Help with a signature. Old script

Got a letter written by a soldier on December 03 1917 at Camp Dodge Iowa.

He was writing about the new draftees coming to the Camp. I was going to post the letter but he used the "N" word which was common practice is those days.

I would like to ID the signature but can not read the last name. His first name is Willard.

I will try to track the name from there and maybe send the letter back to camp dodge. If any of our forum members live near there or in Iowa, I would appreciate a mailing address.

Google Camp Dodge and it was quite active for many years. Had a movie theatre that held 3,000 GI"S

Also , it was a place that a photographer assembled up to 30,000 GIs to form various images. Most famous was the Statue of Liberty. Those images are on the web site.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...romwwl22-1.jpg

to compare, particularly, terminal letters in his words, it appears that his name is Willard McPaul, or McPau.
mhb - Mike

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Originally Posted by mhb

to compare, particularly, terminal letters in his words, it appears that his name is Willard McPaul, or McPau.
mhb - Mike

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Never considered that. Sounds good. Waiting to see if anybody else comes up with something. He was writing to his friend Avis...

I live in Ames, Ia (where these damn computers were invented). I'm looking at a map of Camp Dodge and for the life of me can't find an address in the phone book. However everyone in the Des Moines area knows where the entrance is on NW 70th st, Johnston, Ia 50131 so it should get there. I'll bet the Camp has its own zip however. HTH but I probably confused you more than helped. Steve

Camp Dodge

Billeting 515-252-4238
Champus 515-252-4679
Chapel 515-252-4378
Classrooms (IMA Complex) 515-252-4338
Classrooms (ICN) 515-252-4592
Dodge House 515-252-4239
Facilities Rental 515-252-4576
Grandview College 515-252-4546
Iowa Gold Star Museum 515-252-4531/4724
Joint Forces Headquarters - Armory Building Supervisor 515-252-4560
Joint Forces Headquarters Front Desk - MP 515-252-4194
MEPS 515-224-0125
Military ID Cards: Johnston 515-252-4728
Military ID Cards: Iowa City 319-545-4485 ext 19097
Post Exchange 515-252-4382/515-270-2577
Records Center 515-252-4313/4329
Recreation Hall 515-727-3338
SATO Travel 800-788-7286
Security 515-240-3742
State Photographer 515-252-4288
Theater 515-727-3399
Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) 515-252-4235/4141
Veterans Affairs 515-242-5331
Wellness Center 515-252-4760

Address: Office of The Adjutant General of Iowa
Joint Forces Headquarters
7105 NW 70th Avenue
Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824

Phone: 515-252-4211 or DSN 431-4211

Hope this helps

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Never considered that. Sounds good. Waiting to see if anybody else comes up with something. He was writing to his friend Avis...

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That is what I saw before reading mhb's post. Definitely Willard. Could be a middle initial M. Or McPaul as mhb stated.

I would think posting the letter would be OK, even with the words you mention as it must be taken in historical context. Unless of course the meaning is definitely related to racial hatred rather than description. Or put it in a photo program and "erase" the words. You cannot change the wording however as you will be guilty of changing history.

FWIW,

Emri

Changing history. Gee... I thought to do that one had to be a professor in college, a left-wing liberal democrat or else a member of the msm.

Willard McBaul, Willard M Baw. Willard M Ban, William M Baul, William M Pau. Willard M Paul

Here's my guess.
Willard Marion Barr (1894-1977) Who has a connection to Laclede County,Missouri. Age and location both would work with Camp Dodge in 1917.

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Originally Posted by DAVEB47

Here's my guess.
Willard Marion Barr (1894-1977) Who has a connection to Laclede County,Missouri. Age and location both would work with Camp Dodge in 1917.

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You could be right. He said that he had to take a train home for Christmas.

He would also be 24years old. How did you do that? Ancestry.com?

I am putting all the names in one place and see if I can find company rosters. It would look like he made it through WWl.

His name is not important in history but it gives life to the soldiers of WWl. Also, there may be survivors of Mt Barr.( I hope he was not related to the infamous Mr Barr)

How did a almost 100 year old letter make it to an auction in Erie Pa? We are the only Pa. city on Lake Erie. Good job!!

