Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-06-21
LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIER
BOYS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Great Lakes, Ill.,, June Is, 1918.
Mr.. Julius Juch,

| life, and most of all, the friendly
spirit shown by the other recruits
and trained men. But the greatest
and most ideal thing is, am serving
my country in her time Of need. |
! did not enlist to avoid the draft, but
because | wanted to serve the country
that we all should serve. We have
here at the station $4,000 more that
have shown the same spirit as |.
Both the army and the navy men go
/ through a lot that the civilian knows
nothing about. He has no idea what
work there is connected with either
life.
My period of detention is not yet
ended. | have been here just II days.
We will be out Of detention on the
twenty-first of June, and we will get
our first shore leave on the twenty
second and twenty-third. | will ex-
plain the detention period. When
raw recruit enters this station he is
first searched, bag and baggage for
cigarettes, chewing tobacco, chewing
gum, alcoholic drinks, toilet water
and immoral literature. The recruit
is forbidden to use any of the above
named articles while in detention,
period of II days. Likewise he is re-
quested for his own good not to use
these articles while in the navy.
| Next he is marched to what is called
Old Detention Camp Boone. First
he is given a pair of blankets, a mat
tress cover, and two towels. He is
then given a tent, there are three
men to tent. The next morning at
500 a. m. he hits the deck, and takes
shower bath (this is compulsory.
After that he scrubs the deck (the
floor Of the tent and polices the ter
ritoly about his tent. At 600 a. m.
the chow (eats) call is sounded. The
method of serving food at Old Deten-
tion is much different from the other
camps. Each company lines up in
two single lines; each man get his
miss kit and hands it out as he passes
the hash Singer. If he does not get
sufficient food on the first round he
lines up for Seconds" The recruits
first day is spent mostly in getting
clothes and having them fitted and
stenciled. Here is a list of the articles
given to each man: Two blankets,
one broom (whisk), one brush
(sclub), brush (shoe), one card but
tons (bOne white), one card buttons
(rubber, smalD, one cap (watch), one
cap (cloth), one cap (ribbon), one
comb, one cotton SPOOL (white), four
drawers (Nainsook), two drawers
(heavy), one pair gloves, II handAer-
chiefs, two hats (White), one jacknife,
one Jersey, three jumpers (undress,
white), one pair leggins, one necker-
chief, one package needles, one over
one box stationery, one spool thread
(silk), one bar soap, (salt water), six
pairs socks (cOtton), three towels,
one spool thread (linen), three pairs
trousers (white), two pairs trousers
(B. c., four undershirts (cotton),
two overshirts (heavy), three braid
This represents a value of $4,000.
They give you a bag to put all In,
and they must be rolled certain way.
The main reasons for keeping re-
cruit in detention are: First, to vac
cinate you; second, to innoculate, and
third, to examine you for any veneral
diseases. If your first vaccination
fails to take you are given two more.
Fortunately my first one took. You
are given three innoculations whether
you like them or not. These shots
leave a sickeining feeling and in
some cases they put you in a state
of fever. After my third shot l felt
like finding quiet spot and dieing.
| didn't though. The navy is very
strict in regard to any disease. When
a sailor goes on shore leave he must
be examined upon his return.
| spent about week in Old Deten-
ton and then | was transferred to
my present location. Most of the
time here is spent in drilling and
the company is sometimes sent out in
working parties. This afternoon our
whole company spent our time in un-
loading two cars of limestone. You
can believe me when l say that it is
a very pleasant pastime.
Our company is comprised Of men
seeking special ratings, such as fire
men, machinists' mates, yeomen and
radio operators. At this time the
radio school at Camp Perry is filled
to overflowing. And there is no tell
ing when | get in. | hope that the
time is not far distant. At the radio
school l expect to spend at least three
months, and if | am successful there
| will be sent to Harvard for an ad-
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