Tulley or Tullie (Theodore Oscar) Thompson with Mabel Ludy Muir Thompson circa 1916 Tulley Thompson October 30, 1890 – May 27, 1954
From the Renville County in World War I: 1917, 1918, 1919 book published by the Olivia Times in 1920
Tullie (Theodore Oscar) Thompson, a former Olivia boy, has recently returned from France, where he spent several months in the front line trenches, and is at present visiting his relatives in Minneapolis. He enlisted in Minneapolis and for a time was stationed at St. Louis. Later he was removed to Camp Dix, New Jersey, where he was promoted to sergeant, going from there to France. From June 2 until Oct. 21st he was constantly in the trenches as sergeant of scouts, and during that time he took part in four battles, namely, Beulah Woods, June 2, Marne July 15, St. Mihiel, Sept. 11th and Argonne, Sept. 26th. He never received a wound, although on one occasion his helmet was shot off his head, and never was ill. He has a gun which he captured from a German captain, whom he shot, and other souvenirs of the war. Mrs. Freidrichs met him in Minneapolis a few days ago and spent a very interesting hour in his company, listening to him relate his experience. Tullie is a graduate of the Olivia High School and was a fast baseball player when here. He left here some seven years ago to go to Canada, where he engaged in business.
Thomas Flannigan,
a former Olivia boy, is dead in France. His sister, Mrs. Henry Patzwald,
received a telegram Tuesday night informing her that he was killed on October
23rd. He entered the service in June and was sent to France shortly
afterward. The young man was reared in this vicinity and for a number of years
past worked on farms near Renville, making his home much of the time with
Robert E. McKinley. He was a fine young man, always cheerful and of a happy
disposition, and his untimely death is a sad blow to his relatives and friends
here. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Henry Patzwald and Mrs. Andrew Fox, reside here.
Joseph F. Malecek (Malacek) December 6, 1894 – November 6, 1918
Last Letter By Soldier Joseph Malacek (Malecek) Writes Home While in Hospital Shortly Before Death Calls Him
New Mexico,
Oct. 30, 1918
Dearest Mary:
How are you all
getting along? Well, we are on the place now. We came here Monday evening, and
I got sick and they took me in the hospital. I am getting better now. I guess
that I got sick from riding on the train.
We were on the
train four nights and four days, and we never get of the train until we get up
here.
I didn’t get my
soldier’s suit yet, and don’t think I’ll get it this week. Must tell you that
here is nothing but stand all over, when I came up they sent me in the tent and
there was about two inched of sand on the bed. When there is little wind it looks
like a snow storm.
But it is nice
and warm outside, the sun is so hot.
I get five more
blankets besides mine. We don’t see any birds or houses around here. It seems
so lonesome up here.
But they said
that they will send all the farm boys home in the spring to put in the crops,
and they said that we will never get in to France.
We get this
paper for nothing up here. But we have to buy our stamps. I ain’t got any just
now and I don’t know where to get them.
We couldn’t
mail them so we always gave them to some of the men in town.
Well, I guess
this will be all for to day, I feel so lonesome after you, dear friend. I don’t
know how I will stand it here before spring.
Must tell you
yet that the last two days when we were anything but sand, and big hills. Some
of them were about one mile high or more.
Well, I will
try to write you more when I will feel little better so give my best regards to
all. So bye bye.
From as ever
your friend, Joseph
This is my
address, Jos. J. Malecek, Camp Cody, N.M.,
Company 15
Harry E. McKibben October 24, 1880 – June 22, 1972
Dear Mr. and
Mrs. Chas. Whitney:
Your letter
received describing your trip to Pine City; how I would like to have been
along. I am returning the picture of the fawn immediately, as it’s so easy to loose
things here unless you have them on your back. I have been traveling some since
I last saw you.
France is a
beautiful country and I’ve traveled almost the entire length of it. We reached
this place a couple of days ago. The climate is fine, almost the same latitude
as where I was in the states, but we don’t have the excessive heat that we had
there and the nights are nice and cool. The Gulf Stream may be all right but
I’m not struck on it for we nearly suffocated until we hit the cool part. I’m
still at the same work with the same train but now that we are settled I may be
given some other work as we are permanently located here for a time at least.
