Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-08-19
A LETTER FROM
CAMP GORDON
Leslie Clifton Writes Interesting Let
ter to His Mother, Telling Of
Camp Life in the
e South.
:
BLAMED AS MOST HEALTHFUL
&
BOYS all Look Well and are Bleached
z Out.-DOn't Tan in the South
ern Sun.
BLAMED AS MOST HEALTHFUL
Boys all Look Well and are Bleached

ton, to his mother, Mrs. L. S. Clifton,
in this city:
Z Camp Gordon, Ca, August s, 1918.
My Dear Mother: Your letter of
Sunday received and was very glad
ito hear from you. Yes, l am receiv-
ing your letters and certainly enjoy
them
You asked for details of the COM
pany. Camp Gordon is one of the
largest and best equipped camps in
the world As said before, it is To-
Gated in timber and quite hilly. Lots
of small rock and hard sand, and no
mosquitoes. The only OBJ lection is that
the water is warm, but it is that way
In all camps, as the pipes are not
down deep. The water is soft and
this is claimed to be the most health
Isful camp there is. 1t gets awfully hot
in the daytime, especially in the af-
ternoons, but there is always a cool
breeze and the nights are cool enough
to keep a heavy blanket over one
The barracks are like those of Camp
Dodge. only the streets are crooked
and the buildings more scattered on
account of ravines and hills.
Boys Look Well.
All of the boys are looking much
better than when they left, as regu-
lar hours and the good substantial
food sure puts the Staff into US. i'y
having those heavy marching shoes,
plenty large, with the legs bound with
-1eggings, it makes marching much
easier, and the distance is not no.
decd Each day the drills are lit
r. harder and we march farther, but
we don't notice it. After a hard days
work, and a good bath, person GER
tally feels like new, and by that time
At is getting COOL
We are examined every week, and
II the leas! little thing is the matter
with us, we are taken care of by the
hest there is. This evening We had
foot inspection, and l had just lit
tie place where the top of one of my
shoes rubbed the skin off. l was TAX
en- to the infirmary, and had it taken
care OF.
Haven't had chance to see much
of the camp, but what have looks
all alike.
Beaches Out
Am bleached out from what l was
at home. That is one of the strange
things here-the heat doesn't make a
person dark. All the fellows here are
lighter in complexion, not alone
those in camp, but all white people.
The residences of Atlanta are beau
tiful, and indicate great wealth. Hope
to be able to visit Atlanta soon, and
see what the business section looks
like.
In our company there are about ESQ
and over 5000 in the 4th Replacement
division. This 4th Replacement is
considered the best company of in
fantry in camp. And We are all
proud of it and are working hard to
maintain its name. Our first lieuten-
ant is wonder. There is no man at
home good enough to compare him
with and in short time he will be
captain. And the rest of the officers
are almost his equal. They are all
clean. No "cussing" allowed in our
company, and absolutely no gamb-
ling. II anyone is caught disobeying
these rules, he is sent to the guard
mouse. There aren't any of the town
Boys, only Schweppe, that l think OF
In Company L. But they are all
swell fellows, and have lots of fun
and good times off duty, such as box
ing, playing ball, singing, and all
sorts of games and tricks. One fell
low is looking for the one who tied
his clothes in hard knots. AS yet
the guilty one hasn't been found, but
his clothes are under lock and key.
About sixteen thousand were in line
today on a small hike. 1t certainly
looked nice to see line almost as
long as you can see, and to hear the
tramping of feet in time. Tomorrow
we start practicing the manual OF
arms with our guns.
Let me hear from you as often as
you can. With love and best wishes
for your good health.
Leslie.