World War I Letters written by Alonzo C Taylor to
his sister, Elizabeth Taylor.
|

Alonzo C. Taylor

Lizzie Taylor |
Transcribed by Robert E.
McCormack, May 26, 2006. An attempt was made to transcribe as
accurately as possible and to retain Clyde’s original spelling--
editing with punctuation was done when necessary to end
sentences. Letters are in chronological order to give the reader
a sense of story Clyde was the son of Scott & Alice Taylor
of Monitor # 3. The Taylors attended the Pilgrim Holiness
Church at Cherry Tree. Many times Alice Taylor, being a
spiritual woman, had a premonition that Clyde was in danger. She
would drop everything and pray for him. Later a letter
to her from Clyde would confirm the danger he had experienced at
that very time. Other buddies remarked how other guys were
being killed all around him -that some one must be watching over
him. |
Pvt. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
El Paso Texas. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va |
May 19 1917
El Paso Texas
Co. K. 16 Inf.
Miss Lizzie Taylor
My Dearest Sister I take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines to
let you know that I am enjoying life fine and hope that you are the
same. Well, Cricket, I had some pictures made today and as soon as I get
them I will send you girls one. Say, have Inez show you those Kodak
pictures that I sent her. Well are you have a good time. Hope you are
have a good time. Well, Sister, I will close. Hopping to hear from you
soon. I will write more next time so ans soon.
With love to all
Your Loving Brother
Alonzo C Taylor
Pvt. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
Fort Bliss Texas. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va |
May 28 1917
Company K16 Inf
Fort Bliss Texas
Miss Lizzie Taylor
My Dearest Darling Sister I will try to ans your most highly
appreciated letter rec’d to day was so glad to hear from you. How are
you enjoying your self just fine I suppose. I am have a very good time
but I do miss being at home. Did you get to the second Primer? This year
when school start go all that you can and tell Virginia I said for her
to go too. Gee, but I bet you would not know me if I was to come home
and you did not know eny thing about me coming. Say my arm is getting
sore. I got my 17 enociation to day. I got one for Typhofoid. And Gee
but they mak a fellows arm sore. Tell Inez That I would like to see her
but I would love to see you the Best. Say are you Growing eny. Gee There
go Taps. That meanes lights out. So I will close. Hopping to hear from
you soon
and a loving Letter From you loving Brother
Pvt Alonzo C. Taylor
P.S. Tell Eddie I said Helo and to ans my letter and that I would
love to see him. Good By with love to All.
Eddie is the brother of Clyde –Edward Taylor
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
A.P.P. #729 1st Div.
A.E.F. Germany. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Notice that thise letter is written on YMCA stationery
America ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Y.M.C.A WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITONARY FORCE
Oct. 30th 1917
Some Where In France
Co. K. 16th U.S. Infantry
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Dearest little sister. Will try to ans your most Highly Appreciated
Letter I rec’d to day. Was so Glad to Hear from you. Well, Cricket, How
are you enjoying your self now days. Just Fine I suppose. I am All O.K.
and enjoying my Self fine as could be expect under the curastants
(circumstance). Hope you like your teacher and you must go to School
Every Day and be a Good little Girl till Bro come Home. Have you Growed
eny since I left home. Tell Inez that I would love to see her. Oh Say I
go a litter from Bijah to day. He said that He was enjoying good health.
There is quite a few things over here that is enteresting. In the next
letter that I write to you I will tell you about them. So will Close.
Hopping to hear from you Soon.
Your loving Bro. Clyde
Good By ans soon
Pvt Alonzo C. Taylor
Co K 16th U.S. Infantry
A.E.F Par B.C.M. France
Bijah is another brother who was attending Veterinary College in St.
Louis, Missouri.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
A.P.P. #729 1st Div.
A.E.F. Germany. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Dec 18 1917
A.E.F. Par B.C.M. France
Co K 16th U.S. Infantry
Miss Lizzie Taylor:
Dear Sister. I will try to ans. your most welcome Letter I recd last
night. Was to glad to hear from you. This leaves me All O.K. and
enjoying life just fine and hope you are well and enjoying your self
just fine. Was glad to hear that you had a good time while you was in
Mich. Sure did appreciate the picture that you and Virginia sent me. Be
sure you Go to School Every Day and try to learn all you can. Tell Nora
I said Helo and to write to me. Tell Jesse and Eddie to write to me. I
hope that this will find all well and enjoying life just fine. Tell the
boys that I will write to them in a few days. Would write to night but I
ant got time so Good Bye.
With love to All.
Your loving Bro.
Pvt. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co K 16th U.S. Infantry
A.E.F Par B.C.M.
France
O.K. L.V. Davis 1st Lieut. N.A. 16 Inf.
Alice Taylor (mother of Clyde) along with his two sisters, Virginia
and Elizabeth, had visited the Alic Alice Taylor’s sister, Lizzie, in
Michigan.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
A.P.P. Par B.C.M.
