A letter home

Editor's note: Leroy Owens, Fred Yates, Ollie Hedges and Vernon Davis were the first four draftees from Carter County into the US Army when the United States joined with the Allies during World War I. All four received their basic training together at Camp Lewis, Washington. The following is an excerpt from a letter Leroy wrote to his mother, Mary Dorman Owens while stationed at Camp Lewis. We thank Jerry Cline for sending this letter to the Eagle in time to be published directly before Memorial Day.

Leroy Owens' letter home from basic training

October 19th, 1917

Camp Lewis, Wash. Dear Mother-...