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
It’s good to know that Floyd was confident in the ability of the gunners, destroyers, and battleship that accompanied their transport ship on their ocean voyage.
Had good nites sleep and got up on Sat Aug 3 in time to clean up before mess.
Our mess was oatmeal-meat coffee & bread.
Target practice by transports in A.M. Our stern gunner “hit” 3 out of 5… (I believe it the best record.)
Sailed circles until about 3:30 P.M. then took positions and traveled on our way
(Din. Beef, soup, bread) Supper. Beef, potatoes, bread & tea.
About 7:00 P.M. sighted what looked to be a sail boat in the N.E. horizon.
The destroyer changed its course and made directly for sail boat.
Wrote a letter home & one to Canada folks.
(had life boat drill at usual time)
Our stern gunner was given $10.00 by the Am. Capt. as a prize for his good marksmanship during target practice. Also $5.00 by the Italian Capt. (Gunner is an Italian) Target 2 mi away. He has been on this transport 12 mo. and has not seen a “sub.” His good shooting accounts for our taking the rear & outside to the convoy of ships.
It is wonderful the confidence all have in our gunners and our Destroyers & Battleship. All are as perfectly contented as if they were Carrie Lye in the well – as to being concerned about the danger of a sub attack.
A beautiful nite – I stayed on deck until after dark. Had good nite.
Next…
Sources:
Floyd Boyce Phillips, “Journal” (Army, 1918-1919).” privately held by Denise Krueger, Rochester, MN, 2019.
The Phillips Family
- Publication date: September 2015
- Pages: 432
- Formats:
- This book traces our Phillips ancestry. It follows the Phillips family from 18th century ancestors in New York to more recent asparagus farmers of Illinois. Five generations of descendants of Wilhelmus Philip are covered. The families of Jacob W Phillips, his son Albert Aveldo Phillips, his son Guy Allison Phillips, and his son Floyd Boyce Phillips are followed in detail.
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