Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-31
APPRECIATED BY AMBULANCE
CORPS.

APPRECIATED BY AMBULANCE
CORPS.
MY Dear Sir:
| am glad of this opportunity to ex-
press my appreciation of the great
work the Y M c. A. is doing among
the soldiers of Camp Hancock. 1t is
not only my own opinion, but also
that of thousands of other soldiers
here, that l express when / say that
this organization can not be over
praised for its efforts to help the fell
lows in this camp in every way. 1t
certainly is deserving of the heartiest
support of every individual who has
the welfare and comfort of the soldier
boys at heart Let me give you some
idea OF the work it is doing in Camp
Hancock:
There are eight X. NJ c. A. buildings
in this place. These buildings are
nothing more than large wooden shacks
but they mean much to the fellows
here. Inside there are benches and
tables ali along the walls, and here
scores OF soldiers are to be found ali
hours of the day, writing letters. Sta
tionery and writing facilities are pro-
vided free In the evenings these writ
have to wait our turn to get a chance
to sit down and write Letters and
packages can he mailed here and
stamps obtained too. Deliveries to the
postoffice are made more frequently
from the "Y' buildings than from the
different company mail boxes.
Every night there is something do
ing in the way of free entertainment
for the soldiers. In the building near
est my company camp, movies are
shown every Tuesda and Friday even
ings These shows are certainly ap-
preciated by the fellows and there is
always a full house these two nights
Sunday and Thursday evening short
devotional services are held No long,
tedious sermons. bpt short, heart-to
heart talks with plenty of singing and
music. which appeal to the soldier au-
diences. The whole service doesn't
last over thirty. or forty minutes.
The other nights there is always
something on the program 1t may be
a numerous lecture by someone in the
employ of the Y. NJ. C. A., who travels
from one camp to another, or perhaps
a. musical program rendered by some
Augusta ladies' club. Often the pro-
gram is left to the fellows themselves,
and these nights the entertainments
are by no means less pleasing than
when given by professionals. In fact,
quite the contrary.
In one end of the room there is a
piano and in the other a victrola. These
two instruments furnish plenty of mus
ic and are worked overtime. The ladies
of Augusta have put curtains up in
all of the windows of this particular
building, giving it a "homy" aspect.
Here, too, these ladies gather at times
and mend ali the clothes a fellow
brings into them.
When a fellow doesn't have any par
ticular place to spend an evening he
will always drift over to the "Yn to
see what's doing OR if he is feeling
a bit blue or discouraged he walks over
to the "Y'' where he is sure to meet
some of the gang and he is soon in the
best of spirits again.
Every possible courtesy is accorded
us by the Y. M, C, A workers. These
men often go out of their way to do
fellow a favor. They visit the sick and
injured in the Field Hospitals and come
and see the fellows in their tents
Magazines and Pennsylvania news
papers are kept on file here. Here
also the man can obtain good books
with which to while away their leisure
hours in camp.
To appreciate the enormity of the
Y. NJ. C. AS appointed task, one
must visit the camps and see the great
work they are doing, That they are
performing this work is highly cred
ible and efficient manner every one of
the 80, 600 men stationed at Camp Han
cock can testify.
Very sincerely yours,
HARRY T. ANDERSON,
437 F'lagler ST., McKeesport, Pa.
(Now with Ambulance Co. No. 1899
OUR PURPOSE.