The Delta independent., 1918-10-18
JOHN HAYWARD MUNRO WRITES
FROM FIT. RILEY TO HIS FRIENDS

Just a few lines to let you know
that 1 have not forgotten you; in fact
think of you very often.
l have been here Just three weeks
and have had more military expert
ence than a man would get in twen-
ey years of civil life. When 1 first
came to Fort Riley, together with
over three hundred other green young
men from Colorado and Wyoming,
believe me, those three hundred men
could make as much noise as any
body the first day, but after they
lined us up and marched us about
mile and made us carry a cot and
barracks bag back with us, you could
have heard a pin drop except for
what the officer in command of us
had to say.
After we got back to our barracks
We were lined up for our first retreat
(roll calD then came the mess line,
which, by the way looked pretty good
to that bunch from Colorado and
Wyoming.
Well, after mess (supper) they told
us We could go to bed, and we were
glad enough to do it after two nights
on the railroad.
Next morning we were called at
4:30 and lined up for reveille (rou
calD then for mess, which lasted over
an hour, for there were over 1000
men eating at our mess hall; and
that morning we got last call, and
of course were at the tail end of the
line. The mess kits that were issued
to us at that time consisted of a tin
plate, tin cup, knife, fork and
spoon. After mess each man cleans
his mess kit with water, soap and
scrub brush. Then. of course, it is
finished in clean water
After mess we were lined up and
taken to another part of the camp
where we took our examination.
Some We're rejected, but I was one
of the lucky ones and passed. Then
we received our first war expert
ence by being shot in both arms
By that time we were ready for
mess again, and after mess we were
lined up and measured for clothing,
which did not fit, but managed to
trade with some of the other fellows
and get a uniform that could keep
on.
BY the time we got our uniforms
the shot in the arm began to take
effect with a vengeance. and out of
the 300 men there were only about
so able to leave their cots for mess
that night or next morning. but again
| was lucky and lined up with the
few for roll call and mess the next
morning.
We drilled all day and continued
to drill hard for week. Then / was
called out one morning and told to
report at the cooks and bakers
school. where l am now. and after
all l like 1t fine. OF course l have
mess. and have sugar bowls on the
got away from the casual mess. We
of the school eat at the officers
table. Now we only drill twice a
week. for an hour At noon we finish
our work and have the rest of the
day we have to do as we please.
Now just a few lines to you boys
who are likely to come in the next
draft. When you arrive in camp do
just what you are told and do 1t just
as quickly as possible and never say
for in doing so you will get assigned
to permanent quarters much sooner
than the fellow who does just as he
pleases. and is always trying to tell
Uncle Sam how to run his army and
II any of the people reading this has
friends in the army. get busy and
write to them, for II there is anything
that pleases the boys, it is to get n
letter. Any of my friends in Delta
who have not heard from me in per
son, don't wait to write, nor think il
was because don't want to write. but
because | have not had time. Friends,
am glad to think / am doing some
thing to help win this war. 1t is a
great big thing to do, and it is going
to take long time to do it. if we
don't all dig in. We are going to do
all we can and 1t is up to the peo-
pie at home TO help us do il. Mothers
please don't think your boys are goin,,
into bad place, when they enter
Uncle Sans army. for they are not
We have here as clean and as nice a
lot OF boys as have ever seen in
civil life, and all that rot you hear
about soldiers bad company is fool
fshness. The boys are cared for here
better in many cases. than at home
Hoping to hear from some OF you
real soon, am.
Your friend.
Private John Hayward Mumo,
NJ. o. T. C. care C. and b. School.