The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-10-05
PUTNAM COUNTY BOYS
IN CAMP JACKSON
Frank Chapman Tells of
Notwithstanding up
Drill Quickly.

Frank s. Chapman, one of the
best known and popular young men in
IalAtka and until some three weeks
ago foreman of The Palatka News
. Job printing office, sends us an in
tcre,thg letter from the national az
nGy cahtonment known as Camp Jack
son, Columbia, S. c., which we are
glad to publish for the interest it
VIII hive to all our people, and es-
reclalIy the parents and friends tf
me lul"nm county young men in that
camp. Mr.. Chapman says:
Am gong to try to tell something
o1 the life and work of the men Uncle
Sam has selected and who are soldiers
n the making at Camp jackson.
Rather | should refer particular to
+ the 3O6th regiment of engineers, or
the "ploneer engineers" as they are
called.
Nearly all the Florida boys have
been assigned to the engineers, and
some account Of their work would
probably have more interest for the
home folks.
The first five per cent. assigned to
the Engineers includes men from
North and South Carolina, and Flori-
| ia, principally the former two.
These, since regular companies have
been 70 med, are now non-commis-
stoned Jihccrg. Most of them are
corporals, but when the companies are
brought to their full strength of two
hundred and fifty men, quite a num-
Ter O. >crgeants will be created.
Al. the Florida boys. | understand,
will be placed in the Engineers. IN
Guiding those to come in this week.
On the average, they are fine spc-
cimens Of manhood, and are picking
up the drills quickly. Quite mum
Der have received their discharges and
Lave returned home. A man must
be absolutely physically unfit, hOWev-
er, to receive discharge from Camp
jackson. As somewhat iocularly re-
marked few days ago. "a fellow
getting his discharge here better, 60
home and make his will"
The first men have completed their
smallpox vaccination and inocuIa-
tions. The second contingent received
their second incubation today, and
this evening many are going around
with SOLE arms, and not few are IN
their cots shaking with chills. Per
sonalIv, | can feel for them, the sec
ond iroculation being the hardest.
These uoculations include in the one
injection, typhoid, para-typhold ana
cholera serum, so it is a triple dose
we gec. There is consolation In the
thought, though, that we will be I'M
mune from these diseases.
Up to the present we have been CIV,
oa close order drill, in squads and
.umaany. Commencing today we re-
ceiycd extended order drill and this
will continue for probably a month |
when we will commence work IN
Lui,ding bridges, digging trenches,
and putting up barbed wire entang!le-
n,ouss There are many other duties
also. which will be the work OF the |
Engneers. They are non-combat2at,
.ciny used on the offensive only when
absolutely necessary. 1t will be their |
work to follow the infantry in charge |
and build up and reinforce all
{ rurheS.
The boys from PaIatka and Putnam
are scattered throughout the six COM
pan!es. Oliver in Co. A. Goethe,
Cash. Brubaker, Kncpton, and Dorsey |
i'm Co. f.
VI tchett and myself in Co. D., Tan
ncr in F., and the names of the other
bows | have forgotten. All seem to
be getting along nicely. /
Last Thursday at noon, Mr. and
Mrs Tenney and daughter, OF Fedef-
Al Point, came through camp in their
IIudson, on their way home from a
tCYr through the north. They stopped
outside our barracks, calling on thelr
nephew, Brubaker. 1t was pleasure
70 see some one from home.
Inst a word about Camp Jackson.
Drc can only speak of it as camp
Jackson, because to try to describe it,
and 10 give a faint idea Of its SIZE
would be futile. One cannot conceive
,f it's immensity unless it would be
IN ride through. 1t is almost certain
that it is being built as permanent
me Y. NJ. c. A. is doing a splendid
ya,E and their buildings are crowded
.vcry evening. While at the Y. NJ
r 4, the other evening, a young tel-
ow picked letter from one OF the
.qr,e, and showed to me. Because
L was so amusing and original, am
closing it for publication, if you care
70 use it.
The people of Columbia have dem
,rsrrated their hospitality in every
rav providing reading, writing and
oTrring rooms for the boys, while in
OWN, All the churches keep open
,oYse and extend a cordial welcome
~ everyone. All this tends to make
lie bovs feel more contented.
There is so much l could say, | fear
would be taking up too much space.
win write from stime to time, how
.ver, and tell you what we are DONG
ov Uncle Sam.
Here is the letter Mr.. Chapman re-
o,s 70 in his communication;
columbia, Sept. u, l9l|
Hello Sarah:
How are you getting along, | am
ba same as ever hoping to find you
M, q CnDtain rOW and |