Encoded for the Veterans History Project, August 27, 2021.
All letters in the Robert L. Barber collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Yesterday we were sent sixteen miles up here in the mountains, and I mean up here. You can see clouds under you at some points. I am already in the outfit I’ll sail with, and by purely luck [Mac Millan], Bates, Parker and I all in the same Platoon. But I think they are gonna take Bates out cause he’s only seventeen. Bates is 19 by record because he lied, but we told him to stay back if he could, cause don’t [know] body wants to go. So if he will tell them he’s only seventeen they will check and let him stay back in State duty.
There’s only about fifteen of us from Savannah going over in
this group. We are the 1st Replacement draft Bn. which means we are the first Marines to replace part of the division.
Practically every man in this Battalion is a veteran of the last war, with the Marines and I can’t name one who wants to go. But they know that the men over don’t [?] and some one has to replace them.
We are definitely leaving the third of next month. That gives us three weeks which isn’t long. Monday we began training.
Mom I wish you could see this country nothing but mountains and wide open country. Where we are is one mile away and we double time there and back. Which is six miles a day to eat. And Monday when we start training we climb all these mountains. One thing for sure we’ll be in shape.
They say the reason they brought us here is because the terrain is the same as in [?].
Give Helena this new address that I’ll give you, and tell her I’ll write tomorrow. Before I leave I’ll have a picture made.
I’ll close for now.
Love you all,
Bob
P.S. Tell Ruth to write.
R.L. Barber 1042254
CO “D” 1st Replacement Draft BN.
Tent Camp No. 2
Camp J.H. Pendleton
Oceanside, Calf.