Letter from Richard Dillard Dixon written to his father on April 30th, 1918.
My dear Papa1–
Just a hurried note to tell you that we leave here Tuesday afternoon as per my wire to you this afternoon. We will probably be at port of embarkation several days. Please write there care
30th Division School Detachment
310 River St.
Hoboken, N.J.2
I have been very busy packing up and getting all my records straight before leaving. Will write you more when I reach Hoboken.
Affec.
Rich’d
Monday
Apr-30-1918
Papa1
Minton Hughes Dixon, Sr., “Papa” or “Judge” (1849-1923)
Father of Richard Dillard, George Brownrigg, MacDonald, Mary Elizabeth, and Elizabeth MacDonald Dixon. Prominent merchant in Edenton, North Carolina. Served as a Justice of the Peace, Recorder’s Court Judge, and city councilman. Married Sallie Dillard (1860-1910) in 1886.
30th Division School Detachment
310 River St.
Hoboken, N.J.2
According to the regimental history,
On April 19, 1918, Colonel Cox was directed by the Division Commander to name 18 officers and 30 enlisted men as an "advance school detachment" to precede the regiment to France for instruction. This detachment left the regiment on April 30th and sailed from New York on the steamship George Washington on May 8th. They landed at Brest, France and reported at the U. S. Artillery School at Camp de Valdahon, France. This detachment rejoined the regiment at Camp de Coetquidan, France, on June 22, 1918.
History of the 113th Field Artillery
Richard Dillard Dixon served with the firing section, which had direct responsivity for operating the guns, of this detachment.
