1916 three military photo postcards, 71st Infantry NY soldier in Texas

Set of three postcards mailed from same soldier in 71st Infantry Division back to family in NYC.

#1 McCallen Texas

Men getting their meal at the mess tent. In background row of tents.

Printed on negative ‘McCallen Texas July 6\ 1916 Mess Wagon 71^st Inf N.Y.’

“Dear Mother received your letter today & was glad to hear from you . I have sent a letter a – every 2 or 3 days since arrive here. I can’t understand your not receiving them. Billy(?)”

Postmarked ‘MCCALLEN, TEXAS AUG 3 1916’

Rust spots front top, back UR. Creases UL & UR corners. Black streak of ink UL of photo. Stamp missing.

#2 Pharr Texas

Aerial view of military camp, with house, barracks and, in background many tents. Note on right side row of covered wagons

Printed on negative ‘Birdseye view of 74^th N.Y. Inf. Camp, Pharr, Tex 9-23-16’

“Oct 29 – 16  Dear Mother One of the camps I --- while at. I have --- about 7 miles from McCallen. Willie”

Postmarked ‘PHARR, TEXAS OCT 30 1916’

Stamp missing. Toning on back on edges.

#3 McAllen Texas

Band members with instruments on horses. Shack on right has ‘Office LAUNDRY’ sign, and ‘EUREKA LAUND…Corpus Chr..’

Printed on negative ‘Mounted Band. 2^nd. F.A. McCallen Texas’

“Oct 31-16 Dear Pop. This is the band that lead the funeral it was taken taken on the way back from the train Willie”

Postmarked ‘MCCALLEN, TEXAS NOV 1 1916’.

Postmark ink transfer on front. Crease UR corner. Stamp missing.

(Red text is an electronic watermark that is not physically part of the photos for sale).

71st Infantry Division (The American Guard)

The regiment served on the Mexican Border at McAllen, Texas as part of the 6th Division, United States Army, on the call of President Wilson for duty during the Mexican Border Campaign in 1916.

Thirteen days before war was declared on Germany in 1917, the 71st was again called into the United States service by President Wilson for the purpose of guarding railroads and public utilities in New York State. In August 1917, the regiment proceeded to Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. Here, the 2nd and 71st New York became the 105th United States Infantry, which, as part of the famous 27th Division, United States Army, commanded by Major General John F. O'Ryan, fought in France and Belgium and assisted in the breaking of the famous Hindenburg Line. As the 54th Pioneer Infantry, the 71st Infantry fought in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and served in the occupation of Germany in 1918-1919

The 74th Infantry, whose home station is Buffalo, was commanded by Colonel Nathaniel B. Thurston, known to soldiers throughout the country as "Peggy Thurston," one of the fathers of rifle practice in America. This really remarkable man deserves a chapter in any military book dealing with the soldiers of New York. Alert and virile, both in intellectual strength and bodily vigor, he was an intense partisan in his likes and dislikes. He possessed keen judgment, great loyalty and strong determination. He was a natural leader. His instruction to officers and men always compelled interest because always replete with original and picturesque illustrations given in convincing fashion. He always distinguished between his official and personal relations with his comrades, being very formal and exacting in official life, sympathetic and kindly in his social life. He contracted fever on the border and after a severe illness, much wasted away, was sent north to recuperate. After some months he returned, apparently completely recovered, but died suddenly in January, 1917, at McAllen, Texas. The 74th Infantry was later designated as the 55th Pioneer Infantry, Corps and Army troops, and served abroad.