The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1918-09-17
LETTER FROM s. o. WOOD
Camp Gordon, Ga,
Saturday, September 7, 1918.

Dear JAKE ana bemmll:
/ have been intending to write you
ell ever since / broke into the Army
and today is my first real oppor-
tunity. Arrived here last Sunday af-
ternoon in company with about $50
other boys from Camp Taylor who
had been recommended for the Cen
trail Officers Training School, and
just as soon as we got in quarters
we were put to work without delay
and have been going at double-ti time
ever since. Reveille at 5 20 and
breakfast at 6 100. Odd for me, isn't
it7 The days routine begins at 700
and we have drill and calisthenics
and conferences and bayonet work
until IL 80, after which we are given
80 minutes rest before dinner. At
one we take up the afternoons pro-
gram which lasts until 80. Retreat
is sounded at 5 :15, then supper and
two hours study beginning at 7
o'clock. Lights are out at 8 80. Dur
ing our spare time we are required
to shave and battle daily, wash our
own clothes and keep our hunks and
barracks clean, and sundry other
things too numerous to mention. ]
forgot to mention that we stand all
formations and take our daily five
mile hike with rifles and bayonets
and haversacks. We are given bay
onet instruction under Capt. STAN
field, of the English Army, a veteran
of many hard fights in France and
a hard, peppery little man with the
characteristic English mannerisms
and accent. The work on a whole is
enjoyable however, and I am doing
my very best to make good.
There are several Kentucky boys
in my company, but none from home.
Joe Keller is at the training camp
at Camp Taylor and I saw in the
paper where Jack VIM made his
commission. Chandler Fizer is still
head cook in the old 36th. Co., and
Lewis Fitzpatrick was in 3rd. Regi-
mental Headquarters when l left.
See in the home paper that Harry
Howell, Frank Wyatt and Charlie
Howe go in the next draft. It's
shame they didn't get in a training
camp for officers. Reckon lots of
the old boys who were glad year
ago that they were born a few years
earlier are now not so hilarious. /
understand that Bob Stoner and
Carroll Jones are both here at Cor
don, but, Of course, l haven't had a
chance to look them up owing to
being in quarantine for two weeks.
1 don't think I shall ever come
back to Kentucky to live, but
events there in the town that l shall
always call home will ever be of in
terest and the people very dear. Be
ing an old married man don't have
the slightest effect upon my love for
the "Old Kentucky Home
We boys in khaki are in the midst
of big things now and when we get
overseas five million strong you
folks may rest assured that we'll
drink the Rhine dry. 1t seems to be
the prevailing opinion among foreign
army men that the war will end next
year, but the Government entertains
no such hope and are putting things
through faster than ever.
The weather has been miserable
since I've been here-a cold drizzling
rain-but we work just the same.
Wish l was privileged to tell you
many things that would open your
eyes.
Remember me to the boys in the
office and all my friends and tell
them I'll get a commission if work
and study will earn it.