The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-20
LETTERCfTom The
R0NmAe,SERuIE

know. often cripple q whole army or
battle&hip, worse than torpedoes or
shells. We are thoroughly trained I'm
the combating and the destruction OF
ell microbes and germs and the tax
ing care Of our own sick and wound
ed. The essential thing is the care
OF our own health, that we are strong
and immune TO any disease or con-
taRion with which we may come in
contact. We are fighting enemies all
the time, both aggressive and defen-
sive.
Hospital corpsman have the prfvi-
Iege TO see all autopsies. but this is
no place for an effeminate man. To
witness the autopsy of a man you
have known during his illness is very
hard for some of our men. We have
some very undesirable experiences.
but hope to profit by them. and thus
prepare ourselves to serve our coun-
try to the highest extent.
Censorship forbids us to give any
definite time when some OF us viii
be shipped. Some may be called with
in the next few weeks. and again
there may be a longer delay. We are
doing splendid work here and hope
to be Of great usefulness In time to
come.
AS to our time on and on duty, we
have two watches: viz: Port and
starboard. am on the port watch.
One day 20 on duty at $3.50 a m,
and get on at $500 p. m. the same
day. Next day go on duty at $500 a.
m. and of at $500 p. m. When my
short day falls on Wednesday or
Saturday. I am of at 100 D. m.
When my short day falls on Sunday,
I am of at 10000 a. m. When we
are off duty we are permitted to leave
the grounds until time to report for
duty, which is 1900 a. m, next morn
ing. We are called at 500 q. m, and
by $3.50 we have to be up and dressed
and have our beds made and quar-
20x2O, four in a room.
Some time ago, several Of us had
avery drowsy morning, and we slept
Is minutes over time; as a result we
spent one week confined to quarters.
Since then we all hit the deck
promptly at 6: a. m. We used to
sleep in tents which did not have any
stoves in them. Our rooms are
steam heated, which makes ii much
more comfortable then sleeping in
tents. I enjoyed sleeping out, but
that, Hit the deck" in the morning
when the cold wind is blowing a so
mile clip Is not such a pleasure fea-
ture.
The best of all is wash day. we
have to wash our own clothes except
bed clothes. We are required to be.
dressed in white, while on duty, so
you see that we have some big
wash. Our equipment for washing
is board table, scrub brush a
cake of soap. Some of us make lite
proficient washerwomen, while others
are not quite satisfied with the role.
Our eats are excellent. We call it
chow. We have breakfast at 1900
a. m, dinner at 1900 at noon and
supper at $500 p. m. We get good
substantial elbow" at all times. We
get some dainties for dessert such as
ice cream, pie, rice, bread pudding
and fruit.
We have all good healthy men in
our corps. This is mostly due to the
high entrance qualifications, also to
the training we receive as to the
care Of our own health.
My next move will be for duty on
a battleship, torpedo boat, base hos
pttal in France or detailed with the
marines. 1 am ready to go anytime
and anywhere where duty calls and
will do my best in the service Of my
country.
/ would be glad to hear from any
friend that finds time to write. Let
tiers are very gladly received by any
sailor.
Yours in service,
Rudolph w. OVERLY,
U. S, Naval Hospital,
Philadelphia, Pa.