Floyd Boyce Phillips was one of millions of boys from the United States who were sent across the Atlantic to the Old Country to fight in the Great War. In this series of posts, we follow the 101st anniversary of Floyd’s journey and get glimpses of what was going on at home while he was over there.

Many thanks to Coralee for providing me with artifacts throughout the years and especially for the stack of WWI-era letters that were delivered to me on 31 May 2019. They have provided countless hours of family history entertainment.

– Denise

A good book and some meat for all three meals might have made things more tolerable for Floyd who had to wear a life jacket all day.

Tuesday Aug. 6

Cool nite (b/4) and had good sleep.

Washed & shaved before mess.

Menu – white mush, meat, “HT,” & coffee.

Drill at 2:30 P.M.

Read most of the P.M. (Yellow Men & Gold)

Supper at usual time – potatoes, corned-beef, crackers & tea & apricots.

Had orders today to wear life savers at all times.

Signed pay roll this P.M.

Read after supper.

Started to rain about 7:30 (drizzle).

Next…

7 August 1918 and 8 August 1918 and 9 August 1918

Sources:

Floyd Boyce Phillips, “Journal” (Army, 1918-1919).” privately held by Denise Krueger, Rochester, MN, 2019.

The Phillips Family

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