Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-10-03
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
ED RUMPF CHATS INTERESTING
LY OF LIFE AT CAMP GRANT
NIGHTS ARE COLD.

U1.I UIdnI, rockford, H., Sept. %
-Edltor Herald: AS [ promised Won
a letter l guess it is just about time
was pussy. | promised to write to so
many tnat | know it will be imnos-
slDle Tor me to get all around. so those
VINO nave not been personally favored
VIII nave to consider this a letter to
tnem' TOO, and write me in return
Except visitors from home, letters are
tne most welcome thing in camp. and
mere IS grand scramble twice dav
When the mail comes, and quite oftan
mere are disappointed, gloomy faces
When the expected one" does NOT
come. HoI
just a week ago tonight we landed
mere In our new home and things arc
adjusting themselves rapidly and thn
Boys are beginning to feel quite at
nome. We are all in good spirits and
happy family together, getting more
USED to the strenuous work and nick
ing 1t up rapidly.
Inls camp is an interesting Mace
much more extensive than most neonlt
imagine. 1t is about five miles SQUARE
now and much more surveyed and be-
ing built up. Most of the BUILDINGS
are arranged in streets and blocks.
others are quite scattered with drill
and parade grounds between Some
Idea might be gained from the fact
that there are going to be fifteen cen
tral heating plants with four large
boilers in each and twenty-five indi-
VlduaI plants such as for the hospital
and divisional headquarters. The hos
p1tal unit alone consists of 81 build
ings.
Our quarters are substantial frame
barracks, two stories high, 50x15O i'm
size, electric lighted and steam heat
ed when f1rished) and will accommo-
date ZOO persons, but after things get
nn1Shed and organized there will be
only 156 in each battery.
Our county bunch is all in the field
artillery and I think quite fortunate
to land there; it has many advantages
not apparent to the average person on
the outside.
Many OF you no doubt are wonder
ing how we are being fed. To be hon
est, it is better than I expected, and I
wasn't pessimistic either. We get
fresh meat in some form and potatoes
for nearly every meal, and for the
others We get beans, scrambled eggs,
bacon or something equally good. Our
DING room has twelve long tables,
6x20 feet and 6x16 feet.
We had our physical examination
and first "shOt in the arm" yesterday
and from indications quite a few are
going to be rejected. The examination
is necessary before the clothing and
uniforms are Issued, which we got last
night, as far as it went. The govern
ment is short on many things due to
the sudden need. The need we have
felt most is blankets, especially on
those chilly nights. We have two light
ones each now The beds are good
single cots with good springs and a
straw tick.
This was a big day here. Col.
Roosevelt was in camp and made an
address and we all had to march up
and gather around an elevated stage
from which he spoke. We happened to
land too far away to hear him well.
Eighteen thousand troops cover con-
siderable space even when massed.
Besides those there were seveal thous-
and civilians.
A letter from here would not be
complete without mention of the 7. M.
C. A. and the wonderful work they are
doing for the boys. There are to be
eight in all, several already open, and
they have an interesting program ev-
cry night, including some nationally
known lyceum numbers and individ-
uals. Besides that there are the read
ing and writing rooms, postoffice sery-
ice and free stationery.
The next quota from Grant Will
soon be here, but thew may not all get
in with us. as some Of the Iowa county
quota were put in with US. County
lines and town groups are scarcely
noticeable here except when the "home
paper" comes there is sure to be
gathering. and The Grant County Her
aid is deservingly popular
] must close for this time. and none
to be able tn write again. Yours truly,
Edward c.. Rumpf,
Battery F. 331st Field Artillery