Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-29
Arnold Nesheim. Son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
L.. j. Nesheim, of DecOrah, Tells
About Life on Governors
Island
is IN MEDICAL DEPT.
OF CASUAL co.
He Enlisted in Minneapolis, Went to
Jefferson Barracks and Ft. Riley,
kans. Now at Fort Jay,
New York.
Sunday, Aug. 10, 1917.
Governors Island,

Governors Island,
Fort Jay, New York.
Dear Father and Mother:
Still here in New York On Cover
nor's Island at the mouth of the har-
Dor. When we were loaded on the
transfer thought we would go right
out to the transport, but I thought
wrong. They say we will stay here for
two or three weeks, or until 100
medics are collected. That would suit
me alright, as this is certainly a fine
place to be stationed, no matter If
they are strict. Can't go off the Is
land without pass from the COM
manding officer. This Island is just
opposite the Statue Of Liberty. I
figure on going over AID saying hello
to the old girl some of these days. In
fact l think l ought to, because every
time l look over at her she's giving
me the high ball" You ought to see
it at night. In the raised right hand
there is high powered light that
burns from dusk till the break Of
dawn. Then light is thrown on
from below, making this very bright
spot II the center of the black river.
Will tell you more about the lady az
ter I become acquainted with her
There are two Norwegian freight
ers loading at the docks just across
the river. Been trying to talk to those
sailors for the last two days by sig
nails (semaphores,) but they don't
seem to understand me. gave it up.
afraid I might bother them, at their
work.
Three or four times a day the lit
tie tugs will come up the river with
the big ocean liners. Some big birds.
too, believe me. Looked kind of fun
ny the first time l saw one, little
runt of tug boat pulling great big
liner about so times its size. But then
let them go by without any explain
ations.
Did you get the postcards and let
ter 1 sent you? We gave them to civil
ians to mail, not being allowed to get
off the train. 1t sure was some trip
from Fort Riley, Kansas to Hoboken.
We went from Fort Riley to Kansas
City. Got Pullmans there in which,
we travelled the rest of the trip. From
Kansas City we went to Davenport,
just about $50 miles from Decorah
and so from Cedar Rapids. No
chance of bribing the engineer to
stear to either place. From Davenport
we went to Chicago. Had to stay in
our Pullman during the two hours we
were there, so l went to bed. Next
morning l awoke in Port Huron. Can
ada From Port Huron we travelled
all along Lake Erie to Buffalo, N. 7.
From Buffalo we went down through
one of those wonderful scenic valleys
Of eastern New York to Scranton.
Judging from what l saw of it Scran-
ton is just the kind of town
would like. From there we went to
Hoboken, arriving in the morning. A
transfer was waiting for us at the
wharf in Hoboken which took us to
FIT. Jay, Governors Island. That lit
tie trip across the river got me to
feeling kind of funny. Funniest sem
sation l ever had; every time that
boat rocked l thought, thought,
thought and kept on thinking, but
we landed before I got through, so
every thing ended alright.
Every station we stopped at on the
road a bunch of civilians would
swarm out They acted as though
they had never seen person in uni
form before. Even wanted us to give
them a button off our coats. Be-
ginning to wonder what kind OF
menagerie I'd Joined. One habit the
Canadian and New York girls had ae-
quired was the throwing Of kisses.
But fooled them. bought plug or
tobacco and every time some beau
tious girl sailed one at me, I'd take
out the plug, stick my head out OF the
window and bite off chew. Got a
whole crowd kind of tickled about
that at Scranton. Had to have some-
thing to amuse me no matter If that
girl did get kind of peeved about it.
Went swimming this morning IN
the Hudson river. First time l ever
swan IN salt water The only differ
ence | could find was the taste. The
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