I took a couple
of my boys and went for a hike up into the mountains. The lower part of the
Alps come down here and we climbed to the top and look around. On the way up we
picked grapes, figs, apples and olives. This is a great grape country and the
only way they have of saving them is to make them into wine and the people here
drink very little of anything else. Some of our boys are trying to keep some of
it from spoiling but the effect is such that they “go easy” on it as yet. After
we first landed here we were given a week’s rest, we certainly needed it, then
we traveled the length of France, crossing the Pyraneese Mountains. It was a
pretty sight to look down from the heights and see the little plots all walled
in and hedged in like gardens at home. There is a large cathedral here located
on a high bluff over looking the sea. They say it is encircled with small ships
made by and presented by sailors on their trips here, which at the time was
used as a lighthouse.
I am not struck
on either the French or Italian people, as we have and equal amount here; so I
can safely say that when this affair is settled I’m going be to the States.
This has been a
great trip and a beautiful country and a sight to see the way the people live
here. Yet I see nothing that would ever induce me to live here. Every home has
its wine cellar and you can buy all kinds of wine from the light grape juice to
the strong whiskey. They say one is enough. I haven’t tasted it yet. The little
boys (while yet in dresses) are begging cigarettes from the boys.
Guess I’ll pass
up my deer hunt this fall, this is far more exciting. Have you done any duck
hunting this fall? Got a letter from father today and he didn’t mention
hunting.
Hope I get some
home papers soon. Tell everyone to write and give them my address and see that
the paper is sent to me.
Sincerely, Lieut.
Harry E. McKibben, Motor Supply Train 420, A.P.O. 752, American Ex. Forces
Mr. and Mrs. N.
J. Martin were on Tuesday greatly relieved of anxiety when they received a
letter from their son, Bert, who several weeks ago was reported as missing in
action, the letter stating that he was in a hospital, having been wounded in
the left leg. The letter follows:
Somewhere in
France, Oct. 21, 1918
Dear Mother,
I will drop you
a few lines and let you know that I am feeling pretty good. I hope you folks
are the same. I suppose you are rather busy now. The weather is fine here.
I am having a
good time. Am in the hospital as I got wounded in the left leg but it isn’t
bad.
Henry sent me
the picture of Stanley. He is some man now.
Will close for
this time as news is scarce here, but will do better next time.
From your
loving son, Bert M. Martin, Co. K. 131 U.S. Inf., France
P.S. Don’t
worry about me. I will be all right in a short while. Greet all the folks
around Franklin.
Posted: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Tullie Thompson Returns Home, Olivia Times, 11-28-1918
Tulley Thompson
October 30, 1890 – May 27, 1954
Tullie (Theodore Oscar) Thompson, a former Olivia boy, has recently returned from France, where he spent several months in the front line trenches, and is at present visiting his relatives in Minneapolis. He enlisted in Minneapolis and for a time was stationed at St. Louis. Later he was removed to Camp Dix, New Jersey, where he was promoted to sergeant, going from there to France. From June 2 until Oct. 21st he was constantly in the trenches as sergeant of scouts, and during that time he took part in four battles, namely, Beulah Woods, June 2, Marne July 15, St. Mihiel, Sept. 11th and Argonne, Sept. 26th. He never received a wound, although on one occasion his helmet was shot off his head, and never was ill. He has a gun which he captured from a German captain, whom he shot, and other souvenirs of the war. Mrs. Freidrichs met him in Minneapolis a few days ago and spent a very interesting hour in his company, listening to him relate his experience. Tullie is a graduate of the Olivia High School and was a fast baseball player when here. He left here some seven years ago to go to Canada, where he engaged in business.
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Posted: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Thomas Flannigan Killed, Buffalo Lake News, 11-29-1918
July 10, 1889 – October 23, 1918
Thomas Flannigan, a former Olivia boy, is dead in France. His sister, Mrs. Henry Patzwald, received a telegram Tuesday night informing her that he was killed on October 23rd. He entered the service in June and was sent to France shortly afterward. The young man was reared in this vicinity and for a number of years past worked on farms near Renville, making his home much of the time with Robert E. McKinley. He was a fine young man, always cheerful and of a happy disposition, and his untimely death is a sad blow to his relatives and friends here. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Henry Patzwald and Mrs. Andrew Fox, reside here.
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Last Updated: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Joseph Malacek, Olivia Times, 11-28-1918
December 6, 1894 – November 6, 1918
Last Letter By Soldier Joseph Malacek (Malecek) Writes Home While in Hospital Shortly Before Death Calls Him
New Mexico, Oct. 30, 1918
Dearest Mary:
How are you all getting along? Well, we are on the place now. We came here Monday evening, and I got sick and they took me in the hospital. I am getting better now. I guess that I got sick from riding on the train.
