Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-26
DAN

days. With love to all,
Your son.
DAN.
A very enthusiastic letter was re-
ceiyed in Ottawa yesterday by Elmer
Iobst from his brother, Arthur
Jobst, who is stationed at Camp
Stuart. Virginia The letter is filled
with real American soldiers en-
,husiaSm and tells an interesting
story about camp life.
Camp Stuart. Va, June l6. 1918.
Dear Brother:
No doub; you thought | had for
gotten you, but tell those who have
not heard from me that have not
forgotten them. as 1t is impossible to
write them all in so short a time.
suppose they were surprised to
hear that we landed down here. as
this bunch of about $50 are the only
/ bunch Of drafted men here We
were sent up with the 4Sth Infantry
/ No doubt you having some knowl
edge OF army affairs will be surprised
to learn that this bunch are regulars
not national army Of national guards
/ Say boy. how they can put pep In
/ You would rather be a private In
a bunch Of regulars than a second
lieutenant who had his ninety day,
training.
Can you imagine a bunch of fellows
being drilled four days at five and
I one-haf hours day, and then gel
/ their rifles and all their equipment
we'll that is us.
These fellows don't give a durn ii
you are a drafted fellow or not Yes
to-day when we got our buttons they
told us when we were asked If We
were drafted men to answer yes. they
| would ask us how we got our buttons
| with Z. S. on them, to say we were
regulars and back II up. they sure
are pleased with the showing me have
made.
| suppose most everyone at home
thinks this is a training camp, but
that is not he ease. it is a camp OF
| embarkment Every night WALL
over the James river. You can see a
bunch Of transports anchored out
about we miles. My but it is a beau
/ tiful sight
New Port News is about a ten min
ute walk from here. | haven't beer
there yet as we are under quarantin,
until next Tuesday but we can go al
over the grounds that is. If we have
leggins We have not been ISSUED
them yet, but | bought a pair.
We received our second shot Tues
day and felt quite sick for a day ant
a half ! was lucky as think on &C
count OF my vaccination taking it di'
not make me sick, nevertheless m,
arm is stiff
Our barracks are Just across tn
street from the infrmary. wher
they treat nothing but headache an
minor ills. and give the NEGOTIATIONS
Elmer, the eats are great Ca
you believe this menu? We had
last Thursday. | don't know what tn
:, occasion was. We had emonad'
Beyo, pork chops, mashed potatoe
gravy, sliced tomatoes, stewcd corr
bread and butter candy and il
cream. We get butter three times
week
We have springs on our beds wit
:, straw tick, as good a bed as al
. one could ask for. Gee, but you fe
fine after your shots in the arm "
. have one more and then We will
over with Il,
We get the New York papers he
from The news boys and am goil
to send Vic one of the songs IN
makes hit around here. Give \
. Love to the 4Sth." Say boy. ia
about the band music we hear here
y commences at $3.50 O'Clock in t
T. morning and lasts from that time {
Il The poor fellows In the bands 81
l. earn their money.
Camp Hill, another large camp
- west of ours. just two miles.
but they have a bunch Of horses q
mules there, and every one a &c
one They haul all the supplies 4
garbage build roads, haul garbi
and do all such things.
Saturday morning saw fellow
an aeroplane loop the loop six tn
straight II looks very simple. II
nothing to see twenty machines In