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

After a very early wake-up call, Floyd left from Newport News, Virginia, on 31 Jul 1918, aboard America Ital. He was part of the 36th Prov. Ord. Depot Co. 1st Prov. Ord Depot Regt, or in other words the 36th Provisional Ordinance Depot Company 1st Provisional Ordinance Depot Regiment.

Wed July 31.

All up at 3:15 AM.

Emptied our bed sacks – two mile walk to do same.

Came back. Rolled packs & mess.

Policed up and we left our barracks at Camp Stuart at 6:20 A.M. – drizzling rain.

Arrived in front of headquarters embarkation office at 7:10.

Stood there with packs on until 7:50 when we were marched over to the loading house.

Here we were given cookies & coffee by the Red Cross.

Stayed here until 10:15 AM.

Then we were checked up and single filed out to “The America” my first boat.

Stept off of American ground at 10:20 (do you suppose for the last time? I’ll say no.

Stept on the America at 10:30 took bunk 232 on the top. I believe this top idea a good one – will know more about it later.

Went up on deck but was called down and had to take bunk 134 a lower one (inuf said).

Left the dock at 12:45 then led by a battle ship we and two other transports were on our way.

At 2:45 we passed a Battle Ship and at 3:15 PM we passed two other Battle Ships. On one was an observation balloon.

Met a transport about this time pulling in.

At 4:45 we came close to an American sub. An interesting sight was the signaling from one ship to another.

At about five P.M. the three transports spread out and traveled abreast.

Besides these ships is 2 sub chasers and a torpedo destroyer.

Had mess about six. Rice pudding – bread – jam & black tea.

1 hr. later boys starting to see sickness.

As yet I am feeling fine.

7:30 went down for my overcoat and sweater.

Storm coming up and getting rough.

I stayed out deck all nite did not feel well in morning but not sick.

Next…

First Day on the USS America

Sources:

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

Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Lists of Outgoing Passengers, compiled 1917-1938; NAI Number: 6234477; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 370. Record for Floyd B Phillips.

“List of Authorized Abbreviations, World War I Service Discharge Cards,” ( https://ncarchives.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/ncwwiservicecards_abbrvlist.pdf : accessed 3 June 2019).

“USS America (ID-3006),” Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_America_(ID-3006) : accessed 5 Jun 2019).

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The Phillips Family