The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-12-21
MONTANA YOUTHS
BREAK INTO ARMY
GO TO CAMP LEWIS WITH nRaE~r
CONTINGENT AND RECEIVE
TRAINING.
Enlist In Regular Army and Get
transferred to National Army so
as to be With Old Friends From
Sheridan County-Display of Real
American Patriotism.

American PatriOtism.
, Three Sheridan county boys hav,
sllpped one over on the officers a
Camp Lewis given a demonstration
OF real patriotism, secured the train
ing OF national army cantonment al
, private citizens, Joined the regula,
army and been transferred to the
draft army so as to accompany the
boys from their home county and
state to the European front. They are
Ross Robinson, Ralph Haske and
Floyd Nickerson of the 362nd infan.
try.
Ihese three men voluntarily accom-.
panied draft contingent from Mon
Jana went through the regular army
routine, including the daily drilling,
for two entire months. All of the
two months time they were merely
citizens, not having volunteered. or
been drafted or enlisted in any way.
Here's how it happened
In the little towns of Plentywood
and Redstone, Mont, there had been
plenty of display of patriotism and
the Montana cowboys were continual
~ Joining the ranks of Uncle Sans
soldlers. When the draft law began
70 take effect the patriotic spirit was
lanned TO fiercer flame and the
contingents We're sent off with big
mass meetings, band concerts and the
cheering of many friends. The whole
town of Plentywood turned out for
an assembly meeting the night of
Sept. IL to give the second quota of
Sheridan county send off. Enthu-
slasm was rampant and the soldier
prospect was the hero of the hour.
Entitled to Exemptions.
up to this date, Ross Robinson a
rancher, Floyd Nickerson an engineer
and Ralph Haske, the deputy county
clerk, had lived in quietness in the
nelghborlng town of Redstone-Rob-
1nson was doing we'll on his ranch
and felt that he would be helping win
the war through it's productiveness.
Nickerson was in class of men skill
ed in work valuable to the government
in time of war and anyway he hadn't
thought much of joining the army
Haske In thei capacity of county Of
fetal did not feel called especially to
join the rank and file. War reports
came in frequently of the cruelties of
the Teutons and finally Haske who
was a native born Englishman, began
to warm up"
He had seven cousins in the British
army at the front and when he heard
that all seven of them had been killed
ne literally "boiled over" and decided
that he would get in the army some
way to do his bit toward conquering
the Germans. He was a married man
with one little kiddie but he felt that
duty called him. And so he decided
upon plan but said nothing of it to
his friends, Nickerson and Robinson.
Carried Away by Enthusiasm.
Meanwhile these two worthless had
come down from Redstone Sept. Isl
to attend the big "sendoff rally"
given for the second quota of the
Montana men. When they came, they
had no intention of going to Camp
Lewis Or of even enlisting in the
army. AS the meeting went on and
the patriotic addresses famed, the
spirits of Nickerson and Robinson
became enthused. They felt that they
were needed and the sooner they
went the better. Neither had been
called in the draft nor was liable to
be for some time, but they wanted
to go right away with the Sheridan
county men.
Just then they heard of Haske's
plan which was to join the Sheridan
county men going to Camp Lewis and
say nothing, acting the part of draft
ed men. So Robinson and Nickerson
rushed back to Redstone, arranged
their business affairs as best they
could and came back in time to board
the train.
Acted just Like Drafted Men,
When they arrived at Camp Lewis
hey went through the ordinary in
designations and were treated Just
Ike drafted men. Service papers do :
not usually accompany the men and
IRE often sent by mail, arriving .
weeks or more after their departure,
10 the officials did not know that the
men were not drafted 1t was not =
Until few weeks ago that this was
discovered and the men were ordered :,
o leave the camp. But they were
,ood men, they had the true Ameri-
AN spirit and they wanted to stay, so =
hey were allowed to join the regular +
.rmy, were transferred to the ma r
ional army, assigned to the 362nd E
and were from there assign =
ID to their already beloved A COM !
amy. !;