The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-07-11
TRAINING FOR NAVY
EDGAR TESSMAN HELPS BUILD
CAMP AT SEATTLE.

| Edgar Tessman, former Oskaloosa
lad, member of the High school Sen
ior class at the time Of his Gi}3 departure
for service, and q, memBet of the "O'
staff at one time, writes of his emit
| rance to a naval training camp in the
west in the following interesting
way:
U. S. Naval Training Camp,
Seattle, Washington,
July l.
Editor Herald AS l believe no
one from Oskaloosa has written of
this camp, | thought it would be in
teresting to Oskaloosa people to hear
something of the training camp in
which I am located.
1t is a new training station, just
building, and the men in the camp
are helping to build it. The last
week we have been cleaning off tim
Der land which will soon be covered
with mess halls and tents. The work
is being rushed, as many new men
are expected soon.
From our camp we can see the out
skirts of Seattle, and the city looks
beautiful, the houses being built on
hills. Our camp here is situated on
the campus of the University of
Washington, which has some very
beautiful buildings.
l have not been able to look around
much as we men in detention must
stay within the guard lines. 1t is
only when l go on working parties
that l am able to see something of
the university buildings and the land
around here
In the timber are some very large
trees. They are sawed off and when
they fall through the air they make a
swishing sound. AS they strike the
ground roar like that of close thun-
der is heard and clouds of dust are
raised. To see one Of these big
trees fall is a novel sight for the men
from the middle western states from
which most of the men here have
come.
The climate seems to agree with
the natives. However, | prefer Iowa
climate, in the summer time at least,
and as it is said it rains here all win
ter, believe Iowa snow and cold
weather would not be more disagree
able The sun shines very hot and
most of the men are severely sun
burned. The nights are cool from
o'clock on and when we roll out at
the call of the bugle at $50 a. M, it
is very chilly am becoming used
to it now to some degree. The men
are given every medical attention re-
quired, and doctors are very busy car
ing for the many cases, especially af-
ter vaccinations and NEGOTIATIONS
there are many who respond to "sick
calls"
This detention is the hardest part
of the life, we are told. We can not
walk around in the camp nor con-
verse with any one outside of guard
limits, which hits some of the boys
hard when young ladies are in the
vicinity. | have another week to
spend in detention and then l will
be allowed to go to visit the city of
Seattle and meet two Oskaloosa boys,
Charles Gunnar and my brother, Har-
old Tessman, who are in the camp
at Bremerton, Washington. The
camp at Bremerton is much larger
than this one and is one of the most
important camps on the western
coast. The serious cases requiring
medical attention in this camp are
taken to the hospital at Bremerton.
am enjoying navy life, but would
like it better if some one from Oska-
loosa were with me. My bunkie is
from near Atlantic, Iowa. Men from
the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Kan
sas and Missouri are the majority of
men in the camp here.
The scenery in the western states
is beautiful. The lakes and rivers
md snow-capped mountains are rev.
citation to the men from the inland
states and all are anxious to go on
board big ship.
After the men are out of detention
they separate and go into the parts
of the main camp where the different
things are taken up. Radio gun
merry, mechanics, and seaman divis-
ions are the main ones. Some will
probably be in training here for sew
eral months while it is probable some
of us will leave soon after coming out
of detention. No one knows when
he will be called to some other camp
| am sending you copy of our
camp newspaper. l am going to try
to get on the staff when | get into the
| main camp. Athletics and entertain
ments in the armory keep up on our
good spirits. l send regards to my
friends in Oskaloosa.
EDGAR TESSMAN