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HOCAMP LETTERS


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Herbert and Emma Hocamp at Fort Worden, Washington 1918

Herbert L. Hocamp grew up in eastern Audubon County on a farm near Exira. He married in 1913, and in 1915 Herb and his wife Emma were farming in eastern Audubon County (Exira P.O.). By the time Herb was drafted into the Army they were had purchased a farm across the county line in Grant Twp., Guthrie County.

The collection of letters below were written by Herb and Emma to Fred and Mary Fett. Mary was Emma's youngest sister, and "Eleonora" mentioned in some of the letters was Fred and Mary's oldest daughter (about 2 years old at the time). "Ruth" is also mentioned, Fred and Mary's second child, and "Julia", another of Emma's sisters.

Herbert went into the Army in December 1917 and was initially stationed at Fort Flagler, Washington, but was later sent to Fort Worden. Like many other drafted farmers, Herb and Emma were faced with selling or renting their farm land, since Herb would not be home to farm it.

In April, 1918 Emma chose to travel by train to Washington and live near the base so she could spend as much time with Herb as she could before his possible deployment to Europe The letters mention other Iowans stationed with Herb, and other wives/families who followed and lived nearby. One soldier, Emil Wedemeyer, a friend from home, died at the camp, and the letters mention other deaths at the camp that spring. The cause of Emil's death is unclear in the letters but interestingly enough the Spanish Influenza was sweeping through Army camps in the United States during this exact time period. The influenza began making its appearance in February and March of 1918, and the first cases were generally mild. But later spring brought outbreaks of increasing severity. Eventually thousands of soldiers died from the Spanish Influenza, often seeming to initially recover, but later succumbing to pneumonia or other complications.

Most of the soldiers mentioned in these letters are from Audubon Township, Audubon County or Grant Township, Guthrie County. However, several men from Atlantic (Cass County) are mentioned, and one from Winterset (Madison County).

Herbert and Emma did not have any children. When Herbert and Emma retired they moved to a small house just off Main Street in Adair, where Herb served as Justice of the Peace for many years. Emma was widely known for her beautiful quilting.

 

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