Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-07-03
at Will RE A RATTIE WON,

by Cecil Donovan of Clinton, Headqusrters
Co. 54th Infantry, (ReguIars) Camp Wads-
worth, Spartanburg. South Carolina, June %.
Dear Dad and Mother: I suppose YOU woa-
der why l don't write. Well, we were out 10
the largest range for two weeks, and we did
not have any writing facilities. or in other
words we never got time, for they worked Us
for twelve and fifteen hours a day. from S.
a. m. to :: $50 p m. That is where they 90 to
shoot, and we also had a gas school out there
where we learned the use of a gas mask
The range is thirty-three miles in the mouI,-
sains, nobody out there only moonshiners, and
some OF the boys were able to secure some of
the ''Old corn whiskey, and several ''stews'F
were seen. We were camped right in be-
tween two mountains, not very nice place
On trip like that the whole regiment goes
which consists of about 1000 men. The way
camp, each man is issued what is called
shelter half-5 tent stakes. one tent pole
when doubled up is IS inches long. When the
commanded halt, and pitch tents, is given
why two men throw their equipment together
and in 25 minutes you have tent big enough
to sleep in. You also carry two blankets, and
old mother earth takes the place of a mat
tress feather bed, which ever a fellow
has been accustomed to. OF course fellow is
so tired when he has marched Is or 20 miles
with 75-pOund pack that he can flop any
plnce. We Iaade a 80 mile hike back in tive
days. We broke camp at the range Thursday
morning at $3.50. They give you rs minutes
to tear down your tent and pack your pack,
25 minutes to eat breakfast and at 80 you
hear 'ali out, and fall in, squads right, for
ward march," and we were of for 16-mile
80 q. M. and rested the balance of the day.
About O'Clock Thursday night it started to
rain, and continued all night, and at 3 80 a.
m. was still pouring it down, but we had
breakfast in the rain and broke eanTp and
marched i6 miles into Camp WadswOrth
through rain, mud and water; got here at
had run over me.
We cleaned up today, had examination for
oversee duty, issued all clothing for
across, and was informed that leave Camp
Wadsw0rth in six days, but knows
where go, and the most of them don't care.
for this is bum camp. don't know if
will go across not this time, for was held
in examination for further notice. We have
a dandy bunch of fellows in our company /
am in the crack company of the regiment
about 800 of US, you see two regiments are
a division, II companies regiment, pla-
toons company, IL squads a platoon,
a squad. l at present in the 9Th division
5th regiment. Headquarters Co., signal pla-
toOn, Sth squad | will give you all the
dope army life and etc. when | get out of
work h out of rockies, but they all know
what it is for and they never holier. They
just pack up their trouble in their old kit
bag and smile, smile, smile.
| haven't been to town for three weeks.
but may in tomorrow, for it is Sunday
There will one be given furl0ugh before
home are slim. / think We are bound for
HOboken, New Jersey. That is port of
embarkation and then right across. We will
get eighteen weeks of training "Oyer there"
and then in the first line trenches for U.S.
and let me tell you when they turn this bunch
loose why it is a battle won. for none af US
will ever forget the hard old days pU1 in
to prepare for a combat with the Hun. You
would De surprised at the amount of stuff
they have given this regiment in less than two
months. In times of peace they say re-
cruit don't get that much in six months.
am getting to be pretty good telegraph
operator and we have lot Of stuff TO learn
yet.
Well could tell you lot more but I've got
some more letters to write will have to
cut this one short. l received the box OF eats
out at the range, and it sure hit the spot, fer
feeds not very heavy on trip like that.
also got my clothes. but today we were
ordered to get rid of all civilian clothes
in "a hours. | don't know if l will send them
heme or not. l want TO keep them if l ear
for they only issue three suits of underwear.
VIII let you know when / send them.
This leaves me feeling fine, and hope gou
are all the same. How Is dad coming with
the tobacco, good / hope for if he gets
crop he ought to make some money The
little tobacco. Prospects are good; biaekbeF-
ries, apples. peaches and pears are Just getting
ripe The other day passed = fam house
on march. A little girl had a pail Of good
ripe peaches and threw them TO US. ! was
lucky and got one; sure went good. fer II
was about ga m. and we had marched i've
hours there. ] imagined all the good thIngs
in the world there was to eat and when mess
come why some old canned careBd beef, spudss
bread. butter. coffee, no cream or sugar.
and q fellow can get to town occasionally
and get some bacon and eggs. l haven't
seen egg IN camp since ! have been mere
bat 81 bill always 60 fer feed when l
but expect II most any time i am aoEn 70
3 $40 bill. which viii last ne until / get .
paw day: the snly thing / spend money for Il
for something g eat.