The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-11-22
WHAT WAR
MEANS TO HIM
Sergent Discovers Why He Left
Peaceful Kansas Home


dust swirled merrily by, the road tc
Lawton was bumpy and long. The
mule SINNERS in the supply compa-
MES were tucking their chins in the
lapels of their coats and profanely
urging their long cared power plants
to greater speed. 1t was a typical
Sooner state day. Hellish, but
healthy. Sergeant Beck, raised to riot
Gus ways, pondered the question of a
trip to the townsite, with its photo
play houses and dugouts manned by
peddlers who never failingly asked
millinery prices for every article a
soldier needs, and the barriers of Bevo
bottles in front of every poll hall, and
decided to chuck the trip and write
letter to his sweetheart in the old
home state.
The sergeant had never been in
service previous to the declaration of
war and his bosom had been stirred by
mighty emotions since his arrival in
the great cantonment where men by
the thousand and twenty thousand
drilled, lived and had their being. He
had been trying to find out why he left
the palace of home back in Kansas
to come to this dust laden land, where
the prairie dogs dig their holes up in
the air when the wind is up and dis
cover their mistake next day. After
he had arrived he warbled his heart
thrills, told of his healthy hopes and
ambitions in most refreshing way
to the girl he left behind him. 1t was
mere accident reporter happened
to get copy of the letter, said ac-
cident being packet of cigarettes to
his bunkmate. So we record verbatim
a glimpse into the workings of a SOL
dier's mind and heart.
"My Dear Mareen: You would
laugh, little grille, if you could see me
now. The wind is up and all 1 have
to do to see the world is just to look
outside my tent-it is going by. 1t
blows easily and freely here. One
can hardly breathe such atmosphere,
but we do not mind it now like we did
the first weeks. We have found that
1t is healthy. l am broke as usual. |
l washed my own clothes at the bath
house this morning and hung them |
out to dry before the breeze decided
to make this violent sector, and now,
dear, they are sad, sad sight. The
pockets of my shirt are full of mud,
the trousers are worse, than the day l
came in from the rifle range. But
there is plenty of water in Lake Law
tonka and l have some soap left over.
"At home l used to wonder why 1
volunteered to go to war, to live out
on the prairie in a nest like jack
rabbit, but it is becoming understand
able now. America, as a schoolboy,
did not mean much to me. But now,
away from all the accustomed scenes,
pleasures and friends, l see things
clearer. l know now that some day
l will want home of my own, in a
country of my own, and that l will
want my right and title to that home
just as surely as my pioneer father
did l know l used to laugh at the
Old Mans stories of hardship, but l
know now why he loved his home. He
had established his right. But now
| want a free country, and when l
stand at salute at retreat at eventide
and hear the straps of the Star ;
Spangled Banner floating sweetly
FER loyal and mighty host 1 seem to
sense what America is to me and,
lear it is to you-just you. You are
ny America, you are what l am fight
ng for, you and the little home we {
lave planned on my return. That is
IL 1 care for now, all yearn for
through the long days drill, all the G
oseate hues of my dreams. c
"You would not want man who g
would not do his part when strong
nen are needed / know. You would O
ot want me to remain home and the n
wo of us try to be happy when all the e
vorld is in tears. You know of the s,
lyriad sweethearts whose dreams of a
ne future have been wrecked by the
aging hate of nations. You know A
ley mourn for the young men who
'ent away, but do not regret the
reat sacrifice. And someway l feel
lat you, too, will ever be glad that 1 il
ent at the first call for volunteers. O.
"The fact was in the guard and ~
as drafted and then merged with Fl
'mpany from another state, that Of W
,ers from the home town have been ST
ansferred and we have new officers a.
les not matter. In fact, l think it .,
e most fortunate thing that ever &C
lppened to me. Before / thought az
myself as a Kansas soldier, boy OF
ON the Old Home Town. Now, dear, 80 ~