Your son,

HARRY.