The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-12-21
CARROLL COUNTY BOY All HAMP-
TON ROADS.
Gives an Idea Of Things Being Accom-
plished at His Training Camp and
Sailors Life.

Sailors Life.
~. S. Naval Training Station
Naval Operating Base,
Hampton Roads, Va,
December, IL, 1917.
To the people back Home:
Being one of the Navy Boys ron
old Carroll county, located at the
New Naval Base, Hampton Roads, Va
will take an hour or so to write the
neople back home, and give them an
idea of NV whereabouts and the Won
derful things that are being accom-
Dlished at this training camp, anu the
real life Of a sailor boy.
BEING a graduate nurse from one OF
1T2rvl2nd's best Hospitals, | enlisted
in the Medical Corps, of the Natonal
Naval Volunteers on July, 20, l9l'.
For sometime was stationed at camp
Saunders, Maryland, and was trans
forred TO this station, early in OCTOBER
Ahout three hundred sailors (seVer-
al MARYLAND boys among them lett
dear old Baltimore on the Ola Bay
Line about $50 o'clock in the even
ing When the boat left the pier,
mothers. wives and sWeethearts were
in tears, to say nothing OF the achlhs
hearts on board For we knew we
were making our first step Tor forelSh
waters. But very soon all were nap
nv. singing and dancing to the music
of the Ukalee's, played by some OF our
own bovs. About 10 o'clock taps we're
sounded. and every one went to thelr
.ta+nroom. for we all knew 1t was Deu
time. v,,i,,o
About $50 o'clock in the morning
tho steamer had locked at ola POlnt
Comfort. and the noise OF the darkle0
unloading freight aroused me from my
sIeep. | flung open the shutter OF inc
stateroom window, and the slgnt Oh
the sea plane greeted my eyes as L
looked out over historic Hampton
Roads soon to be our destination. we
had breakfast on the boat at ) O'CLOCK
Upon arriving l found the camp was
-ituated on the old jamestown Elk
|,nosition Grounds, which the govern
mont is RAPIDLY Transforming INTO inc
greatest Naval Base in the Unlteu
States. and one Of the best IN the
world. am
The Camp is built of barracks one
-+orv high accommodating about one
hundred and twelve mon, which Is
company. Each company have tnelr
own mess hall, washline, and baths'
there are three large Y. M. =. a.
buildings. two caapels, six small dis
Danearies and one large Naval Base
Hoanital Several of the old EXPOSE
ton Ruildings are still standing anu
arc used as the Officers Headquarte[s.
At present there are ABOUT elsnI
thousand sailors here, but when camp
is completed it will accommodate ABOUT
80 900. , ,d
we'll cooked. Our Thanksgiving oln-
Nor consisting of turkey, country man,
irish and sweet potatoes, peas corr
gravy, celery, radishes, fruit CAKE ple'
and four kinds Of fruit.
Attached to this station is gredC
Naval Aviation School, and from Cne
dispensary where | am detained Lol
dntv I can look out the window anu
see the great HydroplaLes' as they
skim the waters, then rise anu soaI
far into the air. Sometimes as l s1I
watching I wonder what a WonderluA
thing our Navy is.
The DAYS routine OF sailor Doy -
reveille sounds at $50 O'Clock III INC
morning. After which the young re-
cruit hears the sea going voice OF some
officer crying out, Rise sailors ohu
shine" Though their nght Ll4Sht
have been a sleepless one ana Ine
sailor may think that the morning al
blows from Greenland's icy moultdl!l'
they rise, every man OF them anu III
due time shine how
Aafter the men are dressed Ihe p%l
lacks are tidled up on the hahlhlocH7'
mattresses, blankets and all are loll.
ed ND and put out or the way Aatel
This muster roll is called. Breakfast
at r o'clock. At s o'clock every one
is assembled on the drill Grounu loi
morning exercise and rigid lnSpecIloH.
Dinner at y o'clock At / Cloch
oil ore assembled again for hOur
drill, after which they are Tree W
write, sew, visit the Y. NJ. {. A. OF any
thing they choose. unless detalleu "
special duty. ,,, 4 oo
Liberty parties are allowed 10 -
ashore at 40 o'clock in the afternoon
Simmer at o'clock. Seven ocloch
brings muster again, everyone answer
ing for himself. Everyone except
guards and others on duty, retire 10
their quarters. At O'Clock taps a!c
sounded and sailor must ne IN MS
hammock. This punctuates the day OF
= sailor boy, with nothing to 90 1hUA
tomorrow.
,nin~ in a position where ! an not
able to get over The camp very Ol'eH
IN see Il I can locate any Of the boys
rom Maryland. hut am in position TO
see most Of the health records and ina
nat a good many of Maryland's Noble
Volunteers are here. and we all WISH
to be remembered to the folks back
tome at the coming Christmas tune.
I write this letter in behalf or the
sailor boys, and if any one from ola
Carroll has any old books OF maSa-
lines. that they wish to contribute,
| am in q position to give them to the
conyalescfng patients, who ENJOY
ling them very much.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas ana
Hapnv New Year, | am,
Very truly yours
LEWIS SHIPDEY, JR.,
U. S. Naval Operating Base