Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-17
Quantico. Va.

July s1. 1913.
 Nv Dear 9Tr. Rogers: Permit me briefly so apologize for my delay in not previously writing you. The only excuse which I can offer is that could not very well keep up cores pondence with all of my Salem peo- pie and rather than slight some I de- cided to omit writing to any except in answer 10 their letters. This as you know I have done and therefore ] believe you will pardon my tardiness in not writing you However, as my dear mother states in her letter of re- cent date you are anxious to have me write you of the training and advan- tages of this branch Of service I take the pleasure of complying with your request and knowing that you desire to publish this letter I shall truth fully state the facts as they appear ed to me and as they are That each and every young man in this glorious and honorable branch of the service are men whose whole souied desire is to serve their beloved country with more ader and zeal than they have done previously. By this I mean that many young men have served their country before they enlisted but have caund themselves lacking. From our Si'eat western farms which we all know provide this great nation and our allies with it's bountious supplies of wheat and beef. young men have join | ed
 1 Our eastern states are saerifc- i ing their young men who have done 1 good and noble work in it's many ann i nunition factories and farms, still sorry to say there are snuch parts of | the various states where the T. s 1 M. c. is an unknown as Greek is te | the average citizen Unfortunately 1 the country is without reeruitine station but it is to be hoped that soor 1 there will be. New London has prac- l tically every recruiting station with l the exception of this branch. The i average training a recruit receives is l about six to savrsl weeks after whicf he is turned out for duty. No othel organization receives the training ana drill which the men in this branch re- oeiye. This is proven by the queta l ton of General Pershing and other prominent men, as well as by the gle- rious and victorious deeds which tht 1 marines are daily aecemnlishins ''eyer there'' That the physical stand ing is far above any organization i also proven by the small number O casualties caused by sickness or dis ease. That the comfort of the men i constantly provided for is an absolutt
 certainty as I can narrate Tn yer! few words.
 While in training on Pari Island & C., we slept in tent on comfortable cots constantly pro vided with clean bed linen and goot i bedding, These were (i e. the entir,
 bed) covered with mosquito screen Also hot and cold showers were al
 ways available, the meals were alway l plentiful and good the hours of dril and training were short in compa ri son to the tours of leisure Saturda, afternoons and Sundays were hours o
 pleasure and left for devotional eyer
 eises and letter writing. The various
 medical treatments received amount t
 about S22 and this includes only tn
 three innoculatiens for the prevention
 of typhoid fever and the vaccination l For any other cases which may eccu
 such as toothache, or anything nor
 serious medical attention is alway
 provided, at any time of the day, thi
 costs the recruit only twenty cent
 per month. Now as to the cIothins
 The amount of clothing issued woul cost the civilian about $200. This i i given to the men without any deduc { tion from their pay. The chances fo
 increasing their monthly pay ar , many.
 No branch of service gives th
 Marine corps. The first is given t
 every recruit Under the rife rang
 each recruit is compelled to shoot tn rife course and all have the equs chance of qualifying in the differen
 degrees. The first is that of marks man. This gives a man an additions increase of g per month, The secon
 is sharpshooter. with an increase q
 s per month. and the third is that (
 expert with a monthly increase of
 and all those who qualify receive , addition to the increase in pay 5 medal in proportion to their fespeetiv qualifications. This medal is highl honored and is composed of solid sil
 yer, and should encourage any re
 blodded young American to make goot
 The second way of increasing tn q monthly salary is the non commission ,i ed officers school All men have tn U chance of qualifying for this educa 5 tionai school. Men who are turne
 out of this school are absolutely capa l bIe of handling a company and kno' t their business perfectly, and receiy f the full pay of their rank. I'll length of the course is due to the ma alone. It can be Nsix weeks or thre . months. You alone can make it eithe