News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-09-12
nth ANNUAL REUNION
Of Veterans of Co. d., 5th Vt.
Vol. Inf. at Lake LamoiIle

Vol. Inf. at Lake LamoiIle
Co. D., 9Th Vermont Volunteer
Infantry, held it's 18th annual re-
union a Lake Lamoille, Wednesday.
Sept. 5, with good attendance.
Automobiles were provided to con-
vey the veterans to the grounds.
where a business meeting was held
at 11.30 a. m.
The following officers were re-
elected for the ensuing year: Exc
cutive committee, Austin Wilkins.
Jackson Sargent, Henry Mudgett.
Geo. M. Lanpher, j. T. Stevens.
Mark Rice, L. P. Butts, Geo. Foss:
Officers of the Original Organiza-
ton, President, S. D. Luce, Morris
vile; Vice-President, j. w. Sleeper.
Waterbury; Secretary and Treas
urer, L. P. Butts. North Hyde Park:
! Chaplain, J. W. Sleeper, Waterbury:
| Officers of the Permanent Organiza-
ton, President. DR.. Geo. L. Bates:
Secretary, G. A. Wilkins; Treasurer,
w. M. Sargent.
Dinner was served by Caterer A.
C, Sulham at noon. after which the
exercises of the afternoon were held,
L. P. Butts of North Hyde Park
presiding. Prayer was offered by
Rev. F. A. Stockwell, following
which an ode written by Rev. V. M.
Hardy of Morrisville and dedicated
to the members. comrades and
friends of Co. D.. was sung by the
company present, led by Miss Alice
Gle. Remarks were made by Rev.
W. S. Post, interspersed with witty
anecdotes, and were a pleasing
feature of the program. The orator
of the day was Judge Geo. M.
Powers, who gave most eloquent
address. The program closed with
the singing Of America.
Music was furnished by the Nor
risville Military Band and Co. D.
Drum Corps.
The following letter, written by
DR.. Geo. L. Bates, who has for years
been most enthusiastic member of
the association, was intended by the
writer to have been read at the re-
union but unfortunately arrived one
mail late. We are glad however to
give the Doctors many friends an
opportunity to hear from him and
are publishing the letter below:
FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, ,
INDIANA,
Sept. End, 1917.
To Company D, 9Th Regt VT. Vol. Inf.
and the United Associations:
Were the conditions different and was
where | could again shake your deserving
hands and look into your faces, showing
the marks of time and it's hardships, |
might be able to say something you would
like to hear, but writing to you in an in
teresting manner will be difficult and is
an accomplishment l do not possess,
much as l would desire on this particular
occasion. l have been wondering, ever
since / received Glenn's letter, what /
should say and how the dickens | was
going to get the time to write anything.
After hiking ten miles, drilling two or
three hours, and attending five to eight
classes and lecture or two, with the usual
inspections and other organization details,
we don't have hardly anything to do unit
the next day-BUT STUDY-a perfect cinch
Yet not exactly summer school for
school teachers"
Fort Benjamin Harrison is situated
ten miles east from Indianapolis on the
Big Four r. r. and trolley from the city.
understand the city displays a good
many attractions for the soldier boy, but
| have not personally seen the time which
| could take to investigate.
presume they will hike us in some
mt rning before mess, and there are those
in camp who would take chance on that
if there was homemade breakfast at the
other end in view; however, our food is
fairly well cooked and plenty of it, too
In fact, too plentiful Of some brands in
SOME instances, still, all in ALL it is better
than expected. Have butter most every
day, also much partly cooked, thickly cut
bacon; dishes that stand well the work
and could stand even a little more scrub
bling. But, as l say, it is better than had
anticipated. There are forty-two in our
open barracks-close neighbors and all
good natured. A joke is the last sound at
night and the first in the morning.
Truly, fine bunch of real men, signed up
in a real cause, and who will account for
themselves by and through a REAL SER
vice. No branch of the service is giving
more, no branch greater sacrifice than
the medical branch.
We have here the regular army at the post
the line officers training camp and med
ical officers training camp, also the field
hospital and base hospital units, ambu-
lance, sanitary and national guard troops
There has been until recently, also,
battalion field artillery and machine gun
for the great problematicaI
voyage for oversee duty at an early date.
All told, there are about 1900 doctors
here of different ranks. The location of
our contingent is on a very level dry area
of clay soil, which becomes plaster mass
of adhesive mud as soon as there is the
first symptom of rain, and when dry is as
hard as pavement and very rough for
drilling or hiking. The roads are very
dirty and it is impossible to keep clean,
and we have good bathing facilities in the
shape of shower baths. They are well
patronized. We could not exist without
them for we are wet through with perspir-
alton most of the time. Our nights are
cool and really no one has asked to be
rocked to sleep since arrived. Our rock
ing comes mostly from 4:45 a. m. till 9
d. m.
But it is a great game for a great and
loyal purpose, and we hear no complaints,
no fault finding, no bickering-nothing
but earnest, conscientious work, hoping
for the best, preparing for the worst, with
out comment or question in regard to dis
position or possibilities. Hoping that our
efforts and our spirit shall be OF assist
ance in a cause that is righteous, looking
to the fulfllment of "World Democracy"
and the esta blishment of the rights of
mankind and q comfort IN thoaa We love