The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-09-24

Sept. ). 1918.
Mr. Leo Mccormack.
Mayor City Of East Chicago. Ind.
Dear Friend:
In line with a desire to keep in touch
as much as possible with happenings in
dear old East Chicago. I am writing that
my name viii not be forgotten there
during my absence. Having been a
member Of the American Expeditionary
Forces for nearly three months at the
time I write. I have of course found it
much harder to keep in touch with my
home town than during the thirteen odd
months previous. wherein. while I was
enlisted I at least was able to receive
the newspapers and many letters from
my home city.
The three keenan, lads in the service
of the United States army were all
volunteers and we all enlisted in the
regular army during the early days of
May. 1917. I chose the quartermaster
corps for my branch Brother Peter left
his position as city fireman attached to
the Indiana Harbor station TO enlist in
the coast artillery corps and Brother
stephen enlisted in the engineers. being
assigned to the old L. $. Engineers at
present at Corpus Christi Texas.
have had many experiences since my
enlistment and subsequent commission
and 1 heartily endorse the United States
army a splendid body OF healthy.
husky lads whose heads and consciences
are clear, whose morals are above the
standard and in general fit representa-
tives Of the old L. s. True, a man loses
many Of his comforts and luxuries. he is
not given a large bed nor is his table
covered with fno linen, nor is his food
paramount and necessary requirements
II mans life are as carefully safe
cuar3ed as though he were at home with
his parents.
1 recall the first day Of military life
IS plain as though it were yesterday.
after being sworn in land I may add
that 1 was sworn at also) I was uni
formed. and es 1t was then II noon we
marched 10 dinner and, reporting to my
harrack Immediately thereafter. I was
given as my first assignment the dread
"a K. p Kitchen police. which is a dual
occupation. table waiter and dishwash-
er) I worked that job until noon the
next day and being off duty I found it
10 my distinct advantage to go to bed
rather than to stroll about St. Louis,
near which city I was CHARTERED. I
have performed more different kinds of
labor in the army than I knew existed
prior TO my enlistment, and the best
part of it is that none Of them harmed
me: in fact. am more physically fit
now than ever before
Leaving St. Louis. I was assigned to
a school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
the largest post in the United States
and was shortly thereafter transferred
10 Douglas, Arizona Remaining there
70, ~
Texas. and there got my first advance
In grade as I was appointed company
clerk with the rank OF sergeant In my
travels I had noticed that many people
we're being commissioned. so after five
months ct Fort Worth I made applica-
ton for a commission and was sent to
special training school at Fort Sam
Houston. san Antonio. Texas. at which
place I was commissioned the 4th of
last April with the grade Of second
lieutenant. quartermaster corps. Then.
after three weeks Of recuperation. I was
.sslgned to the bakery company at Camp
DonIphan Fort sill. Okla. from which
place I started for France. stopping at
large camp near an Atlantic point Of
1rnbarkation for a month, during which
I.me I had ample time to go sightseeing
jc the metropolis of New York. And I
viii say that I was rather indulgent
with myself. for I attended many OF the
broadway theatres and dined a. many
prominent cafes. for all took the
foint that perhaps it will he a long time
before we again see America and we
wanted to enjoy ourselves as much as
possible before turning our backs to the
taute of Liberty.
Landing on shipboard, It was only a
-n hef0 ct
PRESENTLY We were under way. While
here was much havoc being done by
hostile U-boats at the hour Of our de-
rarture. we were all lighthearted and
thc nine days on the water passed very
.uietly. There was a negro regiment
beard, below the promenade decks and
jn the evening several Of their number.
who had been actors prior TO being
GRATED in the army. entertained the
naval and military officers with dancing
md vocal and instrumental music One
hap was there. blacker than the ace of
spades with a silvery tenor voice and
he made the old plantation songs seem
like the music of a heavenly choir. An
ether rascal there had a one-stringed
instrument of unnameable design on
which he used to produce music as
weird as a Pacific coast Chinaman plays
on a tomato can with q string. another
lad Of the African color gave exhibit
ton dancing. one number displaying no
less than fourteen different kinds OF
dancing including the old clog style
Russian dancing. the hornpipe, the High
land fling and many others. With chaps
like that to entertain. with excellent
accommodations. for we officers and the
bracing sea air. who could possibly
worry about anything? Certainly not
usi
We arrived at large American
made port here in France and went
into camp at famous old French bar
racks which dated back to the Napoleon
era when France was the foremost mill
tary power and when they required as
sistance from no nation. It was splen-
didly and staunchly built but its SAM
tary features did not make a great hit
with Us and We were glad when We
were moved into the interior. The sec
ond location at which stopped Is one
Of the great American warehouse sec
lions where Uncle Sam has laid in g
A.