Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-19
OUR BOYS
in :.
OUR COUNTRY'S SERVICE


ceived by Mrs. U. G. Woods OF Bow
doinham from her son. Herman
Woods, stationed at Gulfport, Miss:
@ U. S. Training Camp,
Gulfport, Miss, Oct. n, IL.
Dear folks at home:
Just a few lines today. / got your
letter and was glad to hear that You
all are we'll and haven't the 'hu.' 1
don't mind being away from home II
I know you all are well. The quar-
antine here hasn't been lifted yet.
We sailors are practically all over the
flu but the surrounding towns are
quite bad, but better than they have
been. We (the 18th Coz haven't got
any of our jabs yet on account OF the
'f1u,' but we get them soon. We get
three jabs each, seven days apart ana
a vaccination with the first one.
The weather here is fine. 1t Is
quite hot here in the middle OF the
day when the sun shines. l have
some good sunburns on my neck and
arms to prove that statement. If
am to stay in service this winter ]
had rather spend it here in this eli
mate than up north where it goes 30
and 40 degrees below zero. have
my doubts about the war lasting
much longer. The papers look good
here. We have to pay five cents
paper here. and it's a pretty thin one
at that. There are fellows here from
all parts of the United States. l was
Just talking with fellow from Cali
fornia. He said California was Gods
country. They have rumors going
that after we stay here two or three
months we will either go to Califor-
MIA or Florida. Some companies are
to be sent to Texas soon. The men
in my company are practically all
machinists for aviation. Mine is lands
man for aviation.
We have good barracks here in de.
tention camp. There are II here in
my half of the barracks. We had /:
but one was rejected. We have a gas
stove and two gas water heaters, two
shower baths, and a place to scrub
our clothes. We haven't drilled much
yet on account of the flu and the
weather. We have heavy rains here,
also strong winds but the water IS
very calm on the gulf next to the
shore, but after you get out 1t isn't
so smooth in a high wind.
A party of sailors got permission %
go sailing the other day. They start
ed out in a sail boat for the day, took
some food and coffee for their dinner.
They went over to Cat Island, about
eight miles out in the gulf. They got
over there 0. K. and started back
about 2 p NJ, got half way back
when a heavy wind came up against
them. The fellow in charge of the
boat didn't know as much about IL
as he should and they couldn't make
any Roadway toward home. They
took down the sail and tried to row
but rowing was not successful against
that wind. They were lucky enough
to hit the island as the wind blew
them back If they had missed the
island there Is no knowing where
they would have landed. They went
ashore. built a fire and stayed there
all night without anything to eat. In
the morning the station sent out two
parties to locate them. They took med
icines and rations and had orders not
to return until they found them. The
rescue party sighted the boat after a
few hours search and signalled TO
them, who are your" The boat sig
nailed back, boat No. 3, naval train
ing station at Gulfport." So it was
by the semaphone that those sailors
were saved. The fellow in charge Of
the boat won't get another one for
some time. When / go out I am go
ing to make sure that the fellow in
charge knows his business. l am
learning the semaphone signals. They
use flags, one in each hand. The 18th
company's flag is blue field with a
white diagonal cross in the center.
l am quite anxious to get home but
I want to do my part for my country
first. because when / see home l want
to stay. Well, must close. You
folks at home take good care Of your
selves. l will be home as soon as IN
Gle Sam is through with me.
Lots Of love to all