The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-07-18


some time, and l should have writer
before now but for one reason. we
nave been expecting tn move again ano
Tor that reason was waiting, put at
we haven't moved, and will not Tor
few days, l guess it's best that l write
now; and. say, don't expect me 10 write
a real long letter, for / can't tonight,
anyway.
We sailed from Hawaiian Territory
May 3lst, and docked in Seattle. Wash,
on the 10th of June. We had the finest
of weather all the way over. but at
that we had some real sick boys, but
as for myself | enjoyed the trip very
much; and, say, if you ever saw happy
bunch of men it was US when we
landed. Why shouldn't we be happy?
Just think of how long the most of US
have been in Oahu where nobody but d
soldier and Kanaki could stay 50 long.
| We are sure in fine place now; every
body seems to be satisfied and putting
the greatest of interest in their drills.
We had general inspection yesterday
and the general said we were the best
trained soldiers he had ever inspected.
But as have said before the soldiers
in the islands are. or supposed to be.
the best trained men in the u. S. army,
and you know what that will mean for
us should we ever get the chance to
cross the deep blue. and here y hoping
that will be soon.
Now, OF course. you will want to
know if IN coming home. No. | can t
get there, for we only have ten days
of. ana you know it would take almost
eight days to get there. But | think
by August or September we will be al
lowed thirty days furough. You see
they can't let too many of us off ato once,
and the boys that get the ten days off
are those that live either in this state
or adjoining states; then later they are
to give twenty days to the boys that
live still further away, and so on So
you see it will be some time before |
can get home, but we did want to be in
it by then
at present we are at Camp Murry,
but will be at Camp Lewis in few
days We would have gone there at
first, but the camp was so full we
get the rocm, so we are here
in tents for a few days Think the
camp at Lewis will be empty by Mon
day. They are leaving now just as fast
as they can get transportation. One
train load after another has been leav-
ng for five days now.
You know this is the biggest camp in
the Union; it covers over seven miles |
of land, and more quarters being built
every month. There is room for 70, 900 !
men now, just think of that, and there
wasn't room for us down there. And
just think. the camp will be empty
by Monday and full again in two
weeks. There are only 1900 men in
the first infantry, but they are going to
put about !, 500 more with us.
Well, this sure is fine place it is !
nice and warm here now but we are in |
plain view of the snow w-capped noun
tain, Mount Tacoma. it sure is pretty.
We are II l2 miles from Tacoma and |
30 from Seattle and Is from Olympia,
20 you see we are just about the luck
est men going. We have the Y. M. C.
A., *. of G. and the incest of churches
to spend our leisure time at, and of
course we meet with the incest of young
people at these different places, so you
see we should be proud to be here.
Will close for this time.
Your atfectionate son and brother,
DEWITT r. DAVIS.
Co. A, 1st Infantry,
Camp Lewis, Wash.
p. S. Well Addie, should say we
nave felt the effect of the Red c..
We were just saying the other day that
f it wasn't for the Red Cross that we
lidn't see how or what we would do to
teep warm these cold nights You see