Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-09-12
Best Drilled in Company

Mr.. and Mrs T. Minnich of Baraboo
nave received a letter from their son.
virgil S. Minnich, who enlisted in the
y. S. navy and is now stationed at
Seattle, Wash. The letter reads as
follows:
Seattle, Wash. August 20, 1918.
| Dearest Mother and Father:
How quickly the time is passing.
Here it is nearly three months since
bid you goodbye at the old home de-
! pot and started out to help Uncle Sam
bear his burden. Received your let
ter some days ago. Was so glad to
note you are feeling pretty we'll Hope
| this finds you even better. | am feel
ing fine and working hard, but enjoy
| Ing every minute Of the time and from
the day | left Milwaukee June y to
| take that long and wonderful trip
across the hills, valleys, plains and
mountains to Washington, where one
can see the blue waters of the great
Puget sound on the west and the snow
capped peak of Mt Rainier on the east,
the wonderful city of Seattle built
or hills and around two large lakes,
all has been one panorama of delight
as we'll as educational
Our cantonment is near a university
grounds, very beautiful place, fine
view and purer air. 1t is a little north
of Seattle, on Lake Washington, 40
miles long. Am glad / was sent here
as am near Katherine and Clarence
and can go on short visits to them,
and so it seems more like home to me.
We have ben having out here Con
our camp grounds) a carnival and pag-
cant, for the sailors relief fund, which
is for the sailors families when
needed.
1t sure was great, though hard work,
but we enjoyed it. l visited Rather
inc Saturday and Sunday, and had a
fine time. Everyone here is very good
to US. Can't do enough for us, and
take us out auto riding and feast us
good and are very sociable and hos
pitable This is where the West be-
gins"
l am trying hard to do my best and
be a good sailor and as | told you be-
fore, l was going to get the Jackies'
manual, and did, and am studying it
all my spare time so as to be able
to comprehend better and quicker the
commander and anticipate, to a great
extent, what is wanted. Our head Off
Ger says | am the best-driIled man in
my company and consequently | am
first petty officer and have command
when he is absent. 1t is sure great
training we are getting here and will
make better men Of us, [ am sure.
You can hardly imagine that thrill
Of patriotism we experience when we
all stand at salute" in the morning,
while Old Glory is slowly raised, and
the band plays "The Star Spargled
Banner" | then say I am very glad
and thankful that | am son Of dear
old America, and when | saw the
launching of the great battleships on
our national holiday it was an inspir-
ing sight not to be forgotten, and the
thought came to me, Look out, Kaiser
Bill, we are coming" Now, dear par
ents, don't worry about me, as I am
we'll cared for. Just think instead of
the great day coming when peace (for
the whole world) shall be proclaimed,
and the boys come home again.
Kind regards to all my friends, and
love to you both.
Write soon.
From your loving son,
VIRGIL S. MINNICH.
u. S. Naval Training Camp, Co. 5.
Seattle, Wash.
P. S.: Our company is going, in the
near future, to the Interstate fair at
Spokane for week for exhibition,
drills, etc., and am going with them.