Judson W. Dennis
Sergeant, Company L, 119th Infantry
American Expeditionary Forces
March 18, 1892 ~ October 17, 1918
“They killed a soldier boy here yesterday. I saw him. He was killed because he would not obey orders. Eight soldiers shot him…” Judson Dennis, South Carolina Sept. 1917
Greenville, South Carolina September 1917
Dear Bro. and Family-
How are you all by now? I’m fine and like it here just fine. This is a fine place and we have forty thousand soldiers here now so you can imagine what a place this is. They are carrying on the greatest work here I ever saw. This will be the largest camp in the world when they get it finished. We are no more 2nd Tennessee Infantry, but have been changed to Co. A 1st Training Batallion 55 Depot Brigade. This means we may be called out to go to France now just any day. I don’t believe that we will be here until Christmas now. We moved yesterday from where we first went to camp. I like here just fine. We never get lonesome here. Always something to go to. Have fine Y.M.C.A.s all over the camp, moving picture shows, meetings, schools of all kinds. We can take any course we want to take here in any books.
How is Hazel, Helen and Minnie getting along? Tell them hello for me. We have taken our vacination the other day. Made some awfully sick. I am very near well of my vaccination.
They killed a soldier boy here yesterday. I saw him. He was killed because he would not obey orders. Eight soldiers shot him. It seems bad but he would not obey orders and refused to work. We have never got our money yet. The Major said we would get it Monday. Well tell all hello for me.
Yours Sincerely,
Corp. Judson W. Dennis
Co. A 1st Training Batallion
55 Depot Brigade Camp Sevier
Greenville, S. C.
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