The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-08-02
PETER GRINDBERG ,
WRITE OF ARMY LIFE
Former Surrey Auto Man Tells Inter-
esting Things About Life in Camp
at Fort Riley, kans.

Editor independent:
/ have planned on writing for some
time, but guess am like most every
one else, would rather receive them
than to write. Besides, they keep us
pretty busy now. In the morning, we
get up at $3.50 and are lined up for
reville at 5:45; have breakfast at 6:15
to GAS, which consists mostly Of ba-
con, potatoes, oatmeal, bread and cof-
fee. From 700 to 1920, we have phys
ical drill. Then at 1880, we line up
again for school of the soldiers and
detachment drill until 9:2O. At $3.50
we have lecture on first aid or hy-
giene until 1920 and from 1890 we
have class until 1920. Each company
is divided into five different classes,
as follows: 1st, school for non-com-
missioned officers; End, cooks; 3rd,
chauffeurs; 4th, nurses; 9Th, drug
gists. Each man has to sign up for
one Of the different classes, and be-
fore he can get to be an officer, he has
to be examined in all and if he passes
and has been in the service long
enough, he gets there. If he fails, he
starts all over again. We are all ex-
pected to advance, and if we don't, it
% ouA oWh A"uio, Ano ioSeuiSe anu
classes. are held in airdomes. Some
may not know what they are, so will
explain. There are several deep ra-
vines here in the camp. From them,
all the underbrush and weeds are cut
and then steps are cut in the sides
Of the bank for seats. The speaker
stands at the bottom and it is easy to
hear him. The trees around the top
keep the sun out so it is cool there any
time of the day, which is nice thing
as the sun gets pretty hot here. At
1870 we wash and get ready for din
i,er, Which tastes pretty good by that
time. Today for dinner we had roast
beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, sliced
tomatoes, cabbage salad, bread, but
ter, iced tea and ice cream. Of course,
we don't have dinner like that every
day, but we always have enough and
what we have is well prepared, as we
have good cooks and poor cooks ca
reer is short in the army. All the
kitchens are inspected every morning
and if things are not right, they are
made so. Everything has to be alb
solutely clean. Before each meal 20
men go into the kitchen and dining
room with fly swatters and kill every
fly.
In the afternoon, we have one or two
lectures, tent drill, and a hike across
country. We march all the way from
two to ten miles and part of it in
double time, then by the time we have
had supper we are ready for bed.
Every Saturday morning, we have
inspection Of quarters and personal
l>o1s
thing has to shine. And if things
don't shine, we hear about it. Our
hair has to be trimmed and combed,
face shaved clean, clothes cleaned,
shoes shined, all buttons on clothes
and our clothes all buttoned. And it
would make you laugh to see the boys
looking for buttons, thread and needles
about Friday night. But we are all ex;
perts now in sewing on buttons and
mending socks. So if there are any
girls who do not like to mend socks.
wait and marry soldier.
The squad rooms are kept clean all
the time and no food is allowed there,
reither are we allowed to smoke, chew
or swear while in quarters. know,
as I put in ten days at road building
for smoking there one morning while
reading the Independent. Gambling
lis another thing they won't stand for,
which is good thing. And everybody
is forbidden to have or to use booze.
Everyone is expected to take bath
at least twice week, but most of us
take one every day and sometimes
twice day. Everyone is kept pretty
close tab on and if they don't battle
often enough, to suit us, they are TAX
en- in and washed We washed one
man in our company last Thursday
evening and when we We're thru with
him he was clean-that is physically
but not morally unless he has repent
ed since and has asked forgiveness for
the naughty things he called us.
I am in field hospital now. We
have been organized ten days. We are
to have seven trucks, two touring cars
and one motor cycle. All are here
now, but are not to be unloaded here.
so / am pretty sure we are about to
be moved to some other FORT but
don't know where or when. There are
hundreds of new recruits coming in
all the time and am surprised that
there is never one I know. But sup
pose those who would go have enlist
ed in the national guard at Minot.
There is something going on here all
the time. Boxing, wrestling, racing,
There was a track meet yesterday in
Junction City, small town three
miles from here, but didn't enter any
event as / was gate guard. 1t was
more of a tryout than anything else
as had already taken a prize in a
mile race. The finals are coming off
soon and will run again but expect
to be beaten as there are some mighty
fast runners here, but am not scared
as soldier never lies down for any
thing, and I am a real one now. |
want you to send me the Independent
once in while, as | never realized
what good paper you published until
I came away so l couldn't get it regu-
larly. Z
With best regards to my friends, /
am as ever, your friend,
PETER GRINDBERG,
Fort Riley, Kans.
Medic. Officers Training Camp,
20 Field Hospital.
|P. s. Lieut.. Hills requests me to
send you his best regards. visit
quite lot with him.
Gale Bridwell Injured.
Gale Bridwell, who is employed by
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