France.
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Somewhere in France
August 9th 1918
Dearest Sister Lizzie
Your most appreciated letter rec’d some time ago and was so glad to
hear from you but I suppose you think that I am never going to ans but
here come the Reply. I suppose Bijah is still at Logan. I wrote to him
yesterday and I want you to be sure and make him write to me. I have
only as yet one letter from him since I landed in France. But While He
was at Collage I thought he had other work to do. But I know he can
write now. So make him get busy. Say I was sorry to hear of Mr. & Mrs.
Louie Death and I would like to know what they do with him.
Tell Bessie Patrick I said helo. I suppose I will have to close as my
pen is dry. So tell the boys I Said helo and that I would love to see
them and for them to write. So Good By.
Well love to all. Ans soon.
Your loving Bro.
Clyde
Pvt. A. C. Taylor
Co K. 16th U.S. Inf.
A. E. F. Par B. C. M. France
Bessie Patrick was one of Clyde’s girl friends. The boys referred to
were brothers Ed and Jesse. Mr. & Mrs. Louis were probably neighbors.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
American E.F.
A.P.P. 729
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Jan 10th 1919
Moschheim, Germany
Co. K. 16th Infantry
Dear little Sister
I just recd your letter. Was so Glad to hear from you. I hope you
will Pardon me for not writing before now as I got several letter from
you Girls that I did not ans. But I had so much other work to do that I
did not have time to write to eny one. But I had to take the time to
write to Mama. I am very glad that your School has started again. You
must go every day.
I hope that Brother will get to come home before long. But I can not
tell you now when I will get Back. No one Seams to know. I say Stay over
her for a year yet. But I hope I won. eny way for I am getting tired of
this Country and hope I wont have to stay over very much longer. Tell
Virginia I said helo and That I would Love to See her. Also that I send
her My love and Best Wishes. I will write to her in a few Days.
With Love to all
Your Loving Bro. Clyde
Corp Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16th Infantry
American E. T.
A.P.O 729
Mama is Alice Taylor, Virginia is his sister
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
American E.F.
A.P.P. 729
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Jan 14th 1919
Moscheim, Germany
Co. K. 16th Infantry
Dear Sister
I will try to ans your most highly appreciated letter I recd last
night. Sure was glad to hear from You. This leavs me enjoying life just
fine. Dear I can not promise you when I will get to come home for I do
not know. Hope I get back soon for I sure am tired of this country.
America is the only Place. I hope your Enjoyed Xmas and News Years. I
Had a very good time but nothing like last one that I spent at home.
Tell Bessie Patrick I Said helo and that I would love to hear from
you more often. So Get busy and write. Hope you like your Teacher. I
suppose it will be about three years before I will get out of the Army.
But that is not too long.
Trusting this will find all well and enjoying Life. Write as often as
you can.
Your Loving Brother Clyde
P.S. Hope you have got those Pictures Before now.
Corp Alonzo C. Taylor
Co K 165h Infantry
American E.T
A.P.P 729
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
American E.F.
A.P.O. 729 1st Div.
American Forces Germany
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va U.S.A. |
Deamback, Germacy
March 6, 1919
Co K. 16th Infantry
Dearest Sister
I will try to write you A few lines hope that this will find you All
O.K. and enjoying life fine. I only arrived here yesterday after be in
Elbinger one month on out post duty. Gee but we did have a time up
there. Oh Say Sister I bet Buthole was glad to get back home. I will not
get back until after July. Eny way, if we get back by that Time. But I
hope to be home by Xmas eny way. Gee but we will have some time when I
get back home. Tell Virginia I will write to her in a few days. Gee But
it does seam So long since I see you. I suppose you are quite a large
girl by now. I am going to have some pictures made in a few days and I
will send you Girls one if they are eny good. Tell the boys I said helo
and that I would love to see them. I would love to have a Picture of you
Girls So I can tell how mutch you have grown since I left home. The next
letter you write to Bijah tell I want him to write to me. I know he has
as much time to write to me as I have got to write to him. Was so glad
you Girls are going to School. Hope you like your Teacher fine. Tell
Papa and Mama I Said hello and that I would Love to see them. Well as I
do not know of Eny more to write I will Close hoping this finds all well
every one Enjoying life fine.
With Love to all
Your Loving Bro.
Ans Soon. By By
Corp A. C. Taylor
Co. K. 16th Inf.
A.P.P. #7291 1st Division
Amer. Forces Germany
It isn’t clear who Buthole is (my guess would be Eddie). Papa and
Mama were Scott and Alice Taylor.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
Camp Meade Md.
