La Junta tribune., 1917-07-12
nrREssloNs OF AN AVIATOR
La yunta Boys Of Uncle Sam's Avi-
sssea Corps Write Of Thetr
n Experiences

Provtsianoi Aviation Squadron. at
Camp Kelly, near San Antonio. Tex
~. They are Robert w. Belt. Ar
thur McCune and Hal Hendrix. Rob-
ert Belt and Arthur McCune have
written letters giving some OF their
experiences and observations. and
they are herewith reproduced for the
edification and enjoyment OF the
numerous readers OF the great fam
lily Journal.
We hope to have many more OF
them throughout the duration OF the
var, and will appreciate It n our
soldier boys will act favorably on
this suggestion. Every one. includ-
ing the soldier boys themselves. Il
interested in what the other fellow
1, doing, and We hope the soldier
bows who have left La Junta will
act favorabiy upon this urgent ap-
neal and write frequently to the old
homo paper.
We all enjoy reading OF what you
ar doing, and our soldier boys. who
will soon be located In widely diverg-
eut parts Of the earth. will also be
interested in reading OF the experien-
ces of his brother in arms. We will
take pleasure in supplying the home
soldier boys with q copy Of the paper
when ever they write for 1t and give
Q definite address.
Mr.. Belts letter Is written on the
stationery of The Army and Navy
Young Mems Christian Association
the assoiation that follows the flag
on land and sea-and 10 dated Camp
Kelly. San Antonio. Texas, July Sd.
am going TO tell you q few Of
the 'enings hereabouts under the
captio.. Impressions Of an Aviator
to BE-" On April 18th. when war
was declared. I was working At San
Marcial.. I Immediately left and vent
to Albuquerque. where I enlisted In
the aviation SETON Of the Signal
Corps. On May sth I vas sent to
FL Paso to the recruiting office. With
four other men. They made out our
application papers. gave US . talk on
army life. and sent US out TO Fort
Bliss In the afternoon. Here we laid
around for q week before we were
sworn In and uniforms were issued
TO us. ! got an excellent fit on every
thing. We were assigned to squad
tents and placed on duty. which con-
sisted OF guard detail. kitchen DO
lice and drill. My first duty was
~ kitchen police. While serving In
that capacity the cooks were all
transferred to Honolulu. and was
placed In charge Of the kitchen. with
five kitchen olice ~ helperYs. and
told TO get out the meals for 800
men. Luckily. I was relieved very
soon BY . cooks school that was es-
nblished at the camp. Ny aext duty
was - guard. aad later ! vas made
corporal Of the guard at the recruit
camp.
There are tweaty-four Of We future
aviators at the recruit camp, and
Ne were unassigned for over two
months on account Of our papers be-
ins lost at washiagton. aal we we're
forgotten. Tue captain IN charge Of
the camp wired In about 4. and We
wers sssigas1 on June 3sth to the
station at san Antonio. Texas. We
arrival one rsiay evsaing at . o'clock
aad sispt all night In our Pullmaas.
which had besn sidetracksd. Next
morning ve were loaded into = mo-
tor truck. taken 10 Camp Kelly. and
assigned 10 the 3sth Aero Squadron.
This company had just besa assem-
bed that day. and ws were officially
assigned IN the aftsraoon and given
Q captain and . iieutsaaat.
The day after We vsat lnto camp
re we're allowed 70 lie 70 oar bunks
aad watch the ssssplaaes. The next
DAY ws wsrs taken est - the avia.
tsop fisld aa1 assisssd 70 dWty. neas
Of 10 we're gives sAoveos aad were
told 70 az . trsseA. 0ae day ws
shoveled asAss Ill Aay. TAis was
mighty tsusA - soas - -. - oaa
Aaeoale = abeut see eese lower thsa
- Rase eal ~ were nee aeeltnalsd.
u , evfnlly ~ heses Tho tempee.
asuse tslAv vas l1o legrese = ~
sAa1s. o. ef ous beys falatsd freo
~ eADeala ~ ehae - seoa -
ve oooh ees ~ ooesosAs ~ q.
ttgos 1sey NJ eo0e - - - ~ ~
IN eon0onso o60lnes ~ ~
onfueeon - eD9eqe enooDee1. -
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