The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-30
| SHEPHERD LIKES THE
LIFE AT CAMP MEADE
Former Local Newspaper Man, Now
in Aviation Branch of Signal Corps,
Writes interesting Letter.

Life in an army cantonment Is in
teresting. 10 say tho least. according
TO James r. Shepherd former we'll
known local newspaper man, who re-
Gently enlisted in the aviation branch
of the signal corps and is now in
training at Camp Meade. Md. Every
body in the big camp is kept busy
he says. but the boys are neverthe-
less enjoying the experience.
Shepherd writes the following in
terestlng letter 10 local friend;
CAMP MEADE. Md.
October 81. 1917.
Dead Friend
This is beautiful Saturday afternoon
and us il ~ a half holiday. thought T
would give YOU an idea OF like II camp
Mead" az course you know thai this is
one az III" large cantonmenis "f tho
country. Sc | will say nothing further
about the number nf men here other than
10 say that something oyer a million
dollars was raised for Liberty bonds. I
have forgotten the exact amount. hut
think il was about million and ono
quarter. So you sec there are several
of us.
The camp is located about eighteen
miles from Baltimor" and thirty-fire
from Washington. 1t is about five
miles long and four wide. The streets
are we'll laid out \ good sewer system
has been Installed and cement streets
arc being laid. The whole aspect
Of the camp shows thai Uncle Sam does
things thoroughly when he takes II into
his head.
As you probably know | have been
assigned to company y 3l4th Field Signal
Battalion. II is a company made up en-
tirely Of enlisted men and has been pick
cd fn- Radio" company. That means
that We have to know practically every
method nj signaling that IL used in the
army and each man must be a wireless
operator nhlc To receive 4 certain number
Of words a minute when his course of
training is complete.
Right hero | might say that army life
is not Ike working on 4 newspaper Ut
something of that sort. Hero you get up
at o'clock in the morning md you have
something 20 do every minute until in
the evening at which time Retreat" IS
sounded and we are through for the day.
When | first came was busy until In
the evening. hut owing To the fact that 1t
COTS dark souner they moved Retreat"
up one hour.
Play IL conducted here on much the
take part whether you can play or not.
There Is always an officer in charge and
he Is never backward in telling one how
or what Ia d.. This works In play just
as we'll as work. However. W" have
mighty fine man for an officer. Lieu
tenant Burkhcad is in charge Of our
company md nc Is we'll liked by evory
man IN the company. He is mighty
fine chap md has h"cn all over the
world. lie has spent about seven
teen years in the signal department of
the army and navy and Is an expert In
all branches OF the work
Notwithstanding The amount o! work
VIZ have to DO. II. is Il mighty interesting
life. Most OF tho hoys take the bitter
with the sweet and say nothing about It.
hut you know there Rrn always some
that are no; satisfied. no matter how
nice things arc. think the one aim OF
most OF the men hero Is TO do his bit In
crushing Germany and ny next summer
a, the latcrSt the "BOChrs" Will begin
10 find Out what kind OF stuff Americans
are made Of.
AT present we have with us On our
harracksp French sergeant. He was
connected with the French signal corps
and has spent two years In and around
the trenches. He can surely tell some
interesting stories Of the war. having
been present MT III" battle of fprcs and
some Of the other big scraps they had
over there. He is n mighty interesting
chap 10 talk to.
Az I told you. there is some time for
plav and play you must, unless you are
unable. There are footballs. haschalls.
medicine balls and everything els" mag
Unable and you get your turn Mt AL or
them. Next Wednesday thrr" Is field
meet In which the different bnttn't"ns
compete against each nh"rt. ! don't
know As yet whet ! will be one "f The
tcnm that takes part ar not. hut ! h"po
to DO selected.
Last week the h"ys NIL dubbed to-
rcther and We purchased Nictrola. We
then promptly got together and made
ARRANGEMENTS for a Halloween party.
which will he held frum o'clock to $50
D. m. on Wednesday Of next week. Most
OF these boys are from Baltimore and
Philadelphia, and they are going to have
their lady friends como out 1t promises
10 be ri event worth while.
Well, guess have told you about
as much ms / would be allowed 70 -
IN will closa.S>S this time. Rer