Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-12-26

being the first Viola boy to land in France
with the army.
Philip Shumway of Genoa, has beer trans
ferred from training camp at Camp Grant,
Rockford. to Kelley Field, SanAntonio, Texas.
IBy Captain Adolph Heinz, l6Oth Brigade,
Camp. Custer, Mich, Dec. IL, to o. G. Brown
Dear friend Otto: 1t with considerable
interest that noted short time ago that you
had taken such desperate chance at your
time in life. l fully intended to send you
card, and then / thought ought to write. OF
you know how writing goes in the army
you Just keep putting it off, and putting il
off, and finally forget all about it. With me
it's not new malady, it's a disease OF long
standing-chronie and incurable.
| have one of those adjutants jobs and it
surely has kept me grinding for the past two
months Practically all of the officers Of our
outfit are inexperienced in army paper work,
and it surely has been a monumental task at
times keeping things straight on the record
side of things. One thing that makes paper
work particularly heavy is the fact that our
outfits are continually being shot to pieces by
having men sent away TO other units all over
the country. That involves whole lot of pa
per work. Then too, there have been whole
lot more wrinkles sprung since the
mencement of the war. Liberty loan allot-
ments, deductions for family allowances, and
risk insurance. reports galore regarding
the occupations of men for the statistical de-
partment "a new thing reports to diseases
men have had, etc, have just kept everybody
humping since the beginning. l. some
times wonder how much of Virginia and Mary
land there will be left when the government
gets through renting enough ground space for
all the records which will accumulate as a re-
suit of the war
But notwithstanding all these side issues.
and the handicaps we have had by reason of
losing men to other divisions, there has been
some remarkable progress made along the real
essentials of the military game. The spirit Of
the men has as rule been fine. There is not
that bombastic, verbose and self-satisfed air
here that WE, because are Americans, are
going to go intothis war and Just trim h
out Of Kaiser Bill by the sheer force of our
presence. On the contrary there seems to be
a realization here that we up against the
stiffest proposition have ever been called
upon to face in the history of our national life
and that it is UP to Us to get right down to
brass tacks and prepare to give all that Is in
us. l think that this has amply lustrat-
ed that it is not wealth and numbers alone
that will assure success, and sometimes won
der as | read press dispatches and accounts
whether not the public in general quite full
ly realizes the real situation We know that
we are at alright because, well because
know it But we don't really feel II as yet
and probably won't until the casualty list
gets right down TO home. But from all that
have been able to observe here. this camp Is
not suffering from any illusion that we're out
any picnic frolic | am inclined to believe
that the same attitude prevails at all other
training camps.
How is everybody? l note that Neil has
gotten the idea that John d. will need d
successor, and that il might be well to prepare
in ample time for the emergency. 1t does
seem rather hard. though, that the dear old
chap should be reminded Of the fact that the
scythe of Father Time spares no one, and
that soon he must reinquish the reins of his
worldly power. But there ought 70 be some
satisfaction in the knowledge thai worthy
prince succeeds him.
Kindly remember me to all the fellows when
you them. Write when not too busy, or
family ties do not deprive you of spare mo-
ment
by Sergeant Chas. V. Porter. Waco. Texas,
December 10.
Are Strengthening up our work so we can
close up and finish Capt. Buffers has been
transferred to division quartermasters office
and will leave us soon, but we will be left here
until school breaks up and then we will be put
into regiments as regimental sergeants and
will not lose our rank and will not be near the
firing line. VIII be in Waco a month yet or
more and if go to the coast will be there
probably two months. Capt. Buffers tried
hard to take with him but there was no
place for us. He will get a pretty good job.
/ guess.
By Troy NJ. Thompson. United States Navy,
on New Hampshire, Nov.22
Dear Mrs. Brown: Your letter made me
feel homesick. 1t really makes me feel good to
think there are people back home that takes
interest in Yes. ones plans easily
be knocked in the head in such crisis this.
But | am not sorry that am in the navy.
am drawing SAL yer month. The sailors are
furnished very good eats. II is little Job
picking your associates from bunch of fellows
from all over the United States. / wish we
had chaplain on board ship. Why g? Because
chaplain would check and build up better
everyday language Also there are a great
many boys that young and need some one
to tell their troubles to, also 90 to for advice
Then again, a chaplain would help the young
boys pick out their associate.
We have goods crew library on this ship,
for which / thankful. But / see so many
of the young boys reading detective stories,
and snappy things of that order in preference
to getting good library book.
Letters and sweet eats greatly relished
by all sailors in the navy.
IBy Sergeant Guy H. Smith. Co. B 341st Inf.
N. A., Camp Grant. ILL.,. Dec. 10l
Dear Mr.. Munson: Tonight, while military
.I...s AnI.s L nd Ah.t