Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-09
WAYNE SMITH WRITES OF En-
PERIENCES IN ARMY.


My Dear Mother
Now that I am permanently located
I will try and tell you just what I
have seen and what / have DONE /
don't know what prompted me to
enlist, but sometimes we are moved
by unseen forces and I guess that
was my case. Anyway, I'm here, a
Regular, or a Johnny as some pre-
fer to call us. passed my first ex-
animation in Des Moines April 18th
and next day in Omaha all nine Of us
from Ames passed another exam, on
ly it was lot harder We had lot
of fun there having our pictures TAX
en- and answering all kinds of qucs-
lions asked by newspaper reporters.
Saturday we left for Denver; they
wouldn't purchase, a sleeper SO we
bought one ourselves. 1t was jolly
bunch that went into Lincoln, Nebr.
that night, but we were in our berth
at eight and woke up in Colorado
next morning. 1 expected to see
mountains, Indians and game, but
was much disappointed. I only saw
tumble weeds and q; low squatty
dwellings. At eight-thirty, by our
watches, we landed in Denver: we
set our watches back one hour
liked Denver and saw most of it
:oc. One of the. boys had an aunt
living there and he took me with him.
They took us around in great style
and on the steps Of the museum I
saw the foothills and til" snoY-cov-
cred mountains be2ond ana away to
the south, seventy-fiye miles away.
Pixies Peak 1t was very clear day
and I was tempted to walk over to
the foothills, but they told me I
get there until dark so I
didn't go. That noon I spread a nap
kin across my lap and put my feet
under linen covered table for the
last time; those are day dreams
now. That night we went out to
Fort Logan and that's where it start
I'd. On account of lack of room we
slept that night rolled up in a blank
It on the floor. Next morning we
lad our haversacks given us. They
contain knife, fork, spoon, cup, meat
)late, two towels, soap, razor, tooth
)rush, shaving brush and house
wife," which contains needles, thread
md buttons, also safety pins. Then
We were given our last exam, and
ct me tell you right now at each of
hese three examinations all nine of
Is went thru as perfect specimens.
Then came a vaccination for small
)ox; mine is working and now l
lave the incest little kernal under
ny arm all swollen up and hurting.
Then We had our first incubation for
Uphold 1t took about five hours to
work, and at the end of this five
hours some were sick for fair; we
lad our second at Fort Sam Houston
n the morning and at noon out of
he 80 who had taken it only five
lid not go down (faint) while stand
ng in bread line. The day we left
We were each given one olive drab
suit. two cotton suits, hat, two pairs
shoes, six pairs socks, six suits under
wear, rain coat, leggins, blanket and
;ent. We left for Fort Sam Houston,
Texas, April 81, 3S of us, and an In
lian Chief, commissioned officer of
j. S. army had us in charge. We
in special tourists car
md it was some trip. Couldn't help
)ut notice the hundreds of jack rab
bits we saw along the road thru
Nebraska and Oklahoma. Wherever
we stopped crowds were at the depot
and girls asked us out, took our
pictures, gave us flowers and their
names and addresses, but all the
time a fixed gloomy cloud was over
he bunch. We Il didn't) realize the
we. took upon ourselves
when we took the oath and for seven
ong hard years we swore to stand
BY Uncle Sammy. Now I realiZe it
mother dear, I fully realize my posi-
ton. Along the line Chief, wins
cautioning us to "carry