Charles Mack in uniform and later in life with nephew Elbridge.
Charles Arthur Mack was born June 11, 1887 in Little Marsh Pennsylvania to Daniel Mack and
Uriah Jane (Bradley) Mack. He worked as a laborer at Eberle Tanning Company. At the age of
17, Charles married Sadie Irene Harris on April 26, 1905 in Lindley, New York. Charles’ brother
William Mack would marry Sadie’s sister Birdie Harris, while a second brother, James Mack,
would marry another sister of Sadie’s, Myrtle Harris. Mack enlisted on November 2, 1917. He
was described as being of medium height and build, with light brown hair. He served overseas
from April 27, 1918 to December 21, 1918. He was promoted to Sergeant on October 1, 1918,
and was discharged from the service on February 1, 1919 at Camp Dix New Jersey.
Charles and Sadie would adopt a daughter Jane Mack. Sadie passed away in 1930 in Chemung,
New York, at the age of 44. Charles and Sadie had been married 25 years. In 1960, Charles
retired from Eberle after 48 years of service. He passed away April 14, 1972 at Soldier’s and
Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania at the age of 84. He was interred at
Riverside Cemetery in Knoxville, Pennsylvania.
Special thanks to Charles’ niece Christine Berg for the photos of Charles and his nephew and
for biographical information on Charles.
Camp Meade, MD Nov 6, 1917
Dear Sadie
I’m going to write you a short line to let you know I am as well as usual hope you are well. I have to work so hard days that I don’t have time to think of anything else. Sometimes wish it would last day and night so I would not have time to think. The work I mean. But enough of that for this time I never felt better in my life the fresh air is doing me good but the old tannery would look good to me again.
Last night I was home we were having something to eat but when I came too it didn’t take me long to find out my mistake as it didn’t look natural to me and some way I could not get any more sleep that night but I’m so tired I guess I will sleep all right tonight
Well Sadie this is the part I don’t like to tell you about but as well now as ever. I have past my exam and mustered into the service so that means that I stay here at least six weeks more likely until the war is over but I expect to see you again before I go across.
The prayer meeting last night was pretty good about 300 men present and about 35 present at Bible class. This has been the hardest day so far eight hours nearly steady drill that means marching part of the time on double quick that is on the run and we have about three hours steady gun practice a day they say we have to catch up with Athena and 13 down here first so we will have to go some.
When we are at drill we have to keep our minds on our business as there is about 5000 men in the same place sometimes 30 or 40 officers giving orders at once so you see we don’t have time to do any dreaming while at work.
Nov 8 1917
Dear Sadie
I got out off about the middle of the other page so I thought I would sharpen my pencil a little am still feeling fine for a wonder as I have been in dust so thick I can hardly see all day. We are having the nicest weather I’ve ever saw have not seen a cloud since I arrived here but nights are cold.
Tonight when we got through they marched us down to the road for a few songs the band played for us there was about 6000 of us together so you can imagine something about what it was like.
I am going to send my old clothes home Saturday if I don’t sell them I may get a chance to sell them if I do I will let them go but you can look for them about the middle of next week.
Well Sadie there is no kneed of saying anything about how I would like to be with you tonight as you know something about how I feel about it.
Well there is a Bible class upstairs here tonight so will close for this time.
With love from your husband
Charles A Mack
Camp Meade MD Nov 18 1917
Dear Father and Mother
Just a line to let you know I received your letter glad to hear from you hope this finds you as well as usual. I am feeling good but would like to be home this morning. This is not a bad place here we are having fine weather no rain since I have been here and days are nearly as warm as summer. The drill is not bad since I have got used to the walking for the first week was awful.
You asked me about Orr King he has not been very sick as I know of he was on sick report for the first two or three days but not in bed he has all right now.
Jay H. is in Co. D 314th Inf same regiment as I am in but different Co. I see him nearly every day.
I am glad you have got plenty of corn as I expect to come home someday and I will want some Jonnie cake we had mush here for breakfast the other morn it was pretty good they are feeding us good now.
There are about 45,000 men here now. Our battalion was out for a 10 mile hike yesterday morning I’m getting so I don’t mind a little walk like that anymore.
We dug trenches most of last week have got them about the same as we will bring over there expect a chance to go over the top of them next week it is some rough road to travel,
They are joining us pretty hard now in order to make us catch up with the first men that came down here.
Well I guess I will have to close as it is nearly church time have service in YMCA building. We usually have Wednesday and Sat. afternoon off and no work Sunday so plenty of time to write and do our washings. Have a prayer meeting Wednesday night and Bible class on Tuesday night. Well goodbye with love to all
write soon Charlie
PS What is your RD no.
Camp Meade MD Dec 19 1917
Dear Mother and Dad
Just a line to let you know I am still here at well as usual I hope this finds you all well. I just received your letter Monday night once a week on the road now seems to get balled up every few days so it takes a long time to get through.
We had some pretty cold weather for a week now but it is warmer now. Had about 1 inch of snow but it is nearly all gone now and it is pretty wet out get wet feet every time I go out for any length of time. He wanted to know Jay Howell’s address it is Co. D 314th Inf Camp Meade MD
Well how is everything going at home now I expected to get there Christmas I can’t get away so we’ll have to stay here and believe me it is a bum place to spend our Christmas. They are taking men from here nearly every day now don’t know how soon my time will come and don’t know as I care as most any place is as good as this if we can’t get home. Nearly 100 have left our Co. In the last two weeks expect we won’t get a bunch of new men right after holidays. This seems to work about the same as a recruiting station they don’t take a whole regiment at once but keep sending out a few out of each Co. at a time. Well I will close wishing you all a merry Christmas
With love Charlie Mack