The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-08-06
SOLDIERS NOW Of
THEIR UNCLE SAM
AFTER TWENTY WEEKS Of MARKING TINE COMPANY
A IS IN FEDERAL SERVICE AGAIN

One sunday morning last March,
the members of Company A, just
back from the border, marched with
the swinging steps of veterans up
Fort King avenue to their armory,
where they were mustered out of the
Federal service and again became
soldier citizens of Florida. They ex-
pected to be called again in a few
weeks, Or at the least two months.
But the weeks have gone by, and
they have patiently waited, at their
own expense, for the country to call
them again. They have been a
mighty fine example of the true old
saying, "They also serve who only
stand and watt
They haven't altogether stood still,
for most of them have attended drill,
and almost everyone has been a re-
cruiting officer, using his influence to
change some friend into a comrade.
And they have probably been the
most powerful of the many agencies
working to that end.
Sunday morning, August 5, they
"fell in," and automatically became
again the soldiers of Uncle Sam.
Most of the old border crowd was on
hand-a few have been mustered out
because relatives are dependent on
them-but they will join again if the
country really needs them. And
TAPS" has sounded for one.
They began the wars work without
any display-lined up in the armory
shortly after 9 o'clock Sunday morn
ing and answered to their names as
Sergeant Harris called the roll.
There were 118 present, for a num-
Der had not been able to arrive. Most
of them were veterans, but forty or
more were recruits. After roll call,
they turned in and did all the work
necessary to do, but it being Sunday
as we'll as their first day the officers
made it as easy as possible. At noon,
all except those who are billeted at
home went around to the Ocala House
garden, where they had a substan-
tial dinner, served in picnic fashion.
At 2 p. m. the company mounted
its guard for the first time in the
war. There was some drill, not
much. After that, tents were pitch
ed in the Ocala House garden, where
another good meal was served at $50.
At 7:45 nearly every member of
the company attended the services at
the Temple. At 9:45 tattoo sounded
and "taps" fifteen minutes later.
About midnight, the Stars reporter
went out to look at the camp. The
main guard was at the armory. The
reporter, under the chaperonage of a
non-com, visited the camp in the
hotel garden. It's just as we'll, by the
way, for you to keep away from the
camp after taps unless an officer is
with you. We didn't see the sentinel
in the shade of the tree, but he saw
US, all right. The men were asleep
in their ''dog" tents, two men to a
tent. They didn't look big enough to
hold two men apiece, but they are
"home, sweet homes" to a tired SOL
der. Sleeping on the ground is, going
to be mighty hard on them at first:
but before they have been in service
long, six feet by two of dry dirt will
be more comfortable than a bed to
the pampered citizen. We couldn't
see anything of the boys but their
feet, and they were not kicking, so
they must have been doing fairly
we'll.
Following is the camp routine at
present:
Reveille-5:45 a. m.
Police and sick call-6:OO.
Mess-7:00.
First call-7:45.
Drill-8:00.
Recall-11: 80.
Mess-11:45.
First call-1:45 p. m.
Drill-2:00.
Recall-4:0 100.
Retreat-5:00.
Mess call-5:30.
First call-6:00.
Guard mount-6:15.
Tattoo-9:45.
Call to quarters-9:55.
Taps-10:00.
If you keep this schedule in mind,
and listen to the bugle, you will soon
learn the calls, which is a good item
OF education these days.
PLUMBING AND
III ECTDIHAT (.ONTD 6vTTNC