WWI Soldiers Letters Tell Story of Life Times

JEFFERSON – A new book "Dear Mama, Papa & All" tells the story of a World War I Marine from Jefferson who made the ultimate sacrifice. The book is published by the Jefferson Historical Society and is a collaboration between historical society members Stephanie Ruquet and Kevin Berner at the request of Franklin Skidmore Jr..

Ruquet wipes a tear and even Berner got a little blushed as they told how Carl Skidmore enlisted in the Marines and how a few months later, as his family was preparing for his joyful return, only to learn that he had already died from the wounds he suffered in one of the last battles of the war. He died just as the war was coming to an end on Nov. 1, 1918.

"Imagine how they were so elated to learn the war was coming to an end and that he would be coming home soon, only to find out he had already died," said Ruquet. His final letter told his family not to worry and he asked the nurse to send it. He died a short time later, without his family knowing until they were in the process of making all those preparations for his return.

Ruquet was impressed with the letters written back and forth an how much they revealed of the life and times.

When Skidmore's family received a Christmas Package coupon it caused confusion that he might still be alive. However, a letter confirmed Carl had died in the last great drive of the war, which began on Nov.1, the date of his death. It was known as the Argonne Drive. He was severely wounded in the thigh by a shell that exploded nearby, according to a letter sent by a Red Cross nurse who spent his final hours with him. She said he went into a coma and never awakened, as he was sent to be warmed and stabilized for surgery.

"I am writing to tell you the few details I know of your son's death. He came to us on Nov. 1 after having received a severe wound in the thigh, from a shell which had fallen very near him.

"As he had gone over the top after the Roches in this last battle, beginning yesterday. He was in very bad shape and was taken to the ward to warm up and strengthen before they operated on him. But he grew weaker and weaker and finally fell into a deep sleep from which he never woke up and died at 10:45 p.m. He wanted me to write and tell you that he was wounded but not to worry. He didn't think he was very seriously wounded and was not suffering very much. He was buried today by a Chaplain in an American Cemetery. The name of the town will be told you later on. I do deeply sympathize with the loss of your son Mrs. Skidmore, and if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know." It is signed by Rose Peabody, Home Communication Service of the American Red Cross.

His remains were later brought home as the family asked.

Skidmore's letters home to his family and his friend's letters to him provide a glimpse of the life and times in Jefferson, on the war front, and in New York City.

He asks who is taking care of his horse, Kit, on the farm in Clapper Hollow. The longer he remains on the war front, the more he asks how family members are doing. His stepmother writes often about his youngest step brother Frank, who was beginning to walk and talk. His stepmother writes one time that it is difficult for her to write as little Frank was being somewhat of a pest.

Once you begin reading the letters, you become riveted. You can tell he's homesick. He's in a country where the people are kind, but he can't understand their language. He talks about being safe and okay and able to eat his three meals. "Don't worry about me. I won't be able to stand it if I know you are worrying about me. I am fine."

He always addressed his letters to Mama, Papa, and All and usually signed them with love and lots of kisses. Mail calls when troops were on the move during the war became a valued time, hoping you received mail and to learn about what was going on back home. There were long lapses from the time letters were written and  to the time they were received.

Skidmore enlisted two days after his 22nd birthday and was stationed in France. Remarkably his letters home and the letters written to him were preserved.

His father was born in Jefferson and Frank Skidmore Jr., Carl's nephew, inherited the materials and the letters that had been preserved by the family. Himself a historian who had written books on the family's history, he had hoped to write the book but felt he was aging out and asked the right two people to lend a hand.

"He just got to the point where he felt he couldn't do it," said Ruquet."He contacted us to write the book."

It has taken two years to accomplish. "I didn't think I would get so heavily involved," said Ruquet, but she became fascinated by the story of his life and all the information. She credits Frank Skidmore with having the information organized for them. 

Berner's grandfather, Will, was a friend of Carl Skidmore and the book contains his letter to his friend.

"The letters contain a lot of information about Jefferson's life. The letters have been chronologically arranged along with newspaper clippings and other memorabilia, such as his enlistment papers.

"He loved being a Marine and he tells about ordinary life. He loved his church and he loved he Masons," said Ruquet.

She purposely looked up items that substantiated or clarified the information, such as the ship he sailed out on and the ship he was forced to transfer to after the original ship caught fire. There are pictures of the one-room school and his classmates. There are artifacts provided by Skidmore's nephew.

He and his older brother, Ashley, were both members of the Masons, like their grandfather. He talks about meeting some other soldiers who were also Masons.

The base of operations for the JHS is the old Jefferson Masonic Hall, also known as Judd Hall, giving connection to his family.

His letters home from the battlefield had to be approved by a senior officer, to make sure they didn't tell of the bad things or disclose any battle strategies. The letters were initialized by a censor, who read all the outgoing mail. 

Originally buried in France, Carl Skidmore now rests in Jefferson's Evergreen Cemetery, brought home to rest beside his birth mother, Mary Baird Skidmore, who died when he was just 10 weeks old.

His stepmother, Leona, came into his life at an early age. In addition to his older brother, Ashley,  he had two step-brothers, Frank and Morris, who were very close. Frank Skidmore Jr. is the son of Carl's stepbrother.

Their father, Morris Wellington Skidmore, was born in Summit. He died at age 62, while his second wife, Leona, was 80 when she passed in Florida in 1955.

Berner, who is president of the Jefferson Historical Society, has authored several history books and holds a keen interest in history and Jefferson's history in particular. He was able to provide many of the photos from his vast collection of historical images. It is the first book for Ruquet, who is a trustee and treasurer for the JHS. "It was quite a learning process," she admits. "We worked on some things separately and some together." 

Now they are both working on new books, separately.  Berner is hoping this fall to give a presentation about the book and to have dramatic readings of the letters by various people. He has had many people volunteer to do the readings. He also hopes to present it to the eighth-grade students at Jefferson Central School, with the students also reading the letters. "I would like to see a dramatic reading of the letters," he said.

Ruquet is determined to tell the stories of those who didn't return home to go on and live their lives. There were 60 men from Jefferson who served in WWI. All but four returned home. Skidmore was the only war fatality, the others died of sickness. She wants to tell their stories and points to the monument in Evergreen Cemetery that lists their names. She believes it is important for people to know about those who had their lives cut short after committing to defend our nation.

The book is available at the Jefferson Historical Society or at Cat Nap Books in Cobleskill. The cost is $30.