The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-09
RIP" LIKES LIFE
Former State journal Man at
Texas Flying Camp.
He. Writes Interesting Letter of
Army Experiences.
EXPECTS TO FLY BEFORE LONG
He Is Stationed at Field Where
Castle Was Killed.
Most of Work So Far Has Been
Digging in Ground.

The State Journal is in receipt of
a letter from Frank A. Ripley, son of
Mrs. Annie P. Ripley, 1906 Topeka
avenue, and now serving in the 379
aero squadron, stationed at BenbrOok
field, Fort Worth, Tex Previous to
his enlisting, Ripley was a valued
member of the State Journal adver-
Using staff.
The letter follows:
This may not be as long a letter
as 1 would like to write, for L am
sitting on the small end of an up
right two by four and using the broad
side of another one for a table, and
it takes considerable shifting to find
the softest spot on the small end of
one and to keep the broad side of the
other under the paper. 1 may go far
Their and state that 1 am writing
from the guard house. But, strange
as it may seem, 1 am not confined
there as a prisoner, but rather as cor
porai of the guard, which lasts from
o'clock this morning until O'Clock
tomorrow morning. l have it pretty
soft; only have to hang around the
guard house and go with the guard
when they change posts.
But it may be you will be inter-
ested in knowing how long 1 have
been here and where have been since
my last letter.
well, we left jefferson Barracks
on the 4th of January. There were a
thousand of US, and we didn't know
where we were headed for, and none
of us cared a great deal, for we were
getting away from Jefferson Barra cks,
and that was all we wanted. The next
day we arrived at Camp Custer, Mich
igan, about five miles from Battle
Creek. and altho it was showing and
cold, it was like heaven to US, for we
had barracks to sleep in, place to
90 ho
some interest in us.
Enjoyed Custer Stay.
Il enjoyed myself very much at
Camp Custer, for we had steam heat
ed barracks, plenty of food of the
best quality, and, altho the thermom-
eter got down to 3S degrees below
zero, we were issued enough clothes
to keep US warm. The officers and
non-commissioned officers were all
very considerate, and as pleasant as
their positions would allow. Our
captain gave us farewell banquet
just before we went, and the day we
departed practically the whole camp
and a great deal of ceremony
Camp Custer is a draft camp. and
we were pat into the 160th depot
brigade, which has for its function
the training of their particular line of
work. We were drilled in the school
u,
manual of arms and in all the ele-
mentary rules which all soldiers are
required to know.
I'VE left Camp Custer Sunday, Feb
ruary II. There were 500 of us, as
the others had previously been shipped
to different parts of the country We
had a very pleasant trip. altho a slow
one. as we didn't get here until
Wednesday afternoon. We stopped
every morning and evening for phys
ical exercise. We travelled in Pull
mans and had hot meals which were
practically as good as those served
at Camp Custer.
Many Canadians There.
when We arrived at the camp
Camp Taliaferro-we were consigned
sists of three fields, Hicks field Ever
man field and Benbrook field. They
are all within a radius of ten miles of
Fort Worth, and entirely separate
from each other. All of these fields
are Canadian fields, and we are about
the only Americans there, with the
exception of a few cadet fliers The
Royal Flying corps is stationed at
these three fields, and they are a fine
bunch of young fellows. many of
whom have been across and have seen
service.
'At Everman field we were all
divided up and sent to the different
fields. 1 am now stationed at Ben
brook field, where We are very COM
fortably quartered in tents. We con-
tinue to get good grub, but haven't
gotten entirely used to the weather
yet, for when we left Camp Custer it
was pretty cold, and the second day
after we arrived here it got up to 80