The Ordway new era., 1917-11-02
ORAN BELVEAL WRITES

Oran Belveal, one of the soldier
boys from Ordway, stationed at
Camp kearney, gives some interest
ing information as to camp life in a
letter to his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
T. j. Belveal. He says:
We are having a fine time of it
and are getting three square meals n
day for Uncle Sam surely knows how
to feed his men.
The camp isn't nearly finished
yet. but workmen are still at work
on it. There have been between
1000 and 5000 men at work and
1000 teams. so that things have
been moving right along since we
came here.
Our daily routine of work con-
sists of exercises in the morning
from 5:45 until 6; breakfast at
els: then forty minutes of physical
exercises from 1920 until s; drill
from S until 10 for those who are in
the band; then hard practice for us
fellows, but the boys who are not in
the band continue their drilling until
1880. when recall sounds; then
comes the best part of the day, for
mess blows at IL O'Clock and we are
always ready to eat.
The afternoon drill commences at
1905 and lasts until recall sounds at
AIS, when all drilling stops for
the day. II the exercises and drill
ing we get don't make men of us
there isn't anything that will.
The boys get Wednesday after
moons off and they can do what they
please They can go down to San
Diego. down to the coast or amuse
themselves in camp for there are all
Of fn1fho11 haEnhan
grounds here. We also get Saturday
and Sunday off
The camp is built in blocks on
the same principal as city. except
the blocks are a quarter of mile
square, the streets are paved and
are electrically lighted. The kitchens
and mess houses are built together,
facing the streets, and are built
about twenty yards apart, Each
company has its own mess house.
The weather is fine here and two
blankets are all we need at night
The Y. NJ. c. A. is sure doing lots
for the boys. There are five in
camp and there Is some kind of
program at each one every night.
moving pictures three times a week
and church on Sunday.
Il went to San Diego harbor Sun
day, October 13. The battleship
Oregon and two others were at an
chor in the harbor that day. large
British transport was in the harbor
yesterday. 1t had five decks above
water and carried crew of 2,4O0
sailors. 1t was also mounted with
guns ready for action
AerOplanes are common sight
here as the training station for avia-
&c tod ttYc tIn ba,
south of San Diego. on the Coronado
Islands. Almost any time during the
day one can see from one to dozen
in the air.
"Train service is fine here. four
trains a day to San Diego and back.
and the auto stage line runs all of
the time.
"Whiskey is not allowed to be
brought into camp under any cir
cumstances and each time a person
comes into camp they are searched to
see If they might have some.
"All of the cavalry, with the ex-
ception of one regiment, has been
dismounted and transferred into in
fantry. The Second Colorado infan-
try has been broken up into new or
ganizations. The headquarters COM
pany was transferred into the Second
Truck company, 115 ammunition
train. But nevertheless we are stn
holding the band together. We all
got new instruments about two
weeks ago and they are certainly
fine. We played for a parade that
marched to division headquarters to-
day mad / sweat more than ! have
since l quit shoveling mud in the
irrigating bitches at home"