Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-09-18
Son of Mr.. and Mrs. w. r: Sym0nds
of the Wed Side, Sends En-
pertaining Letter From
!. Virginia ~
EXPECTS TO BE ASSIGNED
TO BATTLESHIP SOON
The Trip Through Kentucky and
Mountains of West Virginia
Proved Interesting to the
Boys.
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Sept. 5, 1918

Dear Folks:
Well l am here at last so will
drop you few lines and will try and
tell little about our trip. We left
Great Lakes about p. m. Saturday
and then stayed in Chicago until
about $3.50; they had to put water
in the train and such things. We had
chow car on the train and our mess
men went with us so / didn't have
any of the kitchen work. There was
a doctor. hospital apprentice and
Y. Nj. c. A. man, so we were we'll
supplied. The first night, about
$3.50. we stopped in small town in
Illinois The Red Cross girls were
there to meet us with hot coffee and
doughnuts, so we got. pretty we'll
filed UP. We travelled all that night
but 1t was so. dark we couldn't see
any of the country. When we woke
UP Sunday morning we were in Ken
lucky. We travelled nearly all day
through Kentucky right on the bank
of the Ohio river. Say but that Ken
lucky sure is pretty place. 1t is
billy and it sure did remind me of
the hills around DEBORAH. We got
into the mountains of West Virginia
Just before dark Sunday night and
Il sure was surprised at the scenery
there. 1t sure is pretty place. We
Travelled through the mountains right
along the New river and on each
side of the river. were coal mines.
1t got dark so soon that we missed
the best part of the mountain scene
ry When we woke up in the morn
ing we had got clean across the
mountains. Sunday afternoon we
stopped at Huntington, West Vir-
ginia about 40 minutes, but was not
allowed to get off the train. sent
a little kid to the bakery and he got
me pie and before he got back
with the pie man came along with
a whole bunch of cakes and he gave
each one in our car a whole cake,
so / sure had a good feed. Can you
imagine me eating a whole pie anil
a whole cake? We we're supposed
to get into Norfolk at a. m. Mon
day, but the train was late, so we
d;1n,t oa+ tbara up<;l A n M We
only had five rations, so we didn't
have anything to eat from s a. m.
until 1880 p. m. When we got into
Norfolk we loaded our stuff right on
a ship and came across Chesapeake
Bay to this camp on ship. We got
here about $40 and 1t took until
1870 to check us in. Then we had
chow and swung our hammocks for.
a good nights sleep, and the sleep
was welcome, as was sure tired.
We hit the deck at five bells this
morning and had chow. Then we
drilled until 10:30. we drilled on
the drill field that they call the
grinder. Say it sure is.a grinder.
The sun burns down like an oven.
Then they took us to the rigging loft
and showed US few knots. We had
chow at II o'clock and right after
chow they took us down to the bay
and put us inlife boats and showed
us how to row them. We came to
shore at $3.50 and washed our clothes
and sea bags. Say this camp sure
is Heaven compared to the Great
Lakes. This is real home and ! would
just as soon spend couple OF weeks
here just to look around, but guess
/ will have home out on the
big puddle before long. as there are
four big battle ships out there wait
ing for crews, so / guess will get
to go out this week. wish you
could see the ships, around here. they
are painted up like Chinese puzzle.
Well / suppose Albert Lane is en-
joying his furlough now. Say ] met
a fellow here from Calmar and he
wanted to know If knew Harry
Enger and Earl Marsh. He said they
were here and he would send them
around, so maybe ! will see them
before / leave Did tell you / met
Chas. Greenlee in Chicago a week
ago Sunday? will have to close
as 1t is time for taps. Love to all
Your loving son,
w. T. SYMONDS.
U. S. Naval OPP. Base