The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-09-07
ONE DAYS LIFE
IN THE j. S. ARMY
MILITARY ROUTINE AT FORTBENJ.
HARRISON, INDIANA
From Reveille to Taps the Boys Arc
Kept on the Jump-Soldierlv
Kick on the Chuck
Ambulance Co. No. Ia,
Fort Benz. Harrison, Ind.

August 27, 1917.
To the Clio Bunch:
We roll out at in the morning and
wash up and shave before the buglar
sounds that famous reveille call to which
the soldier has attached the words, Il
can't get 'em up, can't get 'em up, I
can't get up 'em up i'm the morning, i"
etc. And believe me it is hard to get
'em up. On these cool mornings it is
much nicer to lay in between the blank
cts than to get up. To most of you it
will be surprise perhaps to know that
we really enjoy blankets here in August.
We are wondering how we will stand it
this winter. but perhaps we will be inn
mune to cold by that time.
AT 5:4O we go out in he field for Is
mPutes strenuous "setting up" exer-
cises. They hit every muscle in the
body. squeeze your liver Until it looks
pale, change every cubic inch of gas in
your lungs and make ycu I, 81 and act
like soldier. This exercise puts us in
the right condition tor breakfast.
Breakfast this morning consisted of
bacon and bread, oatmeal and diluted
condensed milk Git contained ii trace of
milk at least and army C, tfee. By
army coffee we mean a decoctlun made
by allowing pail of hot water to stand
within sight of package of cheap cof-
fee. We drink it by the pint instead of
by the cupful. and strange to say it
seems to have no i'll effect on US. Lay
ing all jokes aside, this isn't such bad
fare after all. One thing about it, there
IS not much sickness and we are all up
in fighting trim.
After breakfast fatigue call" is
sounded. Fatigue, contrary to what /
had anticipated, doesn't mean tired"
in the army. 1t means to get busy and
pick up all the litter about the camp.
This Is done by special detail of men
and is called policing" So the first
lesson the soldier gets every morning is
to assume the attitude and carriage Of
a soldier and the second is to be sanitary
about the camp.
After fatigue each division Of the
army goes about It's days work which,
of course, varies with the organic tion.
The ambulance and field hospital COM
panies spend the forenoon on hikes.
During the hikes th.y occasionally stop
and unload the pack mules, establish
first aid dressing stations. practice litter
and ambulance drills, r c. The after
noon is given up to ills uction in first
aid, nursing, signal d,,ls, duties of
soldier, camp hygi. ne. diseases of the
horse and horseback r,dirg. Just be-
fore supper we have cur daily retreat,
at which time ''To the colors" or the
national anthem is payrd. During this
ceremony the men in the "a ks stand at
attention and the officers salute. thus
showing respect for cur fig and the
things for which it stands.
Supper is at g. When meal ia ready
the cook yells, Come and get it." The
enlisted men, with mess kits i'm their
hands, make mad rush for the kitch-
en- door, where they line up and wait
their turn. After the m, al each man
washes his own kit. After supper we
sit around and visit. or perhaps take
horseback ride, or go over to the pistol
range and fire few rounds, or go to
the movies at the Y. M. c. A. or over
to lecture or vaudeville at the perma-
nent barracks. The plan is to keep the
men busy from morning till night SO
that there is no time to get homesick.
Taps are blown at 10 This is the call
for lights to be out and the men to be
In their beds.
1t takes the most of my forenoons to
attend to my cases at the stables. In
each company is farrier, who acts as
MY nurse to the animals After dinner
| lecture an hour caily to the enlisted
men on diseases of the horse.
Briefly, this is the description of day
in the army with an ambulance COM
pany. OF course, there are Incidents
occurring nearly every h ur that create
excitement and interest in the work.
The most exciting time Of the day is in
the morning when the boys curry and
harness the mules. RUSSELL.