Transcription of Jay H. Crawford World War I Diary

The diary, kept by Sergeant Jay H. Crawford, details a World War I soldier’s experience in 1918. It starts in Houston in May 1918, describing Crawford’s journey to the east coast, and later to France. The diary discusses his experiences in France, including describing airplanes and dogfights in May and June, and describing the aftermath of the Battle of Verdun. The diary consists of multiple longer passages, with dates referenced in narrative form. The last events discussed appear to date to October of 1918.