Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-01-11
TELL OF ARMY LIFE
in THE WEST
Two Grand Rapids Boys In u. S.
Army Tell Their Experiences.

w hOu uuC OiuCl was SiFCu w Uuc
troops located in the western part of
the United States, to prepare to move
to China or the Philippines, it directly
concerned at least two Grand Rapids
boys. The two are Corporals Kirk
Muir and John Mahoney, both of
whom are in the regular army, and
both located in the west. Kirk be-
longs to a battery of artillery, and
John, to company of infantry.
Because of their being ordered to
the front, both were given the privi-
lege OF coming home to see their
relatives and friends for short time
before the date of sailing, and both
came to Grand Rapids last week.
Kirk Muir, who has been in the
service for nearly a year and half,
has had good fortune, being twice
promoted in the service, once to the
position of first class gunner, and then
to the office of corporal. So with
John Mahoney, who has, by the same
careful attention to duty, advanced
himself to the same office of corporal.
To their many friends in this city
who have been eager to hear the boys
tell OF their army life, and of the trip
they are about to take the young
army men had some interest.
ing stories to tell. Every trick
that the old hands have IN readiness
for the new recruit, the boys have had
practiced upon them, and they tell
many amusing stories about recruits
being sent after revielle oil, tailor
made blankets, the key to the parade
grounds, left handed sabres, etc.
Though the experiences Of both boys
are OF great interest, those of Corporal
Muir, are perhaps, the more SO, since
they treat of branch of the service
that is not generally we'll understood.
In speaking of the life of an artil-
lery man Corporal Muir SAID, 1--WE are
the hardest worked branch of the
army. Beside our regular drill with
the big guns, we have regular cayalry
drill, lots OF school work, learning to
care for horses and treat them when
they are sick, learning signal service
work, such as reading wig-wag signals,
telegraphing, ETC., and many other
little Things that are necessary to
make good artillery man. In re-
Spect to the feeling of the men as
regards the work, don't think there
is man In our post that does not
like the life, and who does not enjoy
the drilling. the regularity of ones
habit, the breaking and care of horses.
and all of it. And as to the moral
condition OF the army men,-everyoneI
has an idea that an army man is
practically the scum of American
manhood, and in so thinking they
make a big mistake. 1t may be
partially true in some few places, but
it is far from the rule. Our boys have
library and reading room, are as
quiet and orderly as any crowd of
boys who are as full of life as can be,
and in the reading room one would be
surprised to note the kind of books
that are purchased. All are bought
by the men themselves, and they con-
sist, almost entirely of standard
works; the boys read them, too, and
can quote the great authors much
better than many of our good" boys
at home.
Anyway, this talk of the American
soldier being man of low morals,-|
one who is full to overflowing with
deviltry-is always taken in a wrong
sense. Nearly every man who is in
the army long, no matter what he
was before, becomes a better fellow.
1t is true that he is full of deviltry,
but it is that same deviltry that has
won all our battles for US. War is
not friendly affair in any sense.
Shermans description of war is a good
one, and to be tit for it. man must
be trained more OF less toward the
deviltry condition. Even so, l think
that one will find a better condition