Robert Presley Thornton was born July 26, 1893 in Nelson County, Virginia, the son of Robert H. Thornton and Sarah B. Thornton. A chemist, he attended the agriculture college at Clemson University where he was the president of the tennis club and a member of the Calhoun Literary Society, graduating in 1915. After the war he founded Thornton Laboratories, Inc. in Tampa, Florida. He died January 14, 1979 at the age of 85 and was in interred at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, John’s Island, South Carolina. The letters below were written to Martha Goudelock of Gaffney, South Carolina.
Letter 1
Undated, postmarked November 13, 1918
My dear Mrs. Goudelock –
Since I am located so near, I feel that I must write again to you. I was in the colon last Saturday and saw Miss Doriel Lee and Mrs. Jeffries. Mrs. Jeffries, I heard, is soon to be married, and Miss Doriel Lee is wearing a diamond which would be mighty nice except for the fact that someone else gave it to her and I couldn’t persuade her to give it back.
I saw Butler Hughes and some of the other boys in Spartansburg several times while I was passing through when I was stationed at Camp Gordon.
I had expected to go across in August, and even came home and told the folks goodbye; but I couldn’t get satisfactory arrangements made at Washington, so I didn’t get away. It now looks like I am going to be kept over here all winter and I am exceedingly unhappy over the prospect I am very anxious to get into the fight, and would give anything I owned for a chance to get across. I shall be most unhappy if the war ends and I don’t get a chance to be aware there is some fighting.
We are under quarantine now for 30 days – absolutely airtight quarantine -we can’t see a soul-can’t even buy even the smallest thing – and it is certainly about the most lonesome time I ever saw.
You must give Cap and the rest over there my best regards; and if you ever or any of the folks there, have time to write, I’ll be glad to hear from any of you.
I hope you are having favorable news of William-
Very sincerely yours
“Bob”
Lieut. Robert P. Thornton
Co. G 60th Pioneer Infantry
Camp Wadsworth SC
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Letter 2
Undated, postmarked December 12, 1918.
My dear Mrs. Goudelock –
I know you have been wondering what has become of me – and I can’t write but just a few lines – I am just beginning to recover from a tough case of pneumonia and have been at the base hospital over two weeks – I am just beginning to be allowed to write a few lines so goodbye and give my best regards to everyone-
Always just
Bob
Ward 35, Base Hospital
Camp Wadsworth, SC
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Letter 3
Undated, postmarked December 24, 1918.
My dear “Mother”-
I was very glad indeed to get your letter and the little bundle of flowers. – They cheered me up quite a bit.
I am awfully sorry that I shan’t be able to spend any of Christmas with you, but I am still in the hospital and it will be at least another week before I can get out – I know I shall have a dull Christmas in the hospital, but then I don’t mind it because I feel so thankful just to be alive as I wasn’t expected to live for several days – I have been walking around here a little bit and it feels pretty good to get to breathe a little fresh air.
It is very kind indeed of you to mention the good things to eat, but I wouldn’t have you to go to that much trouble for anything – They feed us pretty well here, and I shall get along fine – I can appreciate the thought which prompted it though.
Everything here is so mixed up here that I don’t know when I shall get out of the army – When I do, I am going back to Florida again.
I hope you’ll have a very happy Christmas, and I know if William comes home and I hope he does. Give my best regards to all the folks, and best wishes for a merry Christmas.
Always just
Bob
Officer’s Ward, Base Hospital
Camp Wadsworth, SC