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va |
Camp Mead Md
Sept 26th 1919
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Dearest Sister
I Will Try to write you a few Lines to let you know I am Still at
Camp Mead Md. But will leave here the first for Camp Taylor. So Address
My Mail to this. Hope you are having a good time. As for my self I am
Having a very good time but I am sure we all could have a mutch better
time if we were to geather. I do not know yet just when I will be able
to get a furlow but I Think as Soon as I get to Camp Taylor, Ky. Oh Say
wont we have some time when I get home. Ha. Ha. Tell Virginia I
was very sorry I could not get another pillow cusion but will get one as
soon as I can find another one. I did not forget her. I just could not
get two of these when I got yours. Hope all is well and having a good
time. Hope to be home before very long for I have got so many things to
tell you all. Say Lizzie what kind of a Teacher have you got this year.
A Good one I hope. Well as I do not know of eny more to write will
close. Tell Virginia I will write her in a few days. So Good By With
Love to all.
Your Living Bro
Bid
Corp A.C. Taylor
Co. K 16th Inf.
Camp Taylor Ky.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
Co. K. 16 Inf.
Camp Meade Md.
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va |
Camp Meade, Maryland
Sept 26, 1919
Miss Lizzie Taylor
I will try to write you a few lines to let you know I am all O.K. and
hope you are the same. I recd your letter this morning was so glad to
hear from you. Say dear little Sister I do not know yet when I will get
to come home but I hope it wont be very long for would give any thing to
see you. Tell Virginia I said helo and I would love to see her. I am
trying to learn to use a type wrter and I am making a lot of mistakes so
please pardon all mistakes as I will try to do better next time. Gee but
this is sure a slow job but if, I keep up I will get done about dark if
nothing happens. Say did you get those pillow cusions I sent you from
camp merritt. Hope you got them all wright I have not heard from Inez
since my arrival in U S A Why I do not know for I have wrote her quite a
few letters and I don’t see why she does not write. Mabey she has got
another fellow that she likes better than she does me. Hope he is a good
looking fellow. I should werry a lot and build a house ha ha I
sent that the way to look at it Tell the boys I said helo and I hope to
be with them soon if nothing happens for as soon as we get to Camp
Taylor KY I am coming home. Oh say the weather is just fine here now Say
tell the boys to write to me for I get so lonely at times. Gee just look
at this I am almost a shame to send it Gee if the capt. would come in I
sure would get the Divle for using the typewriter so I have got to keep
a look out for him so he not cautch me. Say LIZZIE is FRED MOLLITT still
at monitor # 1 yet I have not heard from him for a long time hope to see
all of my old pals when I get back home but I rather doubt if I will
know eny of them or not as I have been gone so long. I sure have got
some job now. I am Acting Mess Sgt for K Co and believe me it sure is
some job for it nearly runs me crazy. Iit has cost the company $6.16.25
since the 18th of this month so you can tell about what job
it is to feed A company of 200 men I told the Captain this morning I did
not wont the job at all but he seams to think that I aught keep it for a
while any way until we get to camp taylor. Well as I do not know of any
more to write I will close for this time hopeing to hear from you soon
with love to all good by for this time ans soon by by
From Your Loveing BROTHER BID
ADDRESS TO
CORP. ALONZO C TAYLOR
COMPANY K 16TH INFANTRY
CAMP TAYLOR KENTUCKY
Fred Molitt must be a local friend at Monitor # 1.
Copr.. Alonzo C. Taylor
COMPANY K 16 INFANTRY
CAMP TAYLOR KENTUCKY
. |
|
Miss Lizzie Taylor
Wilkinson
Box 173
West Va |
Oct 6th 1919
Camp Taylor Louisville Ky
Miss Lizzie Taylor
My Dearest little Sister
I will try To ans your most highly appreciated letter I Recd this
morning. Was so Glad to hear from you and to hear that you Girls was in
School. This leaves me All O.K. and enjoying life fine and hope that
this will find all well and \enjoying the joys of life Oh say dear I am
afraid that I will not be able to get a furlow now till Nov. 1st
as there is already more men on furlow than should be in acordeince with
the number of men in the co I will have to wait until some of them come
back before I can get one. There is three men already ahead of me for a
furlow Gee but that sure is tuff luck But cheer up little Sister Bro I
get out of the Army some of these days before very long it will Be
finish So bet for me and this Bro can be home all the time with his dear
little Sisters Oh wont that be great to be home all the time. Hope to
get to come home before your School is out and I would like to see your
teacher Hope she is Good Looking for I love to see pretty Girls ha ha
Please do not tell her what I said about her or She might get Very Mad.
You Girls must Be Good little Girls and write to Brother as often as you
can for your Brother get very Lonesome. Some times all the Girls here in
Louisville try to show us a Good time I was down to Church yesterday
afternoon Then I went to a Dance in The Evening Sure did have a good
time Well as I have got to write to Virginia. I will close. Hoping to
hear from you soon With Love to All
Your Loving Bro
Bid
Corp A.C. Taylor
Co. K 16th Inf.
Camp Taylor Kentucky
|