The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-06-13
Pat Costello Writes
interestingly of Trip
to Jefferson Barracks

to Jefferson Barracks
A letter from Pat Costello, who en-
listed in the medical corps a short
time ago, has been placed in the
hands of the Herald by his family.
jefferson Barracks, May 20, 1918.
Dear Mother. and all:
We. got our fal exams. today, uni.
forms and all, SO I am a full fiedged
soldier.
i will start from the beginning.
Twenty-one of US left Aberdeen at
$50 p. m. on the Milwaukee. 1t was
fine ride to Mitchell, awfully pretty
country and landscape, very level and
we could see far. Crops looked es-
pecially fine. They provided US with
sandwiches, apples and oranges. We
remained a half hour at Sioux City
and went up town for some hot coffee.
We continued on to Manilam, Iay
where we were to have changed trains
but owing to severe washouts trains
were all off schedule and we had to,
stay there eight hours. Here we got
orders to go to Omaha. All we say
in this trip was mud. We arrived at
Omaha about four o'clock and saw
most of the wholesale and retail dis
trict and show after supper. We
got an early start for Kansas City
h,1% ii or Io IL
we went to Brunswick where we
caught fast train to Moberly and
st. Louis. That was an interesting
trip. Houses are poor shacks and
once I saw street car drawn by
mules. We got into st. Louis at sup
per time. 1t is dirty and old fashion
ed like Omaha, is just hills. No level
streets. We went to bed quite early
as we had to catch an early train.
sat with a big Wisconsin fellow
who came all the way with me. In our
bunch we had an Indian. / like him
and he is having the time of his life.
Another fat fellow helped entertain.
What struck me the most forcibly was
father and son who went to Aber-
deem to enlist. The father was turned
| down and the son taken. When we
pulled out the dad said to the boy:
"Well if they won't take me, it's up
to you to take my share" The boy
answered, 81 will dad" and both
laughed.
Fifteen hundred men came out from
st. Louis with US. We were marched
up from the station about a mile, to
the registration building. We saw
and passed several thousand men
ready to leave for other camps. All
they say is where you from?" then
you'll like it." When they register
US each gets a white ribbon to hang
around his neck with red tag bear
ing name and company and group. I
was placed in Group 80, company 81,
medical department. The groups are
then separated and a leader appointed
for each. Our leader put 100 of US
under tree and we had to stay there
so we wouldn't get lost. Soon he
came back to us to take us to dinner
We got in on the second seating at
11:30. We went back to our tree after
dinner and by this time all any of us
wore were our trousers. We were
given two blankets. We then had to
carry our baggage and march about
two miles through the woods which
was full of tents. They assigned US
to grave yard where Civil War
veterans are laid. Well to pitch tents
and think of sleeping in a graveyard
was too much for some, but it is the
prettiest grave yard bearing small
markers only. We got our tents up
in a straight line as per instructions
and had time to take a bath before
supper. Six thousand drafted men
came in after supper and lived right
across the street so we had a fine
crowd out in the grave yard. One of
the boys entertained US with violin
until ] was asleep. But about II was
awakened by loud noise and / found
the fellows in the tent next to US and
those across the road fighting over
which came from the best state. One
bunch was from Missouri and the rest
from Wisconsin. The guard spoiled
our midnight parade and we were put
under guard all night.
The next day after breakfast we
were free until dinner. After that we
were ordered over to the K. G. build
| ing to hear lecture on war insurance.
After supper we came back here to
see good prize fights. Really the X.
C. and Y. M. G. A. are great places.
The best of singing and playing and
sfeats are pulled off. We went to bed