The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-09-06
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

Mrs. G. l.. Holmes received the
following letters from her sen, Harry
H. Holmes, at Camp Joseph E. John
ston, Jacksonville, Fla.
Camp Joseph E. Johnston.-June
10, 191S.-Dear Folks at HONEYWELL
here l am in Florida. Arrived here
, Monday morning, June 2. We all have
| tents to stay in at this camp. We are
in quarantine for two or three weeks
then we expect to go to the barracks
which are wooden buildings.
The soil here is white sand, moth
ing but sand everywhere.
Each man is furnished with a tin
plate, cup, knife, fork and spoon.
We get in line and take our turn to
get our plate filled, then sit down on
the sand to eat. Sand gets into our
food but never mind we eat it any
how for we have a good appetite.
The doctor vaccinates you, shoots
your arm or back three different
times. l had the second one yester-
day, gave me high fever but am
feeling better this morning. They
increase the dose everytime and
some of the boys faint away and
others go to the hospital l have
| cotton along pretty well so far Win
take the third dose in seven days,
will be glad when it is over.
There are about 10000 men in this
camp and the barracks, and almost
$500 negroes in a camp adjoining
1 this. We have to guard them day
and night or they will run away
They are southern drafted negroes.
Last night five of them did get
away. They will be sent to France
soon. About 5000 have already been
sent across. We have to wash our
own dishes and clothes which l don't
like very well. l shall be glad when
l get the job l signed up for instead
of guarding negroes.
The boys have to work clearing
the land. 1t was only seven months
ago that this camp was started 1t
is eleven miles from Jacksonville on
the st. Johns river. 1t had to be
1, cleared and swamps drained. In two
months it was ready to accommodate
10000 soldiers. 1t required $40
buildings which took 1880, 900 feet
of lumber; $4,000 pounds of nails;
$4,000 feet of water lines; $4,000
feet of sewer; three pumping stations
with four storage tanks of 100000
gallons capacity; three miles of
guage railroad track; seventeen miles
of pole lines, five miles of street and
six miles of fences 1t was some
job, 1900 men were employed. Well |
must close for this time Address me
at Camp Joseph E. Johnston, Jack
sonville, Fir. Rec. Camp Co. 1. Write
soon, Harry H. Holmes.
August 20, 1918 Camp Joseph e.
Johnston, Jacksonville, Fla. Dear
Mother and All: This is Tuesday.
Just three months since l left Man.
kato to help Uncle Sam. The time
seems long, yet ii has passed quickly
as we are busy the most of the time.
l will try to tell you in this letter
some thing / have not written you
before. When l first came here as
you know | was put into Company /,
Camp Joseph e. Johnston. but a
short time ago, was put into the
First Shop Regiment. My address at
present will be the same as before.
/ The st. Johns river at this point
lis about four miles wide, caused by
back water from the ocean. You
would think when the tide goes out
about six o'clock you were stand
ing on the sea shore. The water re-
cedes about one foot. We can take
a. boat here and go to the city by
river.
/ There are seven Y. NJ. C. A. build
Iings in this camp and the boys make