Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-10-03
BOYS At CAMP DODGE
ARE FEELING fine
Letter to Tribune Telling About
Trip, Company Assign
ments, Etc.

Camp Dodge, Iowa, Sept. 30-The
Kandiyohi County contingent which
left Willmar, Sept. %, is now finally
We were in Minneapolis
but two hours and most Of lat time
was spent in parading, together with
other contingents from various parts
of the state and preceded by fife
and drum corps. We travelled over
the NJ. and St. L. railway to destina-
ton and large crowds were on hand
at all stations with the waving of flags
by small children and, old war, veter-
ans. We also picked up q couple OF
coaches Of soldiers from Minneapolis
and it would be an injustice for me to
dwell at any length on the songs and
yells that we're pract1ced enroute to
camp. Suffice it to say that nearly all
were complaining of sore throats next
day.
This cantonment covers thousands
of acres and the barracks are five and
six deep for length Of about IL
miles with hundreds Of buildings OF
every sort and description and hun
dreds more In the process of eonstruc-
tion. Every barracks is designed uni
formly and feeds and shelters one
company, about $50 men.
There is an erroneous impression
prevalent on the part of the public as
to the food served For dinner today,
we had chicken, picked beets, and
onions, gravy, bread, baked sweet po-
tatoes, soda biscuits and watermelon
and tea, which should satisfy the most
discriminating.
Out Of the entire contingent from
Kandiyohi county that left the 22nd,
all were assigned to Companys C. D.,
E and F., of the 351st Infantry with
the exception Of four, these being H.
A. Johnson, an engineer, H. Gunder-
son who ran motor cycle shop at
Willmar, myself and Roland Della
Hunt, the three former being placed
in Company A, 313th Engineers and
the latter in Company D of the same
is practically all composed of trades.
men and professional men and is a
! very desirable branch of the army
! service
AS yet drill and routine work in this
branch has been comparatively quiet
but will gradually be increased until
the full maximum is reached Present
! indications are we will leave fol
France in March. The present state
of health of the boys is good and al
most all have undergone the innocu
lation and vaccination which is any
thing but pleasing.
The pastime of the boys is, football
baseball. reading and the various Y
NJ. C. AS are utilized to the fullest ex
tent. Our barracks is equipped with
a piano and barber shop and a poo
table is to be installed this week
There have also been number o
good boxing "skirmishes" and ou
regiment is soon to have a fife ant
drum corps. This afternoon a noted
cartoonist appears at our Y. NJ C. A
Discipline Is strict, tho not harsh
Revielle is sounded at 5:45 am. ant
all lights 60 out promptly at 10 pm
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday ar
half holidays and passes must be oh
tanned to leave the camp. On Sunday
there are hundreds Of visitors at tn
camp from all parts Of the state
Heavy preparations are being mad
for the next draft contingent whic
will arrive here about October Is, an
no doubt by that time number q
the Willmar boys will be made Coz
porals and Sergeants.
Company A, Iowa Engineers, whic
has been here broke camp the othe
day and left for Deming, New Mexic,
They are on their way to France an
will soon see active service.
!, Must close and shall avail myself {
!, the opportunity Of again writing 70,
Can assure you we all look forward
the coming of the home weeklies.
PRIVATE E. W. STENSON,
s Company A, 313th Eng1nssf