Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-31
Alien A. KafOury Writes
from Camp ]. Johnston

The following letter from one of Sa-
lem g soldier boys is of interest:
Camp Joseph E. Johnston, JAM, 10,
1918,
Mrs. H. P. stith:
Well, Mrs. Stith, am in the army
now, and am very glad that have ta-
ken this step. One more on the side of
democracy.
You have heard a good many stories
about the boys losing their politeness
and table manners. am able to defend
this argument with actual experience.
Here is a summary of a speech given
us by our company commander this
morning on how to conduct ourselves
at all times, and in all places.
choose to call this summary the
soldier s ten commandments:
l. Remember you have joined the
army in time of war, and you must
act as men, and will be treated as such.
2. You shall not report any mis-
treatment to your fellow soldier, but
rather to the company commander.
8. You shall be granted a pass to go
to the city if necessary, providing, when
you ask for a pass your face is clean.
tleman when in the city.
A. You shall always look neat, and
clean, or you shall be punished.
5. Act like a gentleman when at
dinner table.
6. You shall behave your self when
attending divine service.
7. You shall treat every one like
you want to be treated.
8. You shall respect all officers in
command,
8. You shall come to attention and
salute all commissioned officers.
10. If you observe these rules you
will be treated, like you wish to be
treated, and be of benefit to yourself,
az we'll as the company.
From this you may see that army life
as a rule helps to bring out everything
that is good in a man. Although there
are always some fellows who do con-
trary to the rules, but such class of
men are very few and could be found
in almost any community, and If the
army is misrepresented it is because of
these few, who are a detriment to So
ciety ANYHOW So If you hear any such
news you know from what source it
came.
The quartermaster corps, which have
enlisted in, because of the line of work
it is set apart to do, is considered
to have the cream of the manhood of
America, composed mostly of students,
professionals, merchants, every occupa-
ton and profession in the industrial life
is here represented in this branch of
the service. This fact was proved when
the "Y' secretary asked for volunteers
to take charge of the meeting, and be-
lieve me there is a man for every duty
required to conduct a meeting. Must
clans, religious leaders, speakers, stage
actors and / don't know what. The
men do their duty when asked and do it
cheerfully, carrying not for applauses
In other words this national army is
the melting pot for the human race to
come to a better realization of the
word service, and how to serve. 1t was
said of a soldier in this camp who gave
half of his blankets to his fellow sol
der, and he himself shivered with the
cold in bed, this is the spirit of the
men in this army.
I say then, if it takes war to hasten
the day when the brotherhood of men
shall be manifested in every heart, let
war come.
Somehow I cannot assemble group
of words that shall be adequate enough I
to set forth my appreciation Of the T.
M. G. A. in the work among the sol
diers, but I can say that without the /
f'YV there shall be no victory over the
selfishness of men, which was partly |
the cause of the war. The "Y'' is estab-
fishing democracy in the hearts of men
without arms, while ON the other hand
shot and shell are to perform the same
task.
We are treated by the superior off
GERS like we ought to be treated The
same performance of duty is invoked up
on every man alike regardless of his
standing in society while civilian.
I expect to be called out of the re-
,eiving company to a regular company
IF store keepers in short time. Now
[ am taking some infantry drill which
IS required of every man in the U. s.
army.
/