An unknown soldier from Breathitt County shared this letter with people back home in the local paper, The Jackson Times.

With The Stars and Stripes

Camp Shelby, Mississippi, May 20, 1918

Dear Times Man:

We, the boys of the Machine Gun Company, 149th Infantry, from old "Bloody Breathitt," feel it a duty and a pleasure to inform you, as well as many others, who are interested in our welfare, of a few of our movements since leaving the county of Patriots; Breathitt.

We are, and, we think, have sufficient reason to be proud of ourselves as a company, and hope that the people of Breathitt are proud of us. There have been, since our company left Jackson, four men commissioned to officers from it, and we have five men in a training camp for officers. Nearly every man enlisted at Jackson has been made a non-commissioned officer.

The Machine Gun Company is made up of a superior class of men to the ordinary army company. There are no illiterates and every non-commissioned officer must have at least a common school education.

Words are inadequate to express our appreciation and thanks to your people for their kindness and thoughtfulness in sending to us the much needed stimulant; tobacco. It not only shows that they remember us, but that they still care for and love us in a way that makes our hearts feel glad. The mere "Thank You" seems tremendously small, but will have to do until the Beast of Berlin is licked to a frazzle, and the thing for which our forefathers fought, bled, and died, liberty and freedom to oppressed, is gained.

We have never had a call for "Over There," but we are only too ready to take our part in the world's greatest struggle, where right only can win. We are glad to fight and die, if need be, for the Emblem of Freedom, which is dearer to us than life itself, "Our Flag." The "Red, White, and Blue." This is our spirit.