The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-09-06
SURVEYS FIRST VOLUNTEER
WRITES OF ARMY LIFE

WIFI ES Of ARMY LIZ
Arthur Ray Hardy, Surveys first
volunteer soldier, writes some very
interesting letters home and his moth
er sends us one to print in the mdepen-
dent. Ray is only 20 years of age so
would not have been included in the
draft but volunteered because h felt
it to be his duty to his country in her
time Of need. He would not be sub
Ject to the draft, in fact would have
been exempt as he is the main Deepen
dence of his blind father and his
mother and three small children.
He enlisted May 9th and was one Of
fifteen men sent to jefferson Barracks
May 18th. He is in Company c, Sec
ond Regiment U. S. Engineers, going
as carpenter and has been training in
Camp Baker, Ell Paso Texas. The fol-
lowing letter tells of his recent trip
with his regiment to Washington, D.
c.:
American University Grounds,
Washington. ID. c., Aug. 90
Dear Home Folks:
Arrived here O. X. Tuesday at 4
O'Clock p. M. Was on the train five
days and five nights. Stopped at sew
eral large cities and were allowed to
get Off and exercise. We took the
Texas Pacific out Of Eel Paso. Next we
transferred to the Louisville and Nash
vile railway. We did not follow up
the l.. & NJ like | thought ave would
instead we took the Southern railway
at Atlanta, Ga. Came through eight
states, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama
Mississippi, Georgia, North and South
Carolina and Virginia. 1t surely was
an interesting trip. The prettiest
scenery was along the Southern rail
way thru the Carolinas and Virginia.
This is an ideal place for a camp.
Lots of trees and green grass. We
stopped three hours at New Orleans.
Crossed the Mississippi river on fer
ry, took eight cars across at time.
We came over a bridge about two
miles long across neck of the Gulf
Of Mexico. The railroad runs along
close to the Gulf for several miles.
The trains stopped for one hour about
ten miles east of New Orleans and we
all went in bathing in the Gulf That
was the first time | was ever in bath
ing in salt water. 1t was a treat to
the boys to take a bath and change
clothes, as we carried a change of
clothing in our packs. The train stop
ped at Alexandria, Va, about twelve
miles from here We came the rest
of the way in street cars. We came
thru the southern part of the capitol
city, were within about three miles of
the White House, passed by the En-
craving Bureau and Washington Mon
ument The town is about half mile
from camp, tho there are residences
just across the road. For the present
we ar sleeping in pup tents, just a
small shelter for two men made by
buttoning two shelter halves together.
This is only for two or three days.
We will either build squad shacks or
may be put in barracks. SO we are
not off for France for awhile yet. The
Tenth Regiment Of Engineers are also
camped on the University grounds.
They are just a new regiment organ
lied in June. All of their commission
ed officers are reserve officers. The
commissioned officers of the Second
Regiment are nearly all West Point
men and have seen service in the
Philippines, Mexico or the Hawaiian
Islands. All of our sergeants have
seen service in Mexico. The most of
their fighting was in the vicinity of El
Paso. Jaurez, Mexico, just across the
Rio Grande valley from Ell Paso was
captured by the rebel forces and re-
captured by the Engineers and de-
tachment of cavalry from Fort Bliss.
We look like regular soldiers compar-
ed with the Tenth. We sure had stiff
training in Texas You can tell the
difference in the men as far as you
can see them. Wherever we stopped
along the way people remarked about
what a healthy looking bunch Of men
we were.
The people here treat the soldiers
like men. Whenever you pass civil
ian on the street he speaks and if you
want any information about how to
find a place he is willing to tell you.
The boys were all glad to leave Ri
Paso. | hope we stay here as | don't
know where they could find a better
place for a camp. Next Sunday | am
planning on a sight seeing trip to the
government buildings and l hope to
have some interesting things to tell
about in my next letter. Will close for
the present, hoping this finds you all
well. Love to all. Write soon.
RAY.