Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-05-08
leon Wells DON'T
LIKE THE SOUTHERN
CAMP AND CLIMATE
NEPHEW OF AL. WELLS SAYS
THE WATER TASTES LIKES
CARBOLIC ACID
Camp Greenleaf,
May 3rd, 1918.
Dear Cousin and All:

Camp Greenleaf,
May 3rd, 1918.
Dear Cousin and All:
Well, we arrived o. k, but very tir-
ed, and a little sooner than we expect
ed. Arrived here about four o'clock
yesterday, p. m. Left Custer at nine
o'clock a. m, May /, so we were on
the road and moving all the time.
l could write you book about ev-
erything, but will have to make this
brief.
At first the girlssall along the line
came out to see us when the train
stopped and shook hands with us
sometimes we even stole a kiss
through the CIR windows as we were
not allowed to get off the train. Some
of the girls even shed few tears;
but as we got further along south we
did not see many girls and so did not
have such a glorious time as all we,
saw were mostly negroes.
The Detroit Red Cross came to the
train with postal cards, cakes, banan-
as, stamps and cigarettes. We went
through Monroe about 2:15 and if
had known it / could have some of the
folks down to see me, as we stopped
for about five minutes. l guess 1T
was Just as well, as it would have
been but another sad parting.
When we went through Toledo you
ought to have heard the whistles
blow-just a continuous scream-and
all the Northern Ohio girls were fine
to us, even gave us flowers.
We certainly saw some very fine
scenery through Southern Kentucky
and Tennessee. When we reached
Kentucky River we crossed Jon a
bridge which was ACT feet above the
water. 1t was just getting daylight
at that time and was rather foggy so
we did not get good view of the
bridge. 1t is the highest structure
of the kind in the United States.
The mountains and scenery We're
certainly fine and we went through
several tunnels go odd in the noun
tains and then ran along the side for
three hundrde miles or more. The
flowers are in blossom here and peo-
pie were picking strawberries all
along the road Looks like the last
of, June at home. I'VE saw Lookout
Mountain in the distance.
There is a sick bunch of US fellows
here. We thought we were going to
get into a better camp and we are all
disappointed as the Chow" is poor;
water tastes like carbolic acid. The
weather is very warm during the
day time and at night it is quite cold,
and there is no running water or con-
yeniences such as we had at Custer.
Custer is the best camp in U. 5. This
is a very beautiful park and seems as
if the air is better here than in Michi-
gan. :.
We have been assigned to the medi-
cal corps and so / will never have to
carry a gun in this war, but will have
to take care of the wounded and dead.
They say fellow in the medical corps
never smiles after he gets. out of the
war. So don't be surprised II you
have a smile-less cousin when / come
home, as he sees such terrible sights.
/ have put in an application to q,
to the non-commissioned ofhcers'
school and if get in will get good
job and won't have to do the dirty
work, but can tell the rest what to. do.
They are going to let a number of us
Michigan high school graduates go to
the camp and asked us to put in appli-
caions. The non-commissioned cor
porals they have here wouldn't make
first-class "whops" at Custer. They
have the slackest bunch of officers
here you ever saw. They don't salute
nor have retreat at night, or any
thing. They say it only takes ten
days to drill us and then we will be
shipped again to some other camp for
experience. If / go, to school they
can't ship me any too quick. All
hope is, that don't go any further
south.
I'll bet you were some surprised
when you got the letter and / was
very, very sorry that couldn't be
there. Give my address to Julia as
she owes me letter and tell her to
write right away as l am not sure of
being here long. Your cousin,
Private Leon Wells,
Greenleaf, Chickamaugua Park, Ga.
Greenleaf, Chickmaugua Park, Ga.
p. ST. am, only twelve miles from
Chattanooga, Tenn.~ and Uncle Tom
Crebbin livas there. Leon.
y