Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-06-27
News From Soldier Boys in the West
Fort Riley, Kansas,
Iune 20, 1918.

Fort Riley, Kansas,
June 20, 1918.
Dear Editor-Would you be kind
enough to publish this little letter in
your paper, so our friends may know
how we like the Army life? We are at
present located at Fort Riley, Kansas,
the geographical center of the United
States and the largest fort in the coun-
try, containing $4,000 acres, mostly
used for drilling regulars. We have
been assigned to the Regular Army,
and we like our branch of the service.
We are not in the highest branch, but
we are the boys that are going over the
top and get Kaiser Bill and carry the
stars and stripes up the streets of
Berlin.
We left Charles Town on the 23d of
May for Columbus, Ohio, being there
three dayS-just long enough to get
equipped for Fort Riley. Our treat
ment in Columbus was something great.
All the boys were homesick when we
left there. We were lucky enough to
get two meals day while there by get
ting down town of night We Jared fine.
We hope that all the other boys that
leave Jefferson county will escape Col
umbuS Barracks. They fed 1900 men
there in Is minutes, so you know we
Jared we'll.
We left Columbus Barracks on the
18th for Fort Riley, being 40 hours on
the road, going through Ohio, Indiana,
illinois, Missouri and Kansas. This
being John loves birthplace, he feels
at home, but his comrade, N. S. Louden,
says there isn't any place like old West
Virginia. Four hundred of us left Col
umbus Barracks together, and the trip
was the cause of lis of our boys being
sent to the hospital. The lieutenant
was up for the cause of the sickness.
We have been lucky enough to escape
the hospital so far. We have got about
six months training since we have been
here, so you may know they are rush.
ing us through. The weather here is
around 100 in the shade, but the nights
are cool, fine for rest after hard days
drilling. We get three good meals
here, and icecraem and chicken on Sum-
day, and any one who does not like
onions better stay out of the army, for
we have them three times day. All
the boys that left with us have been
assigned to the 10th Infantry. We also
have the Berkeley county boys with us.
They all are anxious for chance at the
Huns. SiSs
Junction City is five miles from Fort
Riley. That is our closest town. Kan
sas City is 135 miles from here, so
| guess you know we will not 20 to
town very often. The Y. Nj. C. A. is a
great thing here-a great place for the
boys while off duty. We saw lots of
beautiful country on our trip, passing
through many large cities. We hated
for night to come, no account of miss:
ing lots of pretty country, we passed
through Chicago at 3 o'clock in the
morning, so We did not see much of that
city.
The Red Cross was very kind to us
on our trip. Every stop we made the
young girls would cheer us up with
chewing gum, candy and post cards,
and glad hand shake. So boost the
Red Cross-it's great for the soldier
boys.
Will bring this to close. With love
and best wishes to all, We are as ever
two old Shepherdstown boys,
We eat at the same table and sleep
side by side. Jake Sigler says the
army is just the place for him and he
sends his best regards to Shepherds
town.
JOHN S. LOWE.
N. S. LOUDEN.