Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-08-09
FROM the HONOLULU BOYS
Honolulu, H. l., July 25

1t has been some time since we
wrote to you, but we haven't had
a chance to get together until
now.
We left TT. Mcdowell June 5th
on the U. S. A. transport Sheri-
dan, and arrived at Honolulu
June 18th. 1t was a long and
tiresome ride across the water.
The first day out was the day for
seasickness. Nearly everyone ON
board got a little sick. Don and
Orris and Gale didn't get very
sick. Francis got pretty sick for
about three hours. After that we
felt as good as could be expected.
There were about 1000 OF us
on board so you can imagine how
crowded we we're. The meals
we had weren't extra good and the
sleeping quarters were not the
best. We four slept on the deck
every night but twos and those
nights the waves were so high
that they swept the deck and we
had to go below We didn't see
much on the way over excepting
a couple of boats going to Frisco.
There were several cases of
humps and measles on board, so
when we arrived in port we had
to come under quarantine. The
officials on land came out to meet
us and finally decided to let us
land. When we were told to
march off the gang plank we
certainly were happy crowd.
The desert lands of New Mexico
would have been welcomed at
that time. We were then lined
up and put on street cars for FIT.
Shafter. Gale and Orris we're
standing side by side and the Of
ficer put his arm between them
and marched one bunch to Shaft
er cars and the other to Schoe-
field. That is how Gale is not
with us. Schoefield is about %
miles from Honolulu. Gale is go
ing to try to transfer to our regi-
ment. He is here with us now
for the first time since we landed.
We were downhearted consider
ably when leaving the dock be-
cause each one of us were separ-
ate. Don was taken to the hos
pital, Francis was in one bunch
and Orris and Gale were separ-
ated also.
Don, after suffering with a Sc
we're attack of pneumonia, is now
we'll and with US again.
Francis and Orris met each
other at the quarantine camp, to
which we were first sent. After
a very fine dinner we were as
signed to our permanent COM
panies, Don to g company, Orris
| to A and Francis to F of the End
Infantry, Gale to G company OF
the 1st Infantry.
Don, after his discharge from
the hospital, was Immediately
transferred to A company with
Orris. Francis has tried to trans
fer, but don't know as yet wheth-
er he can make it OF not.
We were in quarantine camp
for about twenty-one days. Dur
ing that time we were issued guns
and bayonets and have beer
thrilling with them ever since. l1
Quarantine camp we drilled from
8 a. m. till ii and then dinner al
I12. Then at 1 O'Clock every 9th
Ter day we took hike On these
hikes we saw very many prett,
Iscenes. We could hardly wait un-
Til we got out SO that we could 60
Tout and see the other part OF thu
lefty and swim in the noted beacl
lof Waikiki.
Our time was finally up AM
latter joining our companies w
Immediately requested passes am
took a car to the beach. This be
ing our first time to swim in tn
ocean we enjoyed it immensely.
Among the many pleasures wa
riding the surf boards. Thes
boards are about 8 or 10 fee
long and 2 feet wide, also flat
You lay on them and paddle you
way out into the ocean, then tur1
around and start back just ahea
of large wave. The wave pick
you up and carries you at a grea
, rate of speed until it breaks. 70
, then must dive into the water an
away from the board, becaus
there is a terrible confusion i
the water as the waves break an
you are liable to be struck on tn
/, head with the board. After tn
water has quieted down you res
cue the board again and repea
the sport.
Since then we have been Wis
iting the parks and volcan
craters and various places Of in
terest and beauty. We can sd
| this is the most beautiful plaC