Return to the Land

World War I

The world was changing rapidly. Military aggression had begun in Europe and World War I began to take its toll on the American people. The states had entered the war coming to the defense of France. Stafford volunteered for service knowing that he would eventually be drafted and thus interrupted his college studies. By 1918 he had completed basic training and was headed for Europe. Except for some minor skirmishes America had enjoyed peace since the end of the Civil War in 1865. The effects of that disruption between the states had its lingering problems but gradually after reconstruction normalcy was returning. The automobile was changing society greatly with improved transportation and America was experiencing a degree of prosperity. However, the leaders of Germany had put together a war machine to expand their control in Europe and had invaded France. This would be the first of two major wars that Americans would be engaged in to preserve peace and freedom. Within a span of twenty years Germany would again attempt to enslave its European neighbors and bring about unforgivable slaughter. When military conflicts threaten to topple nations young men, regardless of their station in life, are called to abolish such hostilities, and so it was with Stafford and his older brother Edgar. Having to abandon his ambitious dreams by 1918 Stafford had become a soldier leaving his peaceful academic life behind. He bid farewell to his parents and family on Kimberling and volunteered to risk his life in the defense of others far away across the sea.

Dad carried with him a small leather encased notebook on which he kept a log of his daily experiences as follow:

“July 29, 1918;

left Camp Mills, Long Island N.Y. and took a train

for N.Y. harbor where we loaded on the Empress of Asia for Liverpool, England. July 30, 1918 Set sail for France Aug 1-2/18 Sea sick oh so sick Aug 2 nd to 11 th Everything quite guarding on ship. The submarine failed to make its appearance Aug 11 th Landed in Liverpool England at 4p.m. Took train for a rest camp at Ramsey England which took us until next a.m. at 5 spent three days here also visited Lord Ashley’s home.

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