Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-07-31
LIFE OF NAVAL RECRUIT
TOLD IN SAILORS LETTER

LullOI, Wllluar tribune.
viii write a few words to the Will
mar Tribune telling about the life of
sailor boy. On Feb Is, 1918 en-
listed in the Navy and was sent home
to await my call. On March 30th !
received notice to report at the Nav.
al Station at Minneapolis There were
five hundred boys leaving with me
enroute to the same training STATEN.
Were given supper at the Dayton
Tea Rooms at six-thirty o'clock. At
seven o'clock we boarded the train
for Great Lakes Training Station.
After riding all night we arrived at
Milwaukee, Wisconsin the next morn
ing. Here we had our breakfast; ar
rived at the training station at II
o'clock that day.
1t took most of the day before
we all had received our uniforms and
hammocks to sleep in. Sleeping in
hammocks is something new to
most Of the boys and encountered a
great deal Of trouble getting in them
and staying there the first nights, with
out hitting the deck a half dozen
it and could sleep all night.
After week had passed, we were
transferred to Camp Boon. Here we
had tents to sleep in; no place to
swing our hammocks so had to sleep
on the deck in this camp. We stayed
week. 1t rained all the time and
l, being unlucky enough to get tent
with leaky roof, it was rather hard
to keep myself and blankets dry. The
following week, we were transferred
to Camp Paul Jones. Here we had
tents to sleep in too but the weather
was nice.
From Camp Paul Jones, we were
transferred to Camp Ross. This was
outgoing camp and all the boys were
glad as they could soon say goodbye
to Great Lakes Training Station as We
were all tired of the shovels and
spades. We had been digging base
ments, shoveling sand etc., for nearly
a month.
On May End we received orders to
pack our bags and hammocks and be
ready at four o'clock p. m. We had to
carry our bags to the depot, distance
of one mile. and half; the bags
weighing one hundred and forty
pounds; but no complaints were heard
altho tired bunch when reaching
the depot. We knew not where we
were going but expected to go to sea-
of course. When on the train, asked
the Commander where we were going
and he told me we were enroute to
Hampton Roads Training Station.
THAT is where you fellows will get
your drilling" he said. This did not
worry us but the only thing we feared
was the shovel work When arriving
at Chicago in the evening, we were
met by the railroad Y. M. c. A. and
they had large baskets of candy, gum
and smoking tobacco for the boys.
My dear folks at home, l must say
we appreciated it too. Our next stop
had our physical drill. A large crowd
gathered while we were exercising
They talked to us and cheered for us.
In the meantime, the cooks were get
ting our chow ready. That afternoon
while passing thru West Virginia, the
most noticeable thing was the Blue
Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge
tunnel and also few smaller tunnels.
We went thru here on May 9Th, ar
irving at Norfolk, Va, where we took
the street car to Hampton Roads.
Here we stayed for three weeks, drill
ing ten hours day except Sundays.
It was hard at first but after while
enjoyed it. On May 31st we received
orders to pack our bags and hammocks
and be ready at ten o'clock a. m. as
we were now going to sea, what we
had been wishing for a long time.
Our bags and hammOcks were loaded
on trucks and taken to Norfolk but we
had to walk. The distance was long
but we did not mind it as there were
two hundred going to the same ship.
Our ship was quite Always out on the
ocean, so we were taken there on a
small ship. When on board this small
ship, all the boys had the idea this
was "our ship" as it had two or three
big guns on deck. No one could
find the name. Later we were inform.
ed it was not Georgia but small
transport used along the coast. About
midnight, we arrived at our ship. 1t
was rather dark so could see very
little and of course there were no
lights. 1--WE have to be careful with
our lights here" said the Captain.
When we got to the side of the ship,
the gangway was ready. We carried
our bags on the ship and stored them
on the quarter deck. The officer of
the deck asked us when we last had
something to eat and we replied Eat
ten o'clock this morning." Well, he
said, Il am sorry, boys, but we cannot
get you anything to eat until morning
because the galley is on the deck and
we cannot have the lights lit but as
soon as daylight breaks, we will get
you some good chow" This was not
good news to us as we were hungry
sleep, Observation-Disclosures
bunch. When asked where we were
to sleep, we were told to lay down
anywhere we found place. We made
our beds on the quarter deck until
the next morning. When we awoke,
it was daylight and the officer told us
to go down to Compartment No. Is to
get something to eat. After breakfast
| we had to bring our hammOcks and
bags to our compartments where we
were to sleep. Our ship was staying
on the same place for few days; then
we sailed off sometimes. The sea
| was still but at times it would get q
little rough. One night while on quart
err deck as gun watch, had to be care
full so the waves would not sweep me
overheard and the quarter deck is
about thirty feet from the water line
Some of the boys we're seasick but
felt good and enjoyed the trip. l love
! to be on the sea when it Is rough az
you never get lonesome. Two weeks
later we arrived at the Boston Navy
yard and our ship has been on dry
dock for repairs. She has been paint
ed and new guns put on so is in til
top shape now to go across If neces
sary. While our ship was on the dry
dock, quite a few of the boys wen
out to the rifle range to practic,