Briscoe, William P. letter - handwritten     Handwritten letter [1st page]: “370 W. 58th St, N.Y.C. c/o Mrs. Cavanaugh Mr. W.E. Gordon Dear Sir & Friend It is with pleasure and honor that I am able to state my experiences in the Navy. I enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Forces at the best of my knowledge, April 15, 1917, went into active service May 18, 1917, as a cook third class. Attended the first school for Navy cooks being the third one to enter this school. After two weeks training, was made 2nd class. Transferred to Bensonhurst Base # 6[4]9 where I was for two weeks as a cook." handwritten letter [3rd page is 2nd p.; 2nd p.is 3rd p., in reading order]: "I was then transferred to U.S.S. Gloucester and was crew’s cook for the first two months until I got to making too many cakes & pies and then the Captain and I was aft until May 18, 1919, and then: -- Transferred to U.S. Navy Gas Engine Course, which was five weeks and in that time we quarter[ed] aboard the U.S.S. Granite State. After my completion of this course I receive[d] first class machinist and made Assistant Materiel Officer of these schools. In a six months time I was made Chief Machinist Mate. We had at this station or controlled from here all the mechanical schools on areo nautical [i.e., aeronautical] mechanics, and the making of all the sub-chasers engineers. Our staff [asvchis?] station was an personnel of 350 men mostly all commissioned and Chief Petty Officers like myself. The staff taining system of every branch of aeronautical mechanics & marine gasoline Engineering Proffessors [sic] of Columbia University headed"... Handwritten letter [4th page]: ..."by Dr. Lucke, was and now Dean of Engineering at Columbia. I was buying all the materiel and supplies that was necessary to maintain this station. I was released from active duty, April 11, 1919. I have already received an honorable active service certificate from the war department for my services in the Navy. I am still in reserve and can be called on again. Hoping I have fully describe[d] myself and my services to my Country, and wishing You the greatest success in your work. Yours, Patriotic Patchoguer Wm. P. Briscoe”