The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-08-29
AT
GREAT LAKES
Ray A. Heiden Writes Review Telling
Of Experiences at Y. S. Naval
Training States at Great Lakes
DRILL FOR FIVE HOURS DAILY
Play Baseball, Attend Y. N. c. and at
Nine O'Clock Every Evening
Buale Blown to Retire.
Great Lakes. ILL.,, Aug. 25. 1917.

Great Lakes. ILL.,, Aug. rs. 1917.
Editor Of The Den:son Review:
Dear Sir: To my friends of Deni-
son and vicinity l will endeavor Ito
the best of my ability to tell OF my
experiences here so far.
Leaving home Wednesday after
noon. August 18th, with several of my
friends bidding me farewell ut the
station, was at last off for Omaha
to report for duty at the navy recruit.
ing station the following morning. On
August 4th received a telegram to
this effect. I reported at headquar.
ters on time. but was not sent out then
because of too large a bunch report
ing at the same time. However. I
was sent at O'Clock in the afternoon
the next day, together with one hun.
dred other fellows over the Rock ISL
and. The chief quartermastcr of
Omaha acted as chaperon and better
one we could not have had. Arriving
at Chicago about s o'clock, it was on
ly several hours ride to the great
lakes. We arrived here just in time
for mess (dinner), and to speak Of
this first meal might be interesting
to some of you at home. Marching
two abreast each one awaited his turn
to satisfy his appetite. Well our first
meal consisted of potatoes, meat, cof-
fee, bread and a good sized orange
apiece. In the afternoon directly af-
ter mess we received part Of our out
fit. namely. two wool blankets, one
towel, one mattress and cover. This
was not very much to begin camp life
with, but sufficient for the present.
In just as few words as possible l
beans, cabbage, tomatoes, etc, very
little pie and cake, very few sweets
being allowed, rice, oatmeal, tea, eggs,
etc. OF course we have only four or
five of these foodstuffs each meal, but
then there are seconds always in cof-
fee, tea or bread.
We drill from four to five hours
every day, and the rest of our spare
time is usually spent over at the Y.
M. C. A. or playing baseball, etc. At
9: 90 p. M. a bugle is blown and large
fired as signal for everyone
to retire for the evening. Five min
utes later the bugle again blows for
taps; this time anyone caught loaf
ing or still up Except guards, is Civ
en- an opportunity to serve extra guard
duty. Each company Q44 mem. COM
pany commander or chief petty Off
Ger. with his assistants, each have sevsI
eral guards appointed to do guard
duty. each taking turns near their
company headquarters. served as
guard on messenger duty from 800 to
5: 90 a. III. the fifth day l was here. My
business was to let no one enter
(without permission) the officers
headquarters Barracks E). Before l
forget l want to tell you there were
first time). At 5: a. m. rev.
elry is sounded by the bugler. 1t is
then time to get up ready for the new
days work. 1t seems to say, II can't
get 'em up, can't get 'em up in the |
The first thing one is eX-
pected to do is to clean up ones tent,
scrub floor soon after cots are re-
moved to the outside.
Most Of our company received their |
first dress suit and other clothing. l
by blue suit, four pairs of
shoes, leggins, sweater,
cap, handkerchiefs, etc. Our
time and pay began on day of enlist.
ment so you see although l received |
my first $40 last Friday have nearly |
three months pay coming because
enlisted May 2Sth.
Companies number one and two left
here for Paul Jones the middle Of last
week to finish out the rest of their |
detention period. BY this l mean be-
ing detained or held here from two to
three weeks. During this time no one
in detention is allowed shore leave,
etc. Then companies number three
and four expected to leave some time |
his week and we (most likely will
follow them. out quite directly. But
IS yet we haven't received our two
white suits and until we do $ the