The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-05

when we will all be together again.
can taste your strawberry shortcake
this minute. The thought OF II
causes my mouth to water like "Oio
Faithful
when complete this letter. l am
going for q bicycle ride to a nearby
town. The day is cool and cloudy,
and an afternoon of liberty makes the
outdoor appeal irresistible. My very
best love is you, dearest mother, nut
please save a little of this instalment
for Hubert and Jessica, and tell them
l send much love. Gave my best re-
CARDS to all my friends, especially MT.
Rich, because he has proved TO oe one
of my best friends"
Joseph ]. Ward. formerly OF heo-
kuk, who is in the navy at Wessa-
hickon barracks. Cape May, n. ~,
has been promoted to the. rank OF
gunner's mate and now wears the
Grow" ON his right arm.
Mr.. Ward was reared in keokuk
but moved to California with his pa
rents, Mr.. and Mrs. James Waro'
about ten years ago. He enlisted IN
the navy in San Francisco, January
20.
He has written the following letter
to his uncle, John l.. Ward: :,
II was notified yesterday tnat
had made my rating of gunners mate,
which is to be either second or tnlru
class. This pleased me very mucn
as there is quite an honor attacneo ~
the wearing of the Crow on your
right arm and it also makes me a
petty officer. .,- "a
"My pay is increased from $500
to S44. 90 per month, which is not so
bad even il I only get third class.
1--WE held military mass at the
camp this morning. I was in the
military escort and later on was
picked out for one Of the firing
SQUAD We fired a single volley at
the conservation. 1t was the first
time / ever attended field mass ana
1 will say that it was very nne.
There were quite few visitors VINO
attended the mass from Cape May.
II have been having a lot of prac-
tice on the three Founders and three
inch guns lately and have made some
very good scores and feel quite Ger.
tain that / am now ready to go out
and tackle the W boats or whatever
else might cross our path.
81 was in crew at drill pracIce
on a six inch gun last Monday ana
they took movies of us at work, SO
you might see them in some weekly
shown on the screen.
ITO give you an idea Of the way
Uncle Sam is feeding his men, ! Will
here give you our menu for this noon
stuffed peppers, asparagus and may
onaise. beets, mashed potatoes, sweet
pickles, turkey and dressing, peas,
Cd onnla ME Ice
cream and coffee, with an over abund-
ance for everyone. can honestly
saw that our food has certainly baen
fine ever since I have been in the
service.
Il have gained about fifteen or
twenty pounds and never before felt
better in my life.
"Our weather is the regular old
hot summer stuff now and we are
wearing white as the uniform of the
day, which means that ! am washing
mostly every day.
Last evening they put on a great
show at the ~ rhirty-five people
were in the cast and they certainly
had some dandy new songs. Amongst
these was the old favorite, SO Long
Lefty which brought down the house.
Might before last there were
about twelve actors and actresses
sent down from Broadway and tn
had very good shit.
81 saw oh Boy in Philadelphia,
last Saturday night and if it ever
comes to Keokuk you do not want to
miss it as it surely is a wonder.
II have seen the Athletics. White
Sox, New York Americans and Cleve-
lands and will say that they surely
have great collection of stars. The
Athletics are very much improved
team over last year and look as II
they should land in about fifth Or
sixth place. The Yankees look to me
as if they will give the White and
Red Sox a battle for first place, for
they certainly have great team.
"The White Sox are not nearly as
strong in the pitching department as
last year and I think they will fail
on that account.
How is everything in Keokuk?
"Give my best to all the boys
around the store"