Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-10-03
NEWS FROM THE BOYS IN CAMP
They Are Pleased With Conditions.
Advice 20 New Recruits
Cann Grant Sent

Camp Grant, Sept. %.
! Dear Mr.. Munson:-Are we happy?
/ ayes" is our answer. Many of the
boys shake their heads when they
see the crowds around the pans of
! dish water, but after a few days
i they become accustomed to the prac-
tiee and smile, signifying that they
/ are satisfied. There are many things
such as cold water baths, close
sleeping quarters early rising (5:45),
kitchen police, military discipline,
etc. which causes a little resent
menr at first, but it seems that ev-
eryone is willing to accept his lot in
good faith and do his best wherever
he is placed. We find some duties
which we dislike, but we smile and
calm ourselves by recalling that in
civil life the same thing is true
! During the last two weeks there
has been quite a noticeable change
; in Camp Grant. When we came
here there was rubbish in all the
! streets, the ground was rough, there
/ were no walks, the barracks were
dirty, and in fact it looked as though
there was but little being done to
/ improve the camp. But one has TO
be here few weeks to realize that
the work is being done in a very
| systematic manner. Streets that
| look like fields one day are well
graded the next; buildings that look
| like mere skeletons in few days
/ are comfortable barracks; piles of
| brick and lime are transformed into
great heating plants. In fact
| erything seems to be changing for
the better. Ever Sunday there are
thousands of visitors here to see
the soldier boys and the camp Par
ents come to see their soldier sons
and from appearances they are well
come. The boys do not seem to be
embarrassed in the least when their
sweethearts pay them a visit. Last
Sunday / was in Rockford and at
about four / returned, and the last
two miles was just a jam of autos.
(, They were as close together as they
could be,and this was true of both
sides of the street. This will give
little idea of the number of visi-
tors.
The second contingent from Yer
non arrieved at about 1920 p. m.
last Wednesday, and was welcom-
| ed by a refreshing shower, or at
least it seemed that way to us,f for
they were happy. We had their
hunks prepared, and as soon as they
received their mess kits and blank
cts, we retired. They have had a
day and a half of drilling thus far,
and from the remarks gathered from
the superior officers they are will
ing to work and are making a fav-
orable impression on the officers.
| heard some one say to-day that
the camp is five miles long and one
mile wide, but l do not know for /
have not seen all of it yet. / also
have heard rumors that there viii
be at least twenty new barracks con-
structed and all the others will be
enlarged to accommodate more men.
Each barrack will hold nearly two
hundred men if they are crowded a
little. With these additinos sew
eral thousand more men can be
housed. With the second contin-
gent which has just arrived there are
approximately twenty thousand men
here.
George Hauge is acting as mess
sergeant at present. As soon as
Kuenning received his uniform, bel
wanted to go to Rockford to find a
full length mirror.
We wish to thank the friends back
home for cigars, fruit,etc. With
best regards from the boys. CHS.
Under date of September 25th,
Ralph E. Nuzum writes home:
I've been on the job here since the
10Th and find it just bit more
strenuous than my usual life. Still
it makes man feel tip-top, and as
far as the eats are concerned, l have
not heard any complaint. | rather
imagine that / am going to gain on
it, as / only weighed lat when / hit
here. We're packed in pretty close
in our bunch. There are 1877 now in
! the barracks, but each one has sep
arate cot and his own blankets and
mess kit, which includes plates knife,
fork and spoon-so there is little
danger of getting contaminated. The
grounds are all cleaned up(policed,
we cal it, each day. All refuse from
the kitchen is kept in covered cans,
and the barracks and kitchen are kept
scrupulously clean. AS a further
precaution, we are inoculated against
nine different possibilities, but some
of them are made up of 'three-in-
one" combination which makes four
shots that we have to take. I've had
two of them-against small poX and
typhoid. We drafted men aren't
being given much chance of promo