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Originally Posted by Emri

That is what I saw before reading mhb's post. Definitely Willard. Could be a middle initial M. Or McPaul as mhb stated.

I would think posting the letter would be OK, even with the words you mention as it must be taken in historical context. Unless of course the meaning is definitely related to racial hatred rather than description. Or put it in a photo program and "erase" the words. You cannot change the wording however as you will be guilty of changing history.

FWIW,

Emri

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I may post the letter but I do not know if the other forum members would be able to read it if I just sent both pages. It would have to be enlarged to read it. I think. Maybe one of the moderators ( I had MADERATORS) could inform me.

Letter is sort of boring but this guy must have been an orderly as he was using his CO's desk and his paper to write in ink on. He was also the bugler for morning wake ups. Probably no body like him for that!

In AF boot camp, we heard,"It is now 0600 hours and all lights will be turned on"! Thanks!!

I just looked at the name and thought the last name looked like Barr and then did a search on the name. If I had a suscription to one of the ancestory things I could learn a lot more. Mysteries like this are fun to work with.

I spent some time in Erie Pa. Peninsula Inn, Sherlocks, 12th Street tavern, Thunderbird Inn [where I stayed], Taki's restaurant and The Alternative. I was the stagemanager for a traveling band in the 70's-80's time perion

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Originally Posted by BruceV

Changing history. Gee... I thought to do that one had to be a professor in college, a left-wing liberal democrat or else a member of the msm.

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what the msm is. But that was my point. When you change the original wording of documents, you are trying to change history. When I was in junior high, a black teacher (one of the first in this public school) told us that their (her) race were "negroes", NOT other known names, and she said them, (other common usage names), ALL in class. That description (negroes) was accepted during those times.

I'm still not sure of the point of your posting.

Moderator: Please delete this posting if it doesn't fit in. I was NOT trying to start a political debate. Just make my position known.

I don't discuss politics or religion with friends and family. That is a FIRST CLASS ticket to a fight.

FWIW,

Emri

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Got a letter written by a soldier on December 03 1917 at Camp Dodge Iowa.

He was writing about the new draftees coming to the Camp. I was going to post the letter but he used the "N" word which was common practice is those days.

I would like to ID the signature but can not read the last name. His first name is Willard.

I will try to track the name from there and maybe send the letter back to camp dodge. If any of our forum members live near there or in Iowa, I would appreciate a mailing address.

Google Camp Dodge and it was quite active for many years. Had a movie theatre that held 3,000 GI"S

Also , it was a place that a photographer assembled up to 30,000 GIs to form various images. Most famous was the Statue of Liberty. Those images are on the web site.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...romwwl22-1.jpg

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Hopefully my attempt at a link works!!

- Ancestry.com

:dunno:

OK..That worked!..now compare the hardwriting, particulairy the "ard" in Willard and the last Name.

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Originally Posted by n64atlas

I spent some time in Erie Pa. Peninsula Inn, Sherlocks, 12th Street tavern, Thunderbird Inn [where I stayed], Taki's restaurant and The Alternative. I was the stagemanager for a traveling band in the 70's-80's time perion

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Most of those places are gone now. Time moves on. My son Brad was active in the alternative (He is an artist) He finished his degrees and moved to Utah. Thanks!!

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

OK..That worked!..now compare the hardwriting, particulairy the "ard" in Willard and the last Name.

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I tried to go there and my subscription must have expired. If you feel you have it, then we will stick with Barr. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

I tried to go there and my subscription must have expired. If you feel you have it, then we will stick with Barr. Thanks!

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AF - Go to my first post and click on the ancestrey.com link and Willard Barr's draft card pops right up. His signiture is on the bottom. You don't have to be a subsciber to see the link I attached. Full name - DOB - discription all there.

I'm convinced your letter writer and the draft card I found are one and the same person!! :cheers:

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

AF - Go to my first post and click on the ancestrey.com link and Willard Barr's draft card pops right up. His signiture is on the bottom. You don't have to be a subsciber to see the link I attached. Full name - DOB - discription all there.

