Iowa
Old Press
Nashua Reporter
Nashua, Chickasaw co. Iowa
June 11, 1930
Our Gold Star Mother Writes Nashua Friends.
We are privileged to publish the following letter from Nashua's
gold Star Mother, Mrs. Emma Thompson. The letter was addressed to
"Mrs. Lathrop, Smith, Eckes and Riggs:
United States Lines SS
May 19
Dear Friends
This is going to be a family letter. I am sitting on the third
deck in the sun feeling fine. But I have had sea sickness with
all its trimmings, but that don't hurt any one. It is nearly
dinner time (or lunch as they call it). We sure are waited on,
all but put the food in our mouths. We saw another large ship
last night, going the same way. Ours is heavily loaded, there
being 450 Cold Star Mothers on board, besides more than 1,000
other passengers. We are (the Gold Star Mothers) to have our
pictures taken today after lunch. We will be grouped by states.
The ship is quite crowded, have four in a small room, four beds,
two lower and two upper. If we could have had the Harding we
would have had much more room and better accommodations, but it
was out of order. We expect to land on Friday of this week. It is
taking longer to make the trip than expected. We have a bath
every night in salt water and it makes one feel fine. Everything
is so clean and neaty, and the food is very good. It is
interesting to see the different kinds of people, but no colored
people such as negroes. The high and mighty, think they are it,
but we Mothers are the favored guests on board. While in New York
they took us in buses to parks and places of interest, and all
around it has been a fine trip, only for the seasickness. Some
are not sick. will tell all about it when we get home. I am in a
room with Waterloo ladies whom I knew, and one other lady, four
in all. I am not stong enough to walk the deck much yet, but will
try it this afternoon. The doctor wants me to go on the upper
deck, out in the sun, but the wind os so strong I don't think I
will. One lady lost her hat out on the lower deck, the wind blows
so very hard. Well, it is abut time to eat, so will close. Love to
all my friends.
Mrs. Emma Thompson.
-----
Nashua Reporter
Nashua, Chickasaw co. Iowa
June 25, 1930
Mrs. Emma Thompson arrived home Friday frm her trip to France
with other Gold Star Mothers, where she visited the grave of her
son, Robert Thompson, who gave his life in the World War. Mrs.
Thompson has quite a collection of pictures and suvenirs, and can
tell an interesting story of her trip. She says the treatment the
Gold Star Mothers received from the government was simply
wonderful. Every need was anticipated by attendants and looked
after.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2005]