East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-05-29

A picture Of life Il Fort stevens is
given in the following interesting let
ter from Private Russell A. Bowers TO
his parents i'm this city:
III. Stevens, ore, 2nd co. c. A. c.,
May ~, 1917.
Dear Mother and Father:
/ will tell YOU of some of our daily
life while in the army. At $50 "A. m.
"a bugle blows. at 5:45 reyeille. from
5:50 to 6:lO exercises, then all par
take of breakfast at $50. sick call at
7:15. II you are not sick enough to
have attention YOU need not report
sick at the office. FROM 500 to $3.50
infantry drill; $500 to 100, artillery
drill; dinner at 1900. Al 100 p. m.
infantry drill till 2.U0. From ESQ
till $3.50 more drill; supper at 5:I5f
retreat at 500 and then YOU are free
until $50 a. m.
Some people think that the army
consists of the rougnnecks. That is
all they know about II. OF course
there are some pretty bad men in the
army and still there are some pretty
bad men in Pendleton. Just the same
they are not allowed to do as they
please here. They will allow no rouGh
Language or swearing. OF one man to
impose upon another. All men are
treated as equal as possible. II
man hits another he gets $50, six
months in the guardhouse and $50
fine. which will take $40 "A month out
of his pay till his fine is paid. II
a man doe little petty things like
missing reveille or retreat. he gets a
couple of days extra duty of some
kind. They always find something
for you to do.
One is not allowed to keep others
awake at night. At 500 O'Clock lights
go out and no more talking after that
time in squad rooms. II YOU want TO
talk. go down to the day room. There
we have three daily papers, magazines
and library, pool taple. billiard table.
checkers and other games.
No gambling is allowed OF the res.
ervation. There are men who will
gamble but they go off the reservation
to do it.
We have a picture show here about
three times a week. II is shown at the
gymnasium. They are not quite so
patriotic here as they are in Pendle-
ton. They only charge o 1oc for
seven reel pictures. a bunch is at
the gymnasium every night. They
have all kinds of stunts there. includ-
ing boxing and wrestling. l have had
on the gloves with the champion Of
the post a few times. 1 couldn't hit
him with a handful OF shot. He
would tap me and then laugh when
n would swing and miss him.
1~t,. 49,, u~AaYIa ea1n nnGf of the
young boys around Pendleton for it
would make men OF them and it
would help them in more y than
one. Al the same time he can go to
the dogs. as he can any place.
One thing. a man must Keep clean
Shave twice a week and battle at
least once a week. Everything is as
clean as any home in Pendleton. The
building is scrubbed every week from
top to bottom. Twice a month every
man is inspected for diseases of all
kinds. His feet are inspected also.
II he has a contagious disease, he has
a separate bath and a separate place
to wash.
never have any shortage in
clothes. is our line: Two on duty
suits. two on duty caps, one company
hat. one dress suit. three shirts. six
white collars. six suits Of underwear
two pairs of leggings, two pairs OF
shoes. Il pairs of sox and ten pairs
of shoe strings.
You know | was always complain
ing while in Pendleton. I have not
been sick or had a pain since came
here. I am feeling fine and l believe
1 have gained in weight.
The cooking Is as clean as IN
cooking can be and there is plenty to
eat for all. while there is not any
thing fancy about 1t. IT is substantial
We have a baseball game every
Sunday Sometimes with visiting
teams and at others times between
two companies.
I saw Barney O'Gara for the first
time today since arriving. This morn
ing both companies, first and second
united and took n snort hike out to
a lake and back. Then is when I saw
him. He is in the list company and !
am in the second. He has been on
guard duty at an outpost. That IL
why | haven't seen MIN before. This
afternoon and tomorrow morning |
am orderly for the adJutant. I don't
like II tomorrow for we are going to
have artillery practice and ! want TO
be there when those big guns are
fired.
After retreat we mad a review OF
goo men marching past thee
commander.
received the Testament all o. K.
thanks to Mrs. r l. Power Of the
Red Cross.
l remain your son.
PRIVATE RUSSELL A.. BOWERS.
End Co. g. A. c. n. Stevens. oregon