Judson W. Dennis Collection
Sergeant, Company L, 119th Infantry
American Expeditionary Forces
March 18, 1892 ~ October 17, 1918
Judson W. Dennis was a 24 year old farm boy from Model, Tennessee in Stewart County. He was an unmarried farmer and raised tobacco on land he shared with his brother, Tom. From his letters home, we know that he owned a mare, Old Annie, of which he was very fond. We also know he had many friends and was very fond of his brother Tom and wife Minnie’s two little girls, Hazel and Helen. Judson corresponded with his mother Minnie Dunlap Murphy of Granite City, IL and his brother, Thomas Milton Dennis of Tip Top, TN from the time of his departure from Tennessee in Sept. 1917 for Camp Sevier in Greenville, S.C. until days before his death in France in 1918.
Following, in chronicological order are those letters, transcribed by his great-niece, Jan Dennis Philpot. Because of the materials with which he sometimes had to write, as well as creases in the paper, it is sometime difficult to make out all he is saying. In these few cases, a ? appears where this is unclear. Following his letters is a transcription of the telegraph informing Tom of his brother’s death, as well as a letter from a soldier friend of Jud’s who was with him at his death.
Pride Won, Patriot Lost – Biography of Judson Dennis
Sept. 1917 Letter from Judson in Greenville S.C. to his brother Thomas Milton Dennis in Tip Top Tennessee,
28 Apr. 1918 Letter from Judson to his mother Minnie Dunkap Murphey in Granite City IL
28 Apr. 1918 Letter from Judson to his brother Thomas Milton Dennis in Tip Top Tennessee 28 Apr. 1918
6 May 1918 Letter from Judson to his mother
ca 1918 from Judson in Camp Merrit NJ to his brother
2 June 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his mother
21 June 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his mother
14 Aug. 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his brother
17 Aug. 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his mother
6 Sept. 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his mother
4 Oct. 1918 Letter from Judson in France to his brother
19 Nov.1918 Telegram from Army re Judson’s death
19 Jan. 1919 Letter from Sgt. P. Andrews in France to Thomas Milton Dennis re the death of Judson