The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-09-21
WATERFOWL SOLDIER
WRITES FROM CAMP
TO FRIENDS HERE

~ 1MIlvUO 1Lm
Mr.. and Mrs. E. Kohl are in receipt
OF the following letter from George
Lewandowski, who is a member of Co.
|, 340th Inf, at Camp Custer, Mich:
Received your letter and stamps to-
day and was tickled to death to get
them. You surely haven't forgotten me
| can see that and l tell you it makes
a fellow feel good all over l had in
tended writing you a letter the coming
Sunday, but after receiving your
friendly and encouraging letter
couldn't delay sending my thanks, but
had to write today. Should there be
such a thing that l won't come back,
you can feel assured you have done
your duty for the country, for you are
doing as much by sending things and
keeping up the spirits of the boys as
the boys are doing themselves, and if
| do come back, l shall pray for the
opportunity to repay you properly, not
merely in money, for such an act is
not measured in money; it is more
than that and you can believe me, l
shant forget it.
About sending anything, although we
get good food and enough of it, we
don't get fruit and candy and one
must have money to get that and I'm
broke, so if you have nothing to do
some day and you see a piece of
change you can't find use for, I'll be
very grateful for some fruit and candy
We sure had a dandy feed tonight,
for we ate in our own mess kitchen.
Every barracks has it's own kitchen
and up to now we were eating in an
other building. The officers of our
company are dandy, but of course one
must be on the jump and obedient and
clean. We have sanitary inspections
and medical inspections at regular in
tervals, so there isn't much chance for
fellow to get sick or contract dis
ease We also get the so-called "shot
in the arm" by which mean a needle
syringe is pricked in the back of eth
er armpit for about one half or three
quarters Of an inch, and fever pre-
ventive serum is then injected 1t |
makes one sore all over and also caus-
es an attack of fever but it only lasts
for day or two Some fellows get so
sick they are in bed all day Am just
recovering from my second dose We
receive from three to six dosees, so | |
still have some coming. 1t sure is
agony when the arm is so sore, for one
can't move it.
This stationery is supplied by the Y.
Of oh nd fhaxr
give entertainments, movies, services,
etc. Tonight Madam Forsyth of New
York is going to sing. Great work they
are doing. They will have seven build
ings in camp when completed
There is a rumor around we are not
to get furloughs and if that is the case
you folks absolutely must take a trip
down here later on. October % the
camp is to be dedicated and would be
tickled to see you here then or any
other time. Would send you a picture |
of myself, but haven't any money to
have them taken now.
Am drilling hard every day and |
slowly but surely are perfecting our
selves in the movements we have been
given. Later on will write a letter Civ
ing more details. Our daily schedule |
is: Arise at $40 a. M; assembly at
500; 10 minutes calisthenics; $50, |
mess; Tbs, sick call; 7:30, assembly
for drill until 1890; off till IL; mess;
1:3O p. M, call for drill until $3.50; off
till 500; mess at 600; retreat; at 9
p. M, tattoo which means no loud
noises, and at II D. m. taps, which
means lights out and everybody in
their hunks. This we do every day and
during our spare hours we wash our
clothes, sweep, make hunks, etc., and
amuse ourselves. You'd be surprised
what lot of things fellow can do in
short time. We're it only for some
purposes than war, this would be
dandy training for the young men of
the country. We have shower baths in
a separate house just about ten steps
from our barracks and is used only by
our company, SO we can battle as often
as we please. My first wash day was
dismal failure, for you should have
seen my towels and underwear after
finished washing. They were dirtier
than before. Am getting the hang of it
though, only l must get small scrub
bling brush.
Battle Creek is but five miles from
Camp Custer, and if one has money,
one can go there and get an ice cream
and satisfy sweet tooth Michigan is
dry, so the boys can't get any liquor
Of course that don't phaze me as you
know / don't drink