The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-02
FROM OUR SOLDIER
BOYS

4 i lGDu J. Itu.
suppose you think have forgot
ten you, but did not think | would
write You until became stationed at
one camp. When | first came, they
moved us about every week, have
been at every camp about "A week at
time and when we moved into Paul
Jones they told Us we would only be
here week, SO you see ! was wait
ing to move again, but it seems as
we will be here for quite while.
They are sending out sailors most
every day. To-day they sent thouS-
and out, most OF them were seaman
guards. | think Leo Mitchell left in
that bunch, | was surprised TO meet
| him here, applied for TRANSFER TO
the armed guard, do not know if it
will go through or not, but think it
will, will know in few dEyS. | will
have to go to school here for a month
and then will be sent to sea at once,
| and will be put on a transport, or a
merchant ship and watch out for sub
marines. will also have a chance to
handle some Of the big guns. | know
just about how would feel if ! seen
a sub marine, but am getting pretty
salty now, have been out on the lake
quite a few times. Today we had a
little fight of our own on the lake.
We had a little target for a sub-ma-
rine. 1t was some sport all right.
We drill four days out Of a week and
then they put us to fixing roads etc,
in camp. The boys here calls it ro-
do.
This is certainly some nice place.
The Great Lakes is the largest naval
training station in the world. 1T las
a changing population averaging IA
bout thirty five thousand and is sit
uated on the shores Of Lake Michigan
The station covers $40 acres, it has
over 500 buildings. The men have a
choice of more than score Of schools
FOR training.
\ The Great Lakes has graduate TO-
the sea in excess Of 30, 900 recruits.
There is one very important thing
here and that is there isn't any flies.
have not seen half dozen iiies sinrr
| been here, and if there is any thing
that spreads disease, flies will do it.
The camp is kept very clean at all
times, it is very cool here also, and a
little damp at times, in the evenings
YOU have to wear and o. ercoat to
keep comfortable, and very seldom do
you see any one setting in the shade
because the breeze 5 very cool, and
no hot winds, sometime wish there
wou dc )me one Of them warm Meilette
county winds.
How are all the crops out there this
year? Hope they are good and that
Mellette county is doing its bit to
help win this war, and ! am sure all
the boys here are doing their very
best and are anxious to 60 across to
get the Kaiser, and we sure will gel
him.
have received several copies of
the Pioneer, and certainly enjoy read
ing it, and hope | will receive eacl
copy, even If we do have bum ma
service here, but there is lot OF
n handled each day here
also noticed there were a lot OF
the boys going this month. Wei, for
my choice think the navy life is
great and like it tine now, but it was
a little hard at the beginning, Of
cs,ufse any thing is hard at first.
r-ehow is good and plenty Of it,.
ere are seven Of us detailed at the
Csss hall in the morning for few
aays, X sure will dish out the chow
H. the Jackies. We all line up for
chow and all they have t. do is pass
their plates and we fill them up.
Welliits about nine o'clock. Time
te roll in as / have to hit the deck at
Ave i'm the morning.
Yes also know how to wash clothes
We received three suits of white
which isonr every day suits and two
Gi aues which are our dress and for
lflrloughs, but | do not think ] will
ever get to wear my blues on a fur
IE1,.l.
eouid tell you lot about tie navy
life but haven't time to write all Of 1t,
Hoping this finds you well and all
! the people In the city OF Wood.
Yours, ELMER HELLEKsoN,
Camp Paul Jones,
/ Comnany q 18th Repiment