I'm convinced your letter writer and the draft card I found are one and the same person!! :cheers:

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My friend, still no go. They won't even give you a sniff if you do not pay for it. I probably could go to his home state and search their archives. Thanks again!...

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Got a letter written by a soldier on December 03 1917 at Camp Dodge Iowa.

He was writing about the new draftees coming to the Camp. I was going to post the letter but he used the "N" word which was common practice is those days.

I would like to ID the signature but can not read the last name. His first name is Willard.

I will try to track the name from there and maybe send the letter back to camp dodge. If any of our forum members live near there or in Iowa, I would appreciate a mailing address.

Google Camp Dodge and it was quite active for many years. Had a movie theatre that held 3,000 GI"S

Also , it was a place that a photographer assembled up to 30,000 GIs to form various images. Most famous was the Statue of Liberty. Those images are on the web site.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...romwwl22-1.jpg

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AF MEDIC - OK..lets see if it works this way...

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

AF MEDIC - OK..lets see if it works this way...

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Two more that hopefully we be large enough to read.

Mike THANK YOU very much!! Saved me a lot of work! Now my work will start by trying to track down any family members....

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Mike THANK YOU very much!! Saved me a lot of work! Now my work will start by trying to track down any family members....

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AF - There's a "family member" maintaining a "Family Tree" on ancestry.com where I found your guy.

I can email her if you want but I'd rather have your direct email address so you two can work out whatever you want to do. She was just on the "Tree Site" yesterday so I know it's active.

Up to you...I'll send her an email along with your email address if you want. You can contact me direct at TCL2B@Yahoo.Com with your wishs. After that I'm out of it.

:beerchug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

AF - There's a "family member" maintaining a "Family Tree" on ancestry.com where I found your guy.

I can email her if you want but I'd rather have your direct email address so you two can work out whatever you want to do. She was just on the "Tree Site" yesterday so I know it's active.

Up to you...I'll send her an email along with your email address if you want. You can contact me direct at TCL2B@Yahoo.Com with your wishs. After that I'm out of it.

:beerchug:

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Looks like you came to the rescue again! I have to switch to aol to send mail other than personal messages from this web site. I will try to send you my email address in a PM from here
I appreciate your efforts and I will let you know what happens! Thanks again!!

Tell you what. My email address is tuggeries@aol .com. I look forward to hearing from the family members.

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

I may post the letter but I do not know if the other forum members would be able to read it if I just sent both pages. It would have to be enlarged to read it. I think. Maybe one of the moderators ( I had MADERATORS) could inform me.

Letter is sort of boring but this guy must have been an orderly as he was using his CO's desk and his paper to write in ink on. He was also the bugler for morning wake ups. Probably no body like him for that!

In AF boot camp, we heard,"It is now 0600 hours and all lights will be turned on"! Thanks!!

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Lucky you our DI's beat on trash cans and screamed alot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Tell you what. My email address is tuggeries@aol .com. I look forward to hearing from the family members.

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AF - check your email (AOL)..

Nothing yet. Last email received was about 4:00 PM EST..This day Thursday. I will let you know or private message me through this forum. Thanks again!!

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Looks like you came to the rescue again! I have to switch to aol to send mail other than personal messages from this web site. I will try to send you my email address in a PM from here
I appreciate your efforts and I will let you know what happens! Thanks again!!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

AF - There's a "family member" maintaining a "Family Tree" on ancestry.com where I found your guy.

I can email her if you want but I'd rather have your direct email address so you two can work out whatever you want to do. She was just on the "Tree Site" yesterday so I know it's active.

Up to you...I'll send her an email along with your email address if you want. You can contact me direct at TCL2B@Yahoo.Com with your wishs. After that I'm out of it.

:beerchug:

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AFMEDIC - After 6 months the lady responded to my post on Ancestry.Com reference WILLARD MATHIAS BARR - She provided a direct email address if your still interested.

McParr?

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

AFMEDIC - After 6 months the lady responded to my post on Ancestry.Com reference WILLARD MATHIAS BARR - She provided a direct email address if your still interested.

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Check your regular AOL email - I just forwarded the contact email to you.

Mike