Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-09-06
LETTER FROM A. II. koNlo-
MAChER.
Camp Dodge. 1;

lamp Dodge, Ia.
DR.. r. C. Lahman.
Dear DR.. and Friend: Arrived
here all o. X. and sure glad in
many senses of the word for a
change in statis. Had STAYED in
TT. Riley another week | sure
would of been cooked. This 1903
in shade and a Kansas hot wind,
coupled with the grind of drills
and hikes, will teach any man to
stand without hitching, am here
to state. Camp Dodge is Won
derful place, even though i'm en-
bronlc condition, so to speak.
Thousands of workmen are stin
busy and will be until snow flies.
The main street is four miles
long, with four rows of barracks
that accommodate 200 each, on
either side. All barracks are two
stories and a complete unit by
itself. There are about 1000 line
offlcers here now, many from TT.
Smelling. SO far | have not met
many that | know. Four ambut
lance companies came today, also
Two complete field hospital units
from Fort Riley. The 5th the
first draft men come and | sure
feel sorry for them, as there is
absolutely nothing here for them
as yet. To date 200 line officers
are staying in the down town no.
tels Tor lack OF cots, blankets and
other necessary necdfuls. This
Will be corrected shortly. the
quartermaster says. But it looks
DUBIOUS to us all. The drill
grounds will be nice when they
get them in shape. am STA
TONED at the base hospital, which
IS the largest building in Camp.
Have two smaller hospitals ad-
Joining for contagious cases and
one for convalcscents. This gives
US room for 500 patients. which
they say will be badly needed. for
men coming from civilian life and
tIle exposure always bring a
varied amount of infections with
them. So far we have thirty-siy
patients at the base hospital. ono
OF scarlet fever practically ey-
posed the whole camp and we are
expecting trouble, as the case is
OF a vlrulent type. | am detailed
10 heart and lung work and have
TWO bad pneumonia cases which
occupy much of my time. The
staff take turns at officer of tbe
day and tomorrow is nv t,1rn
Have to inspect all mess and mako
aletitlc charts for the cooks.
check over all supplies and visit
each ward and make daily report
TO Maj. Shoock, who is commend
ing officer of the hospital. The
paper work is hard. Everything
requires special form. ALWAYS
Two copies of each for filing. and
vouchers for all supplies used
during your "a hours in charpo
some OF these wish | had 7 s
DeWell or c. w. Kellogg here to
help me on, as am certain thew
require lawyer. not a doctor.
Today we had a bad storm two
inches of rain. A team of horses
was Killed by lightning and the
1eamster stunned. He responded
10 treatment by the lunpmotor
after about one hours work. am
happy to state. Was out TO the
Ialr grounds the day the Third
Iowa paraded before the povern
or and staff. Ii sure was a fine
slght. Met Lieut.. Col. FINLEY from
nome, also Capt. Powell. and had
mess with them. They are all
ANXIOUS, as they expect orders TO
Garden City, l.. l., any minnie
Inc Third Iowa is known as ono
OF the crack regiments of tba
RAINBOW division. Also met tha
dentlst from Logan. Can't recall
ms name as | write. He has been
assigned as ranking dental sur
geon for the Third. Have intend
cd gong to Ft. Des Moines TO SEQ
". Hansen, but as yet have not
hao the time. Several of US are
Planning on going Sunday if we
can get leave from post duties
Des Moines is alive with soldiers
and more coming each day. Ho-
teis and theaters are doing a
rushing business over here these
days. There are about 600 col
ored OFFICERS at Fort Des Moines
At night we have many small race
riots, for no one salutes them and
the resentment sure mixes things