The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-09-13
GEORGE DURKEE WRITES
FROM CALIFORNIA
Glasgow Boy in the Marine Corps
Is Strong Enough to Hold His
Own With Any Dutchman
Mare Island, Cal.
Sept. 6. 1919

Mare Island, Cal,
Sept. 6, 1918.
NV Dear Mother and Dad:
Your most welcome letters were
received several days ago and this
is the first time / have had few
spare moments to write something
in return. And to tell the truth, I
have not much time right now, as it
very near 8 o'clock and we have a
French lesson at that time. l have
not learned very much French to
date, as they go so fast it is almost
impossible to get any of it.
l must tell you about the parade
! was in last night in Vallejo. 1t was
in honor of the occasion of the
launching of the big battleship-I
don't remember it's name, but l think
it was launched 27 days from the
time they started to build it.
Vallejo is quite a large place with
a population of about $4,000 people.
1t is just across the bay from Mare
island, not more than quarter of a
mile across. The parade must have
been about mile long. The marines
were right up in front and l was in
the front rank behind the band.
GNCl pouy gave CHIC SilccIS lOI Jne
marines, so am all blowed up to think
| was good enough to take part in it.
There were all kinds of fireworks and
firecrackers and so much noise we
could hardly hear the band playing
or the commands, but we got com
pliment on the way we performed.
There were also about 1000 "gobs"
or sailors, but they had to take a
back seat for the marines and there
were only about 300 marines in the
parade. There were many different
kinds of floats and a lot of people
took part in carrying banners of all
sorts.
There is to be big parade in Oak
land next Monday. think the oc-
casion is Mission day. l understand
the marines are going to take part in
that and | hope to get chance to
60, but if we do it will mean a lot of
extra drilling and other work, but it
will be worth it. We drill about five
or six hours a day ordinarily, but get
off Saturday and Sunday. Paw day
we get Friday off; too. We get a pay
day liberty this week so as TODAY is
Thursday I will get away tomorrow
afternoon on liberty until Sunday
night, so you can see we have a
good time once in a while.
"French." P. NJ.
Well, here I am in the "Y" at VAL
lejo and it is Friday night. l am
waiting to catch the $40 boat for
Frisco so will try and finish this let
ter now.
am going up to the Preside to-
morrow to see Carl and if he can oct
away l think we will try and 90 over
to Oakland to spend Sunday and 90
out to Neptune beach. l have heard
| quite a lot about that place, 50
would like to go over and see what
it is like. There is also another park
called 1dora park I would like to go
to, so if we have time will go out
there, too. l think this will be
about the last liberty will have
while | am at Mare island, as | am
about ready to be turned over for
duty. l am going on the rifle range
next week and then after two weeks
of that will be turned over for dutv,
Will probably be detailed to Guam
tico, Va, but will know after I DUAL
ify on the range, which 1 am going to
try hard to do.
DNc q pC1SOll Cdl never Tell IRON
one minute to the next just where
they will go or what they are going
to do. The only thing we can 90 on
is just heresay, so will know more
about it when the time comes and
will let you know then.
am getting as hard as nails and
never felt better. We have been hav.
the bayonet practice all week along
with about dozen other things, but
l think that when get through with
1t can hold my own with any Dutch
man. At least, l hope so.
suppose you have been out to nv
farm by this time. How is every.
thing? All right, hope.
Well, mother. it is almost time fo1
the boat and would like to write an.
other letter so will close for this time
With lots of love
From