Letter from Oscar N. Taylor to Mrs. W. T. Bethea, Jr. March 18, 1918

Letter from Oscar N. Taylor to Mrs. W. T. Bethea, Jr. March 18, 1918

Letter written from Oscar Taylor (Citadel graduate who began his studies from 1915 to 1918, and then returned after World War I) to Mrs. W. T. Bethea Jr. in which he talks about John H. David Jr.

A2017.3

The Citadel Archives & Museum

Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.

John H. David Jr. Collection

application/pdf

English

Text

https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/465

[Page 1]
March 18, 1918

Dear Mrs. Bethea,

Again I have let time slip by me and here I must again start a letter to you with an apology for a long silence. Your long interesting letter was received some time ago just after I had answered a letter from Mary [illegible] and I have entered on each days work with the determination to answer your letter before “taps” sounded that might but something has always prevented.

[Page 2]
You see I am assistant editor of the Annual and I have had more than my share of work in getting the book to press. Now I am in the midst of a large amount of work relating to a debate we are to have with Clemson and Carolina on April 17th. I was named as one of the few men on the team by the faculty and hence I have to enter into the work with as much [illegible] as I should have put on my lessons.

Yes, I was the Taylor that was made sergeant. It was not a very high rank tho as I am next to the last line sergeant.

I too was disappointed to hear that Thad did not get into the O.J. camp but I know that he will make a good soldier

[Page 3]
wherever he is put. I have been designated as one of Citadel’s quota for the camp opening June 1st but I am worried about the physical exam.

I had a nice letter from Thad about the same time that I received yours. I answered it but as yet I have not heard from him. I guess we are somewhat alike. Mother wrote me that she had had a nice letter from you. I am glad you and Andrew David like the service flag. I only wish that my mother would display one with a star in it for me. That blue star sure shows the part that the mothers are playing in this great war. We have 234 stars on our flag here at school and one of those is now reproduced in the great service flag of God. We

[Page 4]
cadets who knew John were very sad when we read of his death and after Col. Bond had told the others of the man he was we were all sad. But the sorrow has been displaced by pride. We are proud that the first S.C. officer to lay down his life on the firing line was a Citadel man and a fine man at that. I will never forget his smile, his loyalty to Alma Mater and his love for his friends. I know that he went over the top for the last time with a smile on his face, a Citadel song on his lips and a friendly light for his comrades in his eyes.

Tell Osborne that the baseball

[Page 5]
season has started a Citadel know and that this will be a good time for him to come down. If he could get here some Friday evening and spend the weekend in Charleston I know he would enjoy it. We go to the rifle range on Saturday instead of having leave, now, but we are off Saturday evening and Sunday after church. I think Osborne will like Citadel and I want him to see it before school closes.

In spite of all my work I found time to do what I have

[Page 6]
been thinking about ever since I have been at college: I joined the Episcopal church two weeks ago. I guess it was rather a surprise to my family as they are most all Methodists. Some of the cadets say that it is a first step in doing what you told me to do - “resign at once the Presidency of an old bachelor’s club and join [illegible] in the matrimonial adventure,” because she is a member of that church. I am afraid that they know more about it than I do.

I suppose you read about our recent quarantine. I got them on the first test with a clean bill of health and hence was in good spirits to cheer up some of those who did not

[Page 7]
weatherly. Bethea was a bit frightened and I did all I could to cheer him up.

Well, my time is up and chapel call is about to sound. There is lots more I would like to write but I guess I will have to save it for next time which I promise will not be as far off as this was from the date of my last letter.

Tell Andrew David to send Osborne down here to look our college over, so he can go back and tell him about it, for we are saving a uniform for Andrew David.

Mary [illegible] owes her Yankee brother a letter. I had a letter for Margueritte not long ago

[Page 8]
and she too said that many [illegible] had not written in a long time.

Best love to all,

Sincerely,
Taylor