Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-15
SOLDIER BOYS IN
PRAISE Of j N CL {
SANS FIGHTING MEN
SAM RAYMOND, AT CAMP FUNs-
TON. kAS., AND JOE KELLY. AT
FORT WETHERlLLe, r. l..
WRITE LETTERS HOME.

WRITE LETTERS HOME.
The Ottawa boys who left Ottawa
on May 25th. for jefferson barracks,
and later were transferred 10 Camp
Funston, have been divided into diff
erent companies, according 10 a let
+ Ter received IN Ottawa by Miss Fran
els Raymond. from her brother
Samuel Raymond
The story OF the method OF dividing
boys into different companies and "A
Very Interesting description of the
camp is given in the letter.
Camp Funston. Kas.,
June Is, 1918.
Dear Sister.
am still waiting to hear from You
folks Ia is certainly hard to get mail
here We moved yesterday morning
10 the center of Camp Funston,
which Is about two miles from the
place we were first. II was just about
noon when We got settled in our
quarters, and as no arrangements had
Leen made for our dinner We either
had to go down town and buy our
dinner. or else go to the other com
panles and beg ii.
/ went down town and bought my
dinner After dinner We had 10 take
down and fold up all the iron beds
in our barracks and pile them up and
get cots in their places. We had just
Finished this when We were called
outside and divided up into different
punches II was then about supper
time and we were told "a get our
suppers and then fall om win all our
baggage
After supper We lined up With our
packs and marched a couple OF blocks
and sal down on our packs and wait
ed for them 10 assign us 70 places.
Il was almost II O'Clock before | got
my cot and GOT settled for the night.
This is a large camp. L holds about
10000 men There is regular city
in the center of it with all kinds OF
stores, shops restaurants theatres
etc. Il is very hot here,
s. Tell everybody 10 write al once,
Goodbye,
M SAM
n Capnpnt N'ur1 nnv,nnp1
LIST Ret Co., 4lst Infantry
Camp Funston. Kansas
Lauds Coast Artillery.
A letter from Joseph Kelly. son of
Z nr T. A. Kelly 1928 Columbus
vstre-t, tells OF the eagerness of the
boys in he coast artillery 10 get into
action and TO break up some of kais
or Bins submarines. 'The letter also
asgives an interesting sketch Of the life
OF the boys in the coast artillery ser
fvice Young Kelly enlisted some time
Sage in La Sale in the coast artillery
Hseryice and Is serving now at Fort
Wetherill jamestown r
llth Co. Fort Wetheril.
June 9, 1918
Dear Cousin Mary:
Received your letter and indeed was
very glad to hear from YOU as all 81
us boys just love to get a letter OF
two every day. That's army life for
you.
| just ate my best meal since I've
been in the army Ii consisted Of the
following Chicken. mashed potatoes
grayey. bread butter. coffee and rice
pudding You c0uldn's ask for bet
good during the week days, but it is
thousand times, better than many q
boy claims it TO be I'm used to good
eats and think they feed us fine.
We have been having some trouble
with the subs around here. but not
enough to make it real interesting, bui
we looked for real action and wanted
ii just the worst way. ! saw a crew
that was captured last week and they
look as though they hadn't eaten ion
months.
am first on the list to be made
corporal and expect the decree abou;
the middle of this month At pres
ent | am rated as first class private
and as soon as | am corporal ant
pass the gunners' examination. which
will be about another month, | an
going io take a three months school
Ing to try for sergeant major
| am the busiest boy in the world
at present, drilling, studying and dur
ing my spare time working as cleri
In the Office | am in jake with tht
captain and sergeant and they are
helping me fine. so II won't be hare
for me. Although I'd like to get out
OF here before Winter sets in, as il Is
real cold here now. but On, YOU Win
ter
am playing on the baseball team
and playing a better game than
thought could play. made two hits
at bat four times, not 80, bad.
Mary you ought to see all the sail
or boys around here | was in New
port Saturday on detail and all you
could see was sailors. Sailors and
soldiers. There must have been