Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-11
AT NEWPORT, r.. 1.
HERBERT PLUNKETT.
Acted As Adjutant To The Japanese
Mission-Having A Strenuous
Time But Is Enjoying Himself.

HerbertPlunkett, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. J.W. Plunkett of Mexico, is sta
toned with Co. s, the 5th Regiment
Naval Training Station at Newport,
Rhode Island Under recent date
he writes to his mother here, from
which The Message is permitted to
make the following extracts:
This is Sunday morning. Our COM
pany us on duty again. was on
from to 10 and from 2 to 4, both
day and night and didn't get much
sleep last night.
If you shouldn't hear from us for
while you may know we are quar-
antined. There are several cases of
measles in the Regiment. The Off
GERS are watching mighty close, in
spect every man every day.
We had our usual beans for break
fast this morning. 1t is New Eng
land custom, beans on Sunday morn
ing. they say.
Rear Admiral Gleason inspected
us in review this morning, he stopped
about three feet from me, we were
we'll on our toes this morning. 1t is
sure an inspiring sight, ten thousand
men, company after company swing
ing along to the tune of some good
old march played by two good bands
or the um tum tum of big bugle
and drum corps of about thirty
pieces. Each regiment with their
flags and colors, some with guns,
some without, some in one uniform,
some in others, then the field guns
and their crews, and the bluejacket
guard. 1t impresses the meaning
of discipline to see so many men do
exactly the same at the same instant
just at short bugle-make so many
formations without getting mixed
Iup, l always enjoy the parade
The. Japanese Mission was here
yesterday; 1 acted as adjutant to the
battalion commander during exhib-
ition drill Was chief petty officer of
detail guard in the morning.
Weather is splendid here. cold at
nights and pleasant days. Wear our
sweaters and leggings all the time.
like my cold bath now and enjoy
perience yesterday. Just after review
orders came to put on white clothes
fall in for show and stand by to leave
the island at noon. Excited, for any
!, change is welcome, we boarded a
! coast patrol boat, $50 of us, taking
our first ocean ride up the bay to
Melville, coaling station. The bat.
. tleship Texas is Gground close and
| she was to be unloaded. The boats
: brought in the carga and we stored
, away. 1 handled six-inch shells al
afternoon. Some worked with 14-in
shells weighing 400 lbs each
d. Some worked with the eatables-wt
= broke into a case of cookies anc
/. grapejuice and had a regular feed
l all we could hold. The Officers
: looked over our heads then told III
we would all be sick but we were not
Went to church as usual and will
go to town awhile this afternoon
=, the big cloud l see in the west doe
not bring rain. Friday it rained, W
y coaled ship in the afternoon.
Tell Helen l have two suits o
. white, a suit of blue now, a heav
= sweater, rubber boots, shoes and ten
:, mis- shoes, three suits, four pairs q
- socks, six handkerchiefs. brushes, ,ett
The sweater in the picture is sleeve
less, worn under the blouse an
ys helps a lot has felt mighty good.
,e We now have electric lights
D. the shacks; l bought a bluejacket
,e manual, am going to use of the e'
ID enings instead of sleeping as W
,e have been doing. I had't the heal
c. to he as selfish with that cake as
n, wanted to be. The boys are not basl
Il full, they crowded around-severi
have divided with me, it is a goc
spirit to have in crowd. Gid g,
IN cookies and jelly yesterday, we ha
i'd jelly for breakfast.
IN I'm all dressed up this mornin
got our blue suits yesterday and no
we are the senior regiment on Il
~ island, we wear them, with sho
as shined, leggings washed, white h'
~ We look pretty good, think
,ot They lined us up Monday giving
,,s lecture on ship customs, ETC., to
TO- us we will go out in a week or tW
an We don't know where, but nj
that we ship to Cuba, finish traini
on Guanatonoma Bay.