We were on the train four nights and four days, and we never get of the train until we get up here.
I didn’t get my soldier’s suit yet, and don’t think I’ll get it this week. Must tell you that here is nothing but stand all over, when I came up they sent me in the tent and there was about two inched of sand on the bed. When there is little wind it looks like a snow storm.
But it is nice and warm outside, the sun is so hot.
I get five more blankets besides mine. We don’t see any birds or houses around here. It seems so lonesome up here.
But they said that they will send all the farm boys home in the spring to put in the crops, and they said that we will never get in to France.
We get this paper for nothing up here. But we have to buy our stamps. I ain’t got any just now and I don’t know where to get them.
We couldn’t mail them so we always gave them to some of the men in town.
Well, I guess this will be all for to day, I feel so lonesome after you, dear friend. I don’t know how I will stand it here before spring.
Must tell you yet that the last two days when we were anything but sand, and big hills. Some of them were about one mile high or more.
Well, I will try to write you more when I will feel little better so give my best regards to all. So bye bye.
From as ever your friend, Joseph
This is my address, Jos. J. Malecek, Camp Cody, N.M., Company 15
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Last Updated: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter From Harry E McKibben, Hector Mirror, 11-28-1918
October 24, 1880 – June 22, 1972
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Whitney:
Your letter received describing your trip to Pine City; how I would like to have been along. I am returning the picture of the fawn immediately, as it’s so easy to loose things here unless you have them on your back. I have been traveling some since I last saw you.
France is a beautiful country and I’ve traveled almost the entire length of it. We reached this place a couple of days ago. The climate is fine, almost the same latitude as where I was in the states, but we don’t have the excessive heat that we had there and the nights are nice and cool. The Gulf Stream may be all right but I’m not struck on it for we nearly suffocated until we hit the cool part. I’m still at the same work with the same train but now that we are settled I may be given some other work as we are permanently located here for a time at least.
I took a couple of my boys and went for a hike up into the mountains. The lower part of the Alps come down here and we climbed to the top and look around. On the way up we picked grapes, figs, apples and olives. This is a great grape country and the only way they have of saving them is to make them into wine and the people here drink very little of anything else. Some of our boys are trying to keep some of it from spoiling but the effect is such that they “go easy” on it as yet. After we first landed here we were given a week’s rest, we certainly needed it, then we traveled the length of France, crossing the Pyraneese Mountains. It was a pretty sight to look down from the heights and see the little plots all walled in and hedged in like gardens at home. There is a large cathedral here located on a high bluff over looking the sea. They say it is encircled with small ships made by and presented by sailors on their trips here, which at the time was used as a lighthouse.
I am not struck on either the French or Italian people, as we have and equal amount here; so I can safely say that when this affair is settled I’m going be to the States.
This has been a great trip and a beautiful country and a sight to see the way the people live here. Yet I see nothing that would ever induce me to live here. Every home has its wine cellar and you can buy all kinds of wine from the light grape juice to the strong whiskey. They say one is enough. I haven’t tasted it yet. The little boys (while yet in dresses) are begging cigarettes from the boys.
Guess I’ll pass up my deer hunt this fall, this is far more exciting. Have you done any duck hunting this fall? Got a letter from father today and he didn’t mention hunting.
Hope I get some home papers soon. Tell everyone to write and give them my address and see that the paper is sent to me.
Sincerely, Lieut. Harry E. McKibben, Motor Supply Train 420, A.P.O. 752, American Ex. Forces
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Posted: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Bert Martin Writes, Franklin Tribune, 11-28-1918
March 5, 1896 – November 21, 1976
Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Martin were on Tuesday greatly relieved of anxiety when they received a letter from their son, Bert, who several weeks ago was reported as missing in action, the letter stating that he was in a hospital, having been wounded in the left leg. The letter follows:
Somewhere in France, Oct. 21, 1918
Dear Mother,
I will drop you a few lines and let you know that I am feeling pretty good. I hope you folks are the same. I suppose you are rather busy now. The weather is fine here.
I am having a good time. Am in the hospital as I got wounded in the left leg but it isn’t bad.
Henry sent me the picture of Stanley. He is some man now.
Will close for this time as news is scarce here, but will do better next time.
From your loving son, Bert M. Martin, Co. K. 131 U.S. Inf., France
P.S. Don’t worry about me. I will be all right in a short while. Greet all the folks around Franklin.
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