Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-05
MEXICO BOY TELLS OF
NAVAL EXPERIENCE

NAVAL EXPERIENCE
The following interesting letter o.
his experiences in entering the Great
Lakes naval training school was writ
ten home by Edward Million, son Of
DR.. and Mrs. ]. W. Million, Of this
city:
United States Naval Training sta
ton, Great Lakes, ILL.,, Co. d, TIN
Reg, Camp Perry.
Dear Mother;
We passed in review over at the
main station again today. As was
marching back. | was looking down
the crowd to see II there was anyone /
knew. | didn't really expect to see
anyone, but someone began waving at
me and | finally managed to recognize
Miss Gupton. 1t surely looked good
to see some one whom ] knew. 1t
surely was hot marching. think |
left most Of myself at the wayside.
You said you wanted me to write
about my friends and some funny
happenings.
When we first came 10 the station,
everybody kindly informed US Of
their thoughts of Navy life by say
ing, you'll like it."
We soon found out we would hays
to like it.
My first tent mates were young fell
lows, n nineteen and the other sew
enteen. He must not have known
what he was coming to.
They were pretty good scouts and
we got along fine.
The next day we all went to 'the
fastest clothing store in the world"
The only thing they asked US was the
size of u shoes. Then things came
shooting at us. It's lucky they don't
give away hammers in the Navy.
The most curious thing lat the time)
which we received was a cake Of
coarse soap nearly a foot long. We
couldn't imagine what we would use
all that soap for. But when we sat
down for the first time with out clean
whites, we didn't watch our sit. We
could understand the soap then.
Of course, we get the usual shots.
Ny first one did not hurt me until
late at night, but l was ware it was
there for two or three days. l was
vaccinated twice, but neither took.
After u shots we moved to the fifth
regiment, Camp Perry. This is a sea-
man regiment and the daily menu con-
sists Of drill, We spent the rest Of
our twenty-one days detention here.
But no sooner was our time up than
something ike a piece Of dynamite hit
the company. We split up and went
to all parts Of the station. Only six Of
US came to the seventh regiment TO
radio school.
We now stay in barracks sleeping
on hard floors using a thin mattross
which does not mat. But II we alept
in hammoeks We might kin ourseIycs
BY falling out, so why not stay on the
floor? Il is really soft pine, anyway.
One Of the section chiefs in Co. u
used to room with Dcbsy Gibbs at
William Jewell.
About the only time we get to our
selves is our liberty on Saturday or
Sunday, which is twelve hours. Nearly
every Sunday so far that ] have been
OIL Hobart Cook and I have zone
some place. There are a lot Of enter
tainments for sailors.
am getting along fine in radio
school ! am now taking twelve words
a minute. The required is twenty.
The only holdback is that we have
school only half a day and work tho
other half The Navy is no place 10
get out Of work. OH It's a great lifo
II you don't weaken. l am strong vet
but some Of these fellows talk "a II
they were weakening. VIC don't do as
hard work here, however, as we
would do at home.
Early to bed and carly to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy and
wise"
Is a good motto in civilian life perhana
but doesn't work here. To bed al a
get up at 8. But where is the wealth?
Some think they arc wise enough not
to enlist in the Navy, though. But I
wouldn't take a discharge II l could
set one. Must close.
Love,
EDWARD MILLION.
"ZEKE" GOING TO MOVE
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Aug. ~.
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