The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-09-01
THE BOYS ON THE BORDER
Leslie Tice Sends Some Interesting
Notes From the Texas Camp.

Leslie Tice Sends Some Interesting
Notes From the Texas Camp.
The following paragraphs are
culled from a letter written BY
Leslie Tlce to his parents, ano
the letter, though not intended
for publication will give some
thing of an idea what the boys
ale doing and thinking about
down on the border in the new
military life that they are living
The letter is probablyscharacter
istic of thousands of other letters
that are being forwarded daily
to the friends at home.
Llano Grand, Aug. l6.
1t is still raining here and while
doing SO the sun is shining making
it very sultry.
We are getting very comfortably
fixed in our Battery. A big new
mess hall is being erected, the old
one to be used as a sort Of writing
and reading building. Fine floors
are being put in our tents and we
also have all our equipment now.
The newest and most valuable assee
the Minnesota troops is large 7.
M. c. A building accommodating
about 1000 men. The building is
supplied with piano, phonograph
magazines, papers, stationary and
writing tables also religious
services going on most Of the time.
| attended church Saturday even
ing, twice Sunday, and once Mon
day getting to be quite church
goer. The Y. M. C. A. is run
practically the same as the Min
neapolis Y. M. c. A. with
secretaries from Minneapolis and
Duluth. The secretary from Min
neapolis is1the one | knew, when
was there, SO it makes it pretty
nice for me. ! spend most Of my
spare moments here.
We are not drilling at all to-day,
as we are holding a big field day
meet August l6-17. This being
the next day and having a little
spare time this a. m. will try and
finish my letter. Well the meet
was pulled off very successfully, we
had no men entered in the races
last out there. but won four out of
five ef the matches, and won the
ball game by scor of - ..
Second spasm-Well we just
arrived from a six mile hike. Our
exercises being a great weight re-
ducer, | have lost 20 lbs. since !
came here. altho don't show t
very much, it being about all
muscle now have left This work
certainly takes US down some, along
with the heat; to day its something
awful; it being l2O in the shade,
and no shade. | saw by the Min
neapolis papers that we received
our pay, but it is a false alarm.
As soon as we are paid will send
some money home to show | am not
wasting it foolishly.
Onr tents are very comic. table
now with our new floors, each has
stove to dry out with, it makes
things seem more home like to
have all Of these luxuries.
Our next big job is to clear of
10 more acres of swamp and
timber land for drill, ground, it
is going to be big undeit taking
| don't know when | will be home,
as it is just those in battery F.
that are to go. But don't believe
we will be here so very long. One
thing | am learning and that is to
work. They are not at all con
siderate about how you feel, in
doing work. Their motto is to
work first and grumble afterwards.
Well as | was just appointed Guard
will have to close as | will have to
clean up when we go on Guard,
have to be shaved, shoes shined
clothes cleaned and pressed.