The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-10-10

CIO VI ~ oNoiSo Shty SOulu
speak. They said they had been tolt
the American soldiers killed every
prisoner they took. Of course
couldn't blame them for being pretty
shaky at the knees. TO explain oul
feelings in real tight places and un
der heavy bombardment is some job
in fact, 1t is almost impossible"
Edwin Fricke, who went with the
August draft to Camp Funston, has
sent the Register the following inter
esting letter of soldier life in the
camp:
Camp Funston, Kans., Sept. 90, 1918
Dear Editor: thought perhaps my
friends at Bookings and vicinity
would be glad to hear from me, and
find out some news about army life,
Well I've been waiting for the chance,
so | thought I'd do it today as 1t is
Sunday.
We arrived at Camp Funston, (bar-
racks), Thursday. Aug. 2Sth, at 10 a.
m, then we had an early dinner, and
Immediately after they commenced
examining, and talk of getting a uni
form quick, we sure got ours-in less
than an hour, and our full equipment
too. The shoes | wear are one size
larger than | usually wore, and only
weigh four pounds a pair. The soles
are about one inch thick, and have
steel nails in each sole.
The leather tops are of a rough finish.
No, | seldom get overbalanced since
I've worn them. This reminds me of
a story | heard a short time ago Of
a soldier who was asked why he
didn't put his right foot back six
inches when given the command, PA
rade Rest" and he promptly replied,
| put my foot back six inches but my
shoe remained the same as before.
AS soon as we got our equipment
were taken in trucks to the deten-
ton camp (the camp we are in at
presently. 1t is eight miles west of
the barracks. The next day we got
our innoculation, and put on guard
the next evening, that's going some,
isn't it?
l took special notice of the corn
crops all along the way and can say
cool old South Dakota sure can
feel proud of her crop, for ali Tie way
Kansas up to Camp Funston,
there was not an ear of corn to be
seen-big, tall, dried-up stalks about
seven feet high was all that was to
seen. One thing that seems queer
70 me is that l haven't seen a bird
I've been here.
Some mornings after breakfast we
climb a hill about three hundred feet
nigh and carry rocks down, these are
lsed for building roads about the
amp. Then after we've made one or
.wo trips we go out to drill. They
ire drilling us quite hard now and at
present we are taking up bayOnet
and signal work. A week ago
asst Tuesday we were given our try
,ut on the rifle range which proved
/ success. AS far as an army rifles
Kick, l don't think they kick anymore
han a twelve gauge shot gun. Talk
bout %unionalls, we all wear them dur
ng drill hours, and there's only about
6. 1000 used here. At $40 we change
,ur clothes and put on our o. DIS for
retreat" which is at 6 p. M. From
lay to day there is a continuous roar
If artillery fire near Fort Riley.
Talk about keeping things clean
lround camp, every morning about
90 men from each company go out
md police up" as they call it. that
S, we pick up all matches. cigar and
cigarette stubs, paper and so on, we
Llso furl out tents, make our beds,
ct them outside and then we sweep
nut and mop our floors. but we don't
tut our tent up till after 5 p. m.
Now l suppose you think that l
Won't tell you anything about our
rub, well it sure is good dope as far
IS I've had it. We use a good deal of
breakfast food here which usually is
,orn flakes.
This afternoon we had a parade re-
Jew of about $4,000 troops, it sure
vas a grand sight. 1t was led by the
9th Division Band of Camp Funston
nd it sure was good music, but I
Ion't think it has anything or the
Bookings band, very much at that.
Here it is Monday and I haven't this
finished yet, well we took up
new stunt in training today, and
hat was hand grenade throwing. They
re taking the boys out of our com
'any right along and transferring
hem. Clarence Hansen of Brookings,
nd Olaf Olson Of Bushnell were trans
erred some two weeks ago into the
ank service at Philadelphia. Gale
and Frank Gle, both of Brook
ngs were made corporals last week.
Gee the Huns sure are backing up
asst aren't they? Well there's about
5000 more Of US boys here raring to
O at a minutes notice. "and Well