Letters From Our Boys
Excerpts from letters written by former Ripon College men who were in the service 1917-18.
College Days
February 12, 1918 p.6
S.M.A.
Austin, TX
December 16, 1917
Dear John,
Perhaps you will be glad to hear that I am still sticking with it, as my last letter was
not especially optimistic. By the beginning of January I should be in the flying school.
Sincerely,
George Brown
College Days
February 12, 1918 p.6
Somewhere in France
December 27, 1917
Dear Friend,
I want to thank you for the friendly letter and for the box that brought in the Xmas
spirit from Ripon and helped me enjoy the season here. We had a big tree here and
gave away a lot of toys to the French kids. Most all the boys received boxes from
home. My regards to Ripon and to you, my Santa Claus.
Sincerely,
Selwyn F. Lewis
Cpl. S. F. Lewis
76 Co. 6 Regt. U.S.M.C.
Other Wartime Features
College Days
November 13, 1917
Are We Doing Our Bit?
In this day of intensified effort and personal sacrifice it behooves us all to look
sharp for opportunities to do our bit. An urgent and a crying appeal has come
to use in behalf of War Prisoners. Any sacrifice we might make, short of what
our Boys are doing, is small enough; when we consider how well-favored we are,
surely we should give the idea of sacrifice more than super-ficial consideration.
The students at the University of Wisconsin have voted not to have a Prom this year.
We give this as a suggestion for Patriotic students to think about.
College Days
March 5, 1918
Will You Help?
Ripon College is going to send the Ripon College Days to all Ripon men in Service from this time on. Their addresses are constantly changing, but someone at home knows their location and title. Will you not co-operate in keeping our Roll of Honor up to date? The little trouble this will necessitate will certainly not be too much sacrifice under the circumstances. Help to keep the boys in touch with us and with each other, and you will never be sorry that you have added a bit to their pleasure. We must stand united in this matter just as in all other things of common interest at the present time.
College Days
May 6, 1919
Complete War Record Of Students to be Made
Cooperation of Students and Alumni Asked –
Send Communications to College Days
The readiness with which Ripon College students and alumni devoted their services to the national cause, deserves every recognition that may be extended it. In due realization of this fact the College is now endeavoring to make a complete record of all activities of every student, former and present, who was in any way connected with the Military or Naval service.
Many difficulties now confront the committee in charge of this work. Not least is the fact that many students are not now in residence. The addresses of many alumni are now uncertain. For this reason the College asks the co-operation, not only of these students and alumni, but all who may be able to furnish any information whatever concerning those who may not be reached directly.
Blanks specifying the information desired are in the hands of the Editors of College Days. Students who have been in military service (not including members of the SATC) should call at the College Days office immediately and do their share in making the record complete. In every case a photograph should be furnished. Since the record is a part of the complete Fond du Lac County record which has now been in a large part complete, the work must be rushed. Other units of the county have been successful in obtaining all desired information, including a complete list of photographs. It is only by a united effort that the College can accomplish a similar end.
Those students and alumni who are not in residence should mail a request for the blank and enclose a photograph with name written clearly. Those directly concerned and those having desired information should address all communications to War Record Dep’t, Ripon College Days Office, Ripon, Wisconsin.
College Days
April 15, 1919
The Victory Liberty Loan
Opening gun will be fired Tuesday evening at the Auditorium. This will be the
last public drive we shall have and it should be the most successful of them all.
Every American citizen should be glad of the opportunity to buy “Victory” Bonds
at such an early date. Had the war continued we would have had many more loans
to meet. We should, therefore, all buy our limit of Victory Bonds on the opening day of the campaign.
There will be two Volunteer days at the opening of the campaign – all those
coming to Headquarters in the Auditorium Bldg. and subscribing their fair share will
have their names place on Ripon’s Big Victory Honor Roll.
College Days
February 4, 1919
The Message of the Boys
The boys are coming back! Familiar faces are appearing upon the Campus everywhere. From battlefield and camp Ripon’s proud heroes are returning to renew the hallowed memories and dear friendships within the halls of their Alma Mater and ours, Welcome home!
And what an inspiration! – to see, and hear and feel once more the warm presence of those classmates and chums of our former years. Many have lived thru life’s greatest horrors on the battlefield; all have tasted of the stern discipline and dire hardships of camp life. It is natural that all of us should feel a thrill of pride at the renewal of their acquaintance; an involuntary curiosity to discover whether or how war has changed them.
Thus it is with a mingled feeling of gladness and surprise that we all find ourselves saying, “Why, he’s the same old scout!” The same, yes, with the same old smile, the same old mannerism we had grown to love so well, and the same old prank – but yet, how different!
The boys have come back with a message; not a message which they can talk about or preach or explain, but one which they simply radiate and inspire you with. You, yourself, must feel it, must be able to read its meaning in terms of your own
experience if you would understand it.
Throughout our college years, men have come to us who have attempted to preach this very message and put it into work. They have called it the Message of Service, of Brotherhood, or of the Christian Life. Now, our own classmates are bringing it to us, unwritten, unspoken, but simple personified. Let us call it the Message of Life. For these men have learned to work, and endure suffering and face death, not for their own interests and protection, but solely for the protection of principles which involved no selfish interests of their own. They have placed a new valuation upon human interests. They have learned that life is not a thing unto itself, but it is a gift to be bestowed solely as an agent of worthy service.
That is the Message which the boys are bringing back to us. It is a new vision of human life, giving promise of a newer and brighter future. It is here for each one of us to grasp and fulfill. Ability to understand meaning and fitness to follow its teaching are the very highest goals which the education of any college man or woman can achieve.
By Jennifer Baker and Calah Goehring
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