The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-08-10
FROM SOUR BoYs.v
Charlotte. N. c..
July 20. 1913.

| July ~, 1918.
Dear Mr.. Conlin:
Just few lines to let Wills friends
know how he is getting along. l sup
pose they have come TO the conclusion
that he is lost, not having heard from
him, but II there is anything VIII dis
likes II is writing letters.
VIII is driving 1918 Cadillac-S for
the major. and they expect to leave
here the first of the week for Long
Island, New York.
The whole 500 aero supply company
OF 113 trucks. cars and motorcycles
are going TO make the trip TO New
York which is 500 miles, and they
figure on two-weeks trip.
Will will write you letter of the
trip when they get there as 1t Will be
real trip.
Army life is certainly fine, and Will
enjoys 1t very much and Baby and /
think 1t is certainly great. We take
our suppers out to the camp every
night and our Sunday dinners, and we
eat out of the soldiers mess kits
which is certainly great fun for US.
The first week l was here there
were lots going on for the soldiers,
such as socials, dances and entertain
ments every night But now the whole
camp is under quarantine, so that 1t
makes the town certainly quiet-don't
see a soldier on the streets.
OF course 1t don't stop the soldiers
families from going out TO the camp To
visit them.
The weather is certainly warm down
here clio in the shaded most all OF
the time. / certainly will be glad to
90 back north again.
1t is fine trip here. The scenery
is wonderful. especially through the
Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.
and the cotton fields.
The three principal things that are
raised here are corn, tobacco and cot
ton, and that's about all they can
raise in this red clay soil.
am going back to Detroit to my
home until VIII gets TO Long Island.
New York. Then / am going TO him
as he will probably go across most
any day after he gets there, and !
want to be with him as long as l can.
They gave farewell banquet at
camp last night for the boys. They
had music, and speeches by the OFF,
GERS, and we all sat down to fine
feast. There were $50 at table. The
officers sat with their wives and the
privates and their wives at the same
table, which is certainly an honor as
Ii was the first time that the officers
sat at the table with the privates,
and Master Bartlund was the young
est one there; In fact, he is the first
child to eat in the aviation section
mess hall
The bread, cookies, olives and pick
les were set on the table in blue tins,
also the gree corn, cheese, then the
mashd potatoes with good old brown
gravy, Dreaded fried chicken. aspara-
gus on toast, was put in each ones
mess kit, and the fruit salad with ba
nanas. oranges and pineapple in 1t,
was served on the cover OF the mess
kit. and We had grape punch to drink.
We had duets, and solos during sup
per, so we certainly enjoyed IL very
much, and / don't think / will ever
forget II. The boys certainly are
treated fine The best in the camp
here and they have lots of amusements
at the " And they all like the army
life real well. and don't blame them
bit. | only wish ! could be in the
army myself And they get all they
want TO eat, and they all say that
they've gained in weight and feel bet
ter than they ever did.
So, some Of young fellows in Iron
county don't try to be hiding behind
your mothers skirts any longer, afraid
you're not. going to be used all right,
because the boys have the best of
care, and they all like II better than
civilian life. They are as happy as
can be.
Regards to all Wills friends
MRS. VIM ELDRED, Jr.