Evening journal., 1916-07-22
CRACK FUbL-BACK
ON mexican BORDER
Howard Bratton Jr., Della
ware College Star With
Maryland Troops
at Eagle Pass
WRITES TO FRIEND
ABOUT BORDER LIFE

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.
NEWARK July 22.-Howard Brat
ton. Jr., the crack fullback of the
Delaware College football team, who
is With the First Maryland Regiment
of Infantry located at Eagle Pass.
Texas. has written to Sergeant
Frazer, of Newark telling him some
thing of the life of the militiamen
along the border Bratton, who is
son of Dr. Howard Bratton Of Elk
ton, is q junior at Delaware College.
and last year developed into one of
the best fullbacks that the Gold and
Blue has had for some years.
Bratton enlisted the day the Elk
ton company left for the mobiliza-
ton camp at Laurel Nd, as
private. His training received as
Delaware College cadet under Lieu
tenant Charles G. Herman, q. S. A.
proved valuable to him as he has al
ready been promoted to a sergeancy.
Bratton is much pleased with the life
on the border and says they are near
enough to the line to hear plainly the
band with the Mexican troops on the
Mexican side.
Sergeant Frazer is a retired non
commissioned officer Of the United
States Army who served out a num-
Der Of enlistments and is now receiv-
ing a pension. He has charge of the
armory Of the college cadets and is a
general assistant to Lieutenant Hell
man.
The fact Of Bratton being away
with the Maryland troops is another
hard blow to Coach McAvoy's
prospects for a strong football team
next fall as It takes away his entire
1915 backfeld with the exception of
Captain Fidance. quarterback, and
four linemen have also been lost by
graduation or injuries. The letter Of
Sergeant Bratton TO Sergeant Frazer
follows:
With an intention Of writing TO
you as soon as I became fully settled
and lad something to tell you, l now
tcke pleasure to do So I am with
tie First Regiment Of Maryland. We
were the first Maryland Regiment 10
/ entrain and reach the border.
We are now about 1000 miles from
Mexico with a Mexican so-called army
lying directly on our front. The. music
OF the Mexican bands can be heard
distinctly while we are patrolling the
border. ! am interested IN every
phase Of military work. enlisted
at Elkton voluntarily the morning o
the day that my company left for th'
mobilization camp, at Laurel. Th
weather is very hot during the da.
but cool and pleasant Of evenings.
The Both Infantry OF the regula
service Rre detailed for our instrus
ton. Believe me, sergeant, they ar
fine instructors and under such tu
ton in three more months we vii
have an efficient fighting force. Tha
is fact / wish TO impress on you
sergeant Men who have been ant
are in the regular service have al
ways and with reason, regarded th'
militia as an inefficient bunch o
boobs These men were right. Oui
regiment was fully weeded out a
Laurel. All cutters turned sick ant
were sent home. Some few ! am sor
ry to say were ailIng from nothing
other than cold feet
We are now in the service of the
United States and every man is bes
to live up 10 the responsibility tha
is imposed on him II will be many
months, however, before we will b'
worthy OF the service. Please pardon
me for blowing my own horn by tell
ing you that l enlisted as a private
and have since been promoted to
sergeant What there may be in thi
promotion belongs to Delaware Col
lege, Lieutenant c. c. Herman. Jr
u and yourself. The only thing that
regret is that did not pay more at
tention to the instruction at Delawar,
College. !, however, successfully act
ed as Point" for our regiment oil
July TO- and was told by Major
Record. that our company was thl
most intelligent outfit in the regi
ment.
The main sport here now is watch
full waiting for pay day When l ge
that $50 l intend to celebrate m,
birthday, which comes this month
The town in which we are locate,
contains about 1000 inhabitants.
We have everything that regular
have except the same discipline w
have shower baths, etc. hardl
think l will be back in time to pla,
fullback this year. Time flys, and fal
is not so far off. Few men in on
company knew any military scienc
at the start and l have done my bes
to teach them that which l learne
at Delaware College. I have now
deeper patriotic feeling than ever an,
am prepared to follow the colors any
where they may go.
. Respectfully,
Howard Bratton, Jr.
The letter was written on July IS.