Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-12-26
G. ToRGEs0N WRITES
FROM CAMP
Winneshiek County Soldier Boy
Writes His Sister Mrs. Martin
Abrahamson OF Route
Three About Life AT
Camp.
LONESOME AT CAMP UNTIL.
LETTERS FROM HOME ARRIVED
Says He Wrote About Twenty
five Letters and Cards the
First Week He Was i'm
Camp.
Camp Pike,
Dec. 4, 1917.
Dear Sister:

SopiP ihO'
Dec. 4, 1917.
Dear Sister:
Received youli Nstter today and
was sure glad to hear from you.
like it fine here, only it has been
quite cold, and it has also showed,
but guess it has been some solder
back home. l had a letter from Ida
Ramlo yesterday and one from Olivia
and Gilbert today, so it will keep me
busy writing tonight Expect few
letters again tomorrow. Well l am
glad you are all we'll at present. /
can say the same. Well l can't write
very much about the camp, as we
are now inter1ed for mumps and
measles, so we haven't done any drill
ing for about a week We just lay
around until we get so lazy we can't
hardly get up to get our meals. 1T
was little lonesome for while un-
til the letters started to come. 1t
takes quite while for a letter to
reach here and back. Didn't you get
that picture? | sent one to Martin;
the rest of the folks got theirs al
right; maybe this one got lost. Well
when l get to Little Rock l will have
some more taken, so let me know in
your next letter if you received 1t.
will have to send one to Kate also.
Will perhaps hear from her tomor-
row. l wrote about twenty-five let
ters and cards the first week, that
doing pretty we'll for me, isn't it?
Would like to go home for Christ
mas, but there will be no chance.
Will have to wait until after the war,
/ guess. We can't even get up town
for possibly couple of weeks, hut
we dol't suffer any here. But | would
rather like to see the town.
Well here | am again today
didn't finish writing last night. Just
had dinner It's quite a bit warmer
today, but the nights are quite cold
here right along. l have a notion to
buy myself another blanket when
get to town.
That boy from Cresco got the
mumps today. He went up to the
hospital. He didn't leave Cresco I'M
til four o'clock that Sunday l left
DEBORAH. Wish we had gone up there
also. Thought l did pretty we'll hold
ing up my courage so good that
morning. Well it was a little worse to
leave all alone, that's sure, but l met
another boy when / got to Calmar
and when l got to New Hampton
there were several got on the train
there. / did not know very ma OF
them at first, but it don't take lone
to get acquainted with the soldier
boys. | haven't heard from Amt yet,
but expect to hear from him this
week. The mail hasn't arrived yet for
today. But just as l am writing this
the call to come and get your mail
was announced, and l received two
letters today, one from Roy Ramlo
and one from Hannah Ratvold. Well
I guess | have written about all l
know this time; hoping to hear from
YOU again before long, l remain
Your brother
GILBERT TORGESON.
Co. b 334 Nj. G.. Bn.
Camp Pike, Arkansas.
The following enclosure was TO
his little neice:
Dear Ineze:
Got your letter and was glad you
wrote. SO you are not going to school
now. Well l suppose it is quite cold
up there. You sure are getting to be
quite a writer Suppose you are walt
! ing for Christmas. What do you think
Santa Claus will bring you. Have
YOU sent him letter yet? Suppose ne
will give you some candy and nuts
and maybe doll. Well l guess | VIII
have to close for this time, hoping
TO hear from you again. With love 10
YOU from your uncle Gilbert.