Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-03-13
Oscar p. Lovstnts /. ( Headquarters
Company wri... Interesting
Letter to His U. Here.
BEEN TAKEN GOOD
CARE OF THIS " ER
Plenty to Eat and Plenty of Coal %
Keep Them Warm. New Ar.
rivals i'm Camp Being Drilled
Every Day.
Camp Dodge, Iowa,
Feb. 81, 1918.

Dear Uncle Nels:
VIII today write you few lires
to let you know that / am still at
Camp Dodge and getting along o. X.
1t is little over a month since
wrote you last; CART say that much
of anything OF interest has happened
the last month, but will try to make
this as interesting as possible.
We have been taken good care Of
this winter, plenty to eat and plenty
coal to keep us warm. When not on
duty we generally find something to
do to pass the time. There was quite
a checkers and chess craze among a
few members of this company for a
checkers, but l do love to play chess.
Two of US band boys played from
1890 to 2:30 o'clock on ore game
and ! was unfortunate enough to be
the loser. Naturally l thirsted for
revenge, arl succeeded in getting
even with him the next day.
The different church organizations
have their buildirss here, where the
boys carr go for services on Sunday
and where they can go for clean eri.
joyable entertainments or, other days
of the weeks, when not on duty. We
have the ''Lutheran brotherhood
building where we can gather on Sun
day aId hear the word OF God. There
they have library, and readirIy
room, where the men can sit down
to read or write their letters. In the
main room the ber,ches can be moved
aside and the floor used for basket
ball. On Monday evenings good
moving pictures are shown there.
Both at the Lutheran Brotherhood
and Y. NJ. c. A. buildings they have
religious meetings and wholesome
entertainments that is great help in
the men here, and also in relieving
the moIotony of camp life. There
we are reminded of the rncessity of
being true to our God as we'll as to
our country, and if person is true
TO his God it Is self evident that he
will serve his country faithfully.
From Jan. 29 to Feb. We had
the world famous cornetist and band
master Bohumis Kryl with us. All
the eight bands of Camp Dodge were
put together, aid for a whole week
we were kept busy rehearsirg and
giving concerts. 1t was a week OF
hard work, but enjoyed it, Believe
me, it's rare treat to play under a
man like that.
This winter every man in camp
has had his teeth examined aad every
tooth that needed it, has been repair,
ed. A fine thirly, would say.
Friday, Feb. Sth We sure had
some weather here. First we had
rain. with thunder and lightning ard
towards evening it started showing
When we marched up to the Y. NJ. c.
A. building after supper for lecture,
it had turned ilto real snow storm
Feb. 18th the sriow was gone and
it was such nice day that We sat
outside of Headquarters building and
gave short concert. Rather change
able weather isn't it?-
Feb. 14th was policirY up day
over the whole camp. Pieces OF
paper and other trash lying around
was gathered up, the grounds leveled
where ii was needed around the bar
racks, ETC., ard by evening there
wasn't cleaner place in the whole
state of Iowa.
A week ago last Sunday afternoon,
our bard, the 351st gave their first
concert at Des Moines. We have in
our band the best violiIist, clarinet
ist ard cornetist in camp, and they
gave several solos at the concert.
The yioliIist has studied music at
Prague. Bohemia and the other two
have trooped through this country
with some of the best musical organi-
zations.
Tuesday morning, Feb. 10Th at
3:20 a. m. we were reused from our
get up!'. A fire had started in one
of the barracks south of ours and we
dressed hurridly and were ready for
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