Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-23
Letters from the
Soldier Boys

CONTINUED from Page SKI
them that would be anywhere else. 1t
would get into their systems sooner
or later, it had him and always did.
II think there are some, though, who
will not get the fever and will not
always want to stay. l have seen
some myself who have been in and
had enough, while there are others
who are just the opposite. As for
myself I've always wanted TO get IN
to the navy, but / like It here and II
everything is favorable ! might stay
in the game. The drilling is great
and snap into a fellow and different
life than the ordinary way of SLOUGH
ing around.
There is q bunch of mighty fine fell
lows in the army; some are college
trained men, and fellows from fine
families, and with self-respect. And,
too, there are some things in uniform
that are almost a disgrace to the suit
they wear. But If they are in service
long enough it might do them some
good. 1t is nearly dinner time so
will get out and wash and be ready
to get in line. Everything is get in
line in the army Each company has
Mushroom and bathhouse with show
err baths, so there is no need of being
dirty. There are so many barracks
around burning soft coal that it is
quite job to keep clean See you
later.
Dinner over and some mail here
that they are just going to sort, and
here's hoping / get some. Our mail
from Columbus has not come yet and
guess nearly everyone has some
there.
We had potatoes, roast beef, rice
pudding, pickles, soup and bread for
dinner. We have a good cook for our
company, but the pudding this noon
was not as good as usual, but not bad.
almost always / have a great plenty.
Well, here it is Saturday night and
this letter not finished. We were call
ed to do guard duty yesterday after
noon and l did not get through writ
ing. First one company and then an
other is on guard duty for twenty
| four hours. OF course it takes more
than one company at time to guard
the camp, but that is the way they
work them all in. Some of them are
on guard out doors and some are de-
tailed to take care of fires in the mess
halls and Mushrooms. | haven't my
army shoes yet so got in on the fire
detail. Wen on duty at 4:30 Friday
until 1900, then off until $3.50 Satur-
day a. M, and then until 4:30, max
ing the "a hours for our company,
which was fine.
| ate this noon until | was almost
in misery all the afternoon. There
certainly are some good cooks around
here.
| received letter mother wrote to
me at Columbus the 18th of Deem
Der, and also a box from there. The
cake and chicken were getting some
stale. There were two oranges too,
that ] am afraid are about spoiled.
Then at night / got a letter from
rmother. l should have written them
before this, but haven't yet. I'll try
fand write a few lines tonight or to-
morrow. Your letter mailed the 31st
/ received January Bird. We get quite
good service with mail sent to us
here, but have some yet at Columbus,
or somewhere that is help up. Might
get it sometime.
AS for the wrist watch, Carrie, they
are handy and l would like one, but
there are a number of fellows who
have just cheap one-$4.50 to $3.50,
and nearly all of them are having
trouble with them, so it would not
pay to buy one unless it was a good
one, and l have my watch so will get
along without one for a while.
could have brought it along and may
have it sent yet. We do not need
ties, but socks are handy, although ]
have four pairs just now. Any time
you have any candy on hand just send
it along, and few sailed peanuts
and toilet soap. If there is anything
else at any time I'll make a noise
but don't believe you had better both
err about a watch as / explained why
The boys are making lot Of noise