By Maj. William Carraway
Historian, Georgia Army National Guard
American Military Novelty cartoon marks a New Year on the border. Georgia National Guard Archives.
In October 1916, more than 3,600
Georgia National Guard Soldiers were dispatched to the Mexican border in
response to cross-border unrest. Writing home from El Paso, Texas, Cpl. Robert
Gober Burton of the Monroe-based Company H, 2nd Georgia Infantry
Regiment recalled spending New Year’s Day 1917 in remote outpost duty along the
border.
Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers of the 2nd Georgia Infantry Regiment man “Sentry Post Number 1” near El Paso, Texas in 1917. Photo by 2nd Lt. Vivian Robertson. |
January 5, 1917
My Dearest Mama,
Not having heard from you in several
days I shall write. The regiment has gone for 15 days outpost duty and the mail
has not been attended to as it should.
From all indications, we will not
remain much longer on the border.[1]
There is strong talk of bringing Pershing out of Mexico, and if he does, I
fervently believe that we will be sent home. The sooner the better with me.
I had a real nice letter from Auntie[2]
the other day. Was certainly glad to hear from her.
I am thinking of sending the muffler
and laundry bag home as everything here is so dirty that I am afraid that I
will spoil them. The muffler is surely nice, but I can’t wear it as it doesn’t
suit very well with government clothes. Besides, we are furnished all the war
clothes that we can wear. I have some under clothes much heavier than those I
wore at home. We have a big overcoat that weighs about 15 pounds and a hood
that goes over the head, so I keep very warm and comfortable.
Ed (Williamson)[3]
and myself are getting along very nicely. I have had a slight cold, but it is
well now. I used Vicks salve and it was soon broken up.
Write to me soon
As ever, your devoted son,
Gober
Company H, 2nd Georgia Infantry Regiment at Camp Cotton, El Paso, Texas. Sergeant Ed Williamson stands far left with Burton standing to his left.
Georgia National Guard Archives.
[1]
Despite the rumor mill, the Georgians would not return home until March 1917.
[2] Auntie
refers to Mary Eulalia Nunally, wife of William Hartwell Nunnally. Before he
mobilized to Europe in October 1917, Burton’s aunt presented him with a pocket
testament which ultimately saved his life by stopping a bullet July 30, 1918.
[3] Sergeant
Augustus Williamson of Rock Mart, Ga. Williamson and Burton served together
from June 1919 in Company H, 2nd Georgia Infantry Regiment. They
mobilized to France with Company A, 151st Machine Gun Battalion. For
valor in combat, Williamson was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross.
He was instrumental in the reorganization of the Walton Guards following World
War I and served as its first commanding officer before being selected to serve
as the United States Property and Disbursement Officer. He died May 20, 1976
and is buried in Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe, Ga. not far from the
headquarters of the unit he helped to reorganize. Today, the 178th
Military Police Company carry on the tradition of National Guard service in
Monroe.
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