The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-10-11
SOLDIERS LETTERS
NOTES TO HOME FOLKS FROM
BOYS AT THE FRONT.

4
Mr., and Mrs. B. F. Cruzen have a
letter from their grandson, Charles
| b. Coffin, a son of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
| Coffin, of northwest Oskaloosa.
Charles enlisted with the hospital
corps at Des Moines and was sent
west for training.
San Francisco, Cal, Sept. 3d.
Dear Grandparents: Will write you
a few lines today while l am not very
busy. This is Sunday and came over
from the island this morning. The
weather here is very changeable.
Some days it is very warm and again
the fog will come over and it will be
cold and damp. l am getting pretty
well used to it by this time.
like the navy fine now and much
better than when first came here.
There are 900 in the hospital school
now and more are coming. l will be
IN the school six months and then |
don't know where they will send us.
would like to get a furlough home
in the meantime, but don't know how
t will be.
Well, Grandma, / am now here at
the National Defenders club. You
probably have heard of it. This is
where they give out the knitted
sweaters, wristlets and mufflers They
are given to US free of charge so you
see the ladies, are doing their bit.
They have a fine club room here for
the boys in uniform, with plenty of
good music, writing material and pool
tables. s.,..
The ladies have charge here. They
are ladies who have volunteered and
are from 35 to so years of age and
they treat us fellows just like
mothers. 1t surely makes it fine
when person has place like this to
come to and write or rest.
There are all kinds of sights to see
around Frisco. / have been out to
the Golden Gate Park, and this is the
lime of the year when the sunset is
The most beautiful.
Your grandson,
CHARLES B. COFFIN.
j. A. Smith Of No. 115 Second ave-
nue west has the first letter from his
son, Roy P Smith, who enlisted with
the ammunition train from Mt.
Pleasant. He gives it to the public
that the friends of the boys here may
share in it's news Items This is the
irst letter from the ammunition boys.
Camp Cody, N. M, Oct. Dear
Father: Win write and tell you we
arrived all 0. K, but it was long
rip. This is a good country but the
American girls are scarce. Our camp
in the center of the mountains and
hey are wonderful. The town is five
miles from the camp. / was up town
asst night, aad it is a pretty town.
There is lots of sand here and plenty
If cactus, and jack rabbits. / will
send you a pair Of ears some of these
lays. We are sixty miles from Ell
2aso and thirty miles from Columbus.
There are now about $4,000 soldiers
lere now and there are going to be
more.
1t is pretty hot here in the day time
out it is cool at night. | will send
you some kind of souvenir some
time. How is everything in Iowa
and Mt. Pleasant? Everybody here
well except that we have colds. /
guess it is the climate.
We have plenty of music here all
the, time. We have not started to
lrill yet, but will soon. There are
iome alligators in the country and
plenty of centipedes, and they are
some bug. The boys are playing base
ball today. We get up at $50. 1t is
Just as light as day here all night.
The moon is sure bright on the plains.
I would send you "a picture of the
amp but VIC arc not allowed to.
Well, dad, you can send down q few
stamps if you want too as they. come
in pretty handy.
Well, | don't know when we will
ever get back but hope to see you
soon. Will close for this time.
ROY p. SMITH,
Co. f, Iowa Ammunition Train,
Deming, N. M.