The Tupelo journal., 1917-11-16
LETTER FROM CLARK TROY
Fort Mcpherson, Ca, 11-6-17

Mr.. S. j. High, Tupelo, Miss.
Dear Mr.. High:-Your appreciated
letter of 10th ult. would have a
more prompt attention but for the
fact that Uncle Sam uses me these
days and manages to utilize just
about all the spare moments too.
The mark set by the "Best Town
on Earth in the Liberty Bond sale
was not a big surprise to me-Just
another instance of Tupelo "show-
ing the way" to the balance of them
which work she has been regularly
engaged in for several years now.
The bulletins sent me were posted IN
our barracks, l wanted the boys to
see what a "sho nuf" town does in
an emergency.
| hardly know how to begin to tell
you what a helpful and necessary
feature of army life the Y. M. c. A.
is. 1t is all that this organization
means in civilian life and a hundred
fold more. Here, it is a home, a
-
church, a resting place, a meeting
place for the boys, and the only place
to go where you can feel the refining
influences once enjoyed at home.
The "Y" here is equipped with a
nice piano, Vcitrola, good books,
leading periodicals, stationery is fur
nished the soldiers; every week we
have some lecturer or musician out,
prayer meeting and services are held
regularly here. Then, all social
events take place at the "Y"-the
Red Cross girls come out every week
or so for an evening of song, follow
ed by a ''set around"
After being here a day or so | was
very deeply impressed with this
work. In fact, it is absolutely a vital
necessity during this war and any
amount of money spent to equip
other camps as this one is, will be do
ing a big and noble work, not only IN
the sense of affording pleasure and
comfort to the boys while they are
serving but in saving many a young
fellow from going back home headed
in a different direction than when he
left.
This army has a big per cent of
boys from IS to 23 years old, lots or
them young fellows VIII. clearly show
that they are unaccustomed to beng
away from home and to whom the
contact with daily temptations, is a
new thing in their lives. By this l
don't mean that every thing other
than the Y. M. c.. A. connected with
army life is bad. Not by any leans
The government has taken every step
toward safeguarding the morals OF
the boys, but there are many things
they cannot control, and these things
a fellow must avoid himself. II he
wants to avoid them, he can 90 to the
Y. M. C. A., if there is no Y. NJ. c. A.
he must of necessity sit through it IN
his barracks and when you consider
that this army represents every walk
of life you can we'll appreciate the
fact that it is well for the young fell
lows to have some place to go. after
duty hours.
To determine the good work done
by this organization, one only has to
visit some y. M. C. A. in camp after
duty hours. It is always full and ev-
cry fellow enjoying himself, either
writing home, watching a boxing or
wrestling match, listening to good
music, singing or reading good peri
odicals-this is far more helpful thar
listening to the average barrack con-
v~ersation, and the department.
was fortunate in being sent here.
Have found everything far better
than | expected and am glad indeed
that | am doing my bit. | hope be-
fore this thing is over it will be a
bigger bit. Have no idea how long
we will be here. Five of us have re-
quested foreign service and if we are
not sent abroad, | hope we can remain
at these comfortable quarters.
1t will be a gladstone day when
see old Tupelo again, but am afraid
it will be some months off.
My regards to the boys in the bank
and good wishes to you, | am,
Respectfully,
D. C. Troy.