The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1917-12-13
RANKIN BOY IN CALIFORNIA.

Flave J.. Russell, brother of
County Health Officer Or. G. G.
Russell, of Johns, and Mrs. W.
H. Watson, of Brandon, writes
the following very interesting
letter to his father:
Ft. Winfield Scott, Calf, No
vember Is, 1917. My dear Papa:
You remember that it was the
9th Of August 1917, and on my
9th birthday that | entered the
officers training camp. Such a
funny incident! and just look at
the sevens!. During my train
ing and in target practice | was
assigned to target No. Z. | had
grown more superstitious every
day and wondered and wondered
whether Z was for good or evil.
During those three months OF
strenuous training when every
thing went we'll and I was light
hearted / would say that Z was
my lucky number; then some
times when nothing seemed to
go we'll and was down in the
mouth would say THAT z will
be my ruin yet" Ha, | bet you
do believe that | am supersti-
| tious. What do believe is that
| if a fellow will Work hard, Watch
closely, Worship a little, then
Wait patiently everything will
be well.
There were eighty-fve fellows
in our company to begin with at
Leon Springs, Texas. A few
were dropped before coming out
here and few more out here
ending up with sixty-tive. None
of us knew who were going to
get commissions until Friday
night of the 23rd. For the past
two weeks there had been quite
a bit of specializing and betting
on the outcome.
Friday night we were given a
banquet and eight of the officers
ate with us and were to read out
the names of the successful
ones after the banquet. We got
rid of those salads, meats. pies.
drinks and fruits as rapidly as
possible because the greatest
moment of our lives was to fol-
low, and the tension was awful.
Then the Captain stood up to
read the names-we were all
men, had stood numbers of phys
ical examinations, mental and
nervous tests, yet our hearts
were fairly bucking within us.
There were disappointments and
surprises. Some got more than
| they were expecting and some
that were expecting great things
got nothing.
There were forty-fve commits
sioned-two captains, eleven
first lieutenants and the others
second lieutenants. | was with
the second lieutenants. Of
course | am proud to be a COM
missioned officer in Uncle Sans
army, but the thing that made
me work and feel like | had
rather die than fail, was ! didn't
want to disappoirt you. re-
ceived my commission on Tues
day, the 9th. Will have a leave
of absence to the 18th of Deem
Der, then will be stationed at
one of the forts here for a time.
Although | have been away
from home for longer period, |
have never wanted to go home
more. But 2, 500 miles is a long
trip to make twice in so short a
time and, too, it would cost lots
| of money. I will stay here and
try ar make the best of it. |
declare it is hard to do when |
think of the fact that there is no
telling when / will ever have the
chance again. You have been
very good to write to me. Those
good letters about homefolks and
the wonderful little village of
Daniel help more than you will
ever know.
Of course, the past three
months have been rather siren
uous ones, but my work has just
begun. don't mind it at all.
/ wouldn't miss it-Wouldn' t
miss going to France for any
thing, if could help it. | think
fof home and homefolks often. /
Ger ainly don't want you to
worry about me any.
How are the young men from
home liking Camp Pike? | had
a letter from some one telling me
they were glad that | had volun-
teered and had not waited to be
called. You see they just had
the wrong idea. | told them
that if it had not been for the
call for men for this Training
Corr r would bovo uyaitnd until