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War Letters
The museum has all of the letters sent home by William H. Busby, one of our three local men killed in World War I. These letters were kept by his family all these years and were donated to the Historical Society by Clyde Busby, Ted Russell and John Russell. These letters could easily be put in book form and sold nationwide like some of the other commentaries and books being offered today, i.e. Tom Brokow’s The Greatest Generation, Saving Private Ryan and others. William enlisted May 1, 1917, and this is the third letter he wrote home from training camp at Port Royal, South Carolina, dated May 12, 1917. He was with the 7th Co. C of the U.S. Marine Corp. This letter is very sad to read when you know he was killed 18 months later on November 1, 1918, ten days before the war ended. All letters in this column will be copied exactly as written. I have put some paragraphs and punctuation in to make for easier reading. Following is a postcard message from William dated September 17, 1917 mailed from Philadelphia, addressed to Mr. Lon. P. Busby, R.R. 2, Catlin, Illinois. Postcard of September 17, 1917 This next letter is William’s first after arriving in France and was addressed to Mr. Lon. P. Busby, Catlin, Illinois, U.S.A. It is just interesting to read. It has been censored, by marking parts out with a dark pen. Letter of October 9, 1917 There are about thirty-eight letters between the one above and this next one which was written by William, probably his last one written due to the date of 28 October 1918. It was addressed to his mother, Mrs. Lon. P. Busby, and someone has written on the envelope "Received Nov. 29-18", which was 28 days after his death. Letter of October 28, 1918 *NOTE: A Christmas card mailed to Wm. H. Busby, from his sister Pearl and postmarked Catlin mailed Nov. 13, 1918 was returned marked: DECEASED verified by STATISTICAL DIVISION H.A.E.F.
Marine Lt. William H. Busby, who was killed in World War I in France, is buried in Oakridge Cemetery in Catlin.
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