Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-08-30
LIFE OF SOLDIER
NO SOFT SNAP
Omer Curtis Writes of Trip to
Madison and Routine of
Work at the Uni
versity

The editor of the News-Budget re-
ceived a letter Tuesday from Omer b..
Curtis now at Madison, who was EN-
ployed on this paper until called into
the service recently, that we are sure
will be of interest to our readers. He
describes his trip to Madison and gives
in detail the routine of soldiers day
1t shows that soldiers job is no
sifecure, but that his time is pretty
well taken up from reveille until taps.
The letter is as follows:
Somewhere in America"
August %, 1918
Dear Mr.. Bell:
Believe me, soldier is not gentle
man of leisure. not by whole lot.
We got to Stevens Point about an
hour late. The train left there late
got to Portage late. At Portage, we
were met by autos-there were forty of
us by that time-and taken to the other
depot where we got our dinner. After
dinner, the cars picked us up again
and gave us ride all over the town.
Another coach load came in and hooked
on and we were off for Madison. A
''nOn-com" met us at the station and
lined uN up, suit cases in hand and
marched us to the armOry, where We
washed up and then were lined up and
marched to the mess hall. After mess
we were lined up again and marched
LII a -
porary quarters.
Friday we were called before the
University Board to have our trade
papers made cut.
Saturday morning we were exam
ined- Monday we were assembled in
the armory and assigned TO our trades
They have nearly all trades here, from
radio electrician TO concrete workers.
As soon as assigned to trades or sec
Jions. we were marched to our quarters
and lined UP in Company formation.
We have TO remember three forma-
tons, company formation. section for
nation and pay roll formation We
got our first shot Saturday afternoon
1t was joke, except that it makes
ones arm awful sore Several of the
boys have fell out in formation from
the effects.
| will try to give you schedule of
a days work. Reveille at ) 80. |
have to dress. run down four flights of
stairs and wash up, back up and put
up towel and soap, make up my bunk
and sweep around it, then down three
flights of stairs ready TO fall in at ) 80.
We march to the mess hall at o'clock
Sick call at o'clock
We fall i'll at the armory or Z 10 for
about an hours exercise. After exer-
else comes two hours of drill At 10
o'clock we fall out and fall in again in
section formation for school, At II 40
we march back from school to quarters
and fall i'll company formation, hardly
even have time to clean up, and march
to mess. At l 20 fall in for school
again. At 5 80 we return to quarters
and fall in at 5 80 for mess. At 10
we fall in in section formation for an
hours study. This study hour is for
making out our log book. At s 10 we
are dismissed. At 8 :45 comes call to
quarters and taps at TO-
We are off Saturday afternoon and
Sunday, only have TO report for mess
formations and get in before taps
Reyeille Sunday morning at 6 :15. We
have it easier here than at some places,
but it is not a snap at that.
This Is sure very pretty place
oil Mandate obnc ", N hale o:rolo
from away below the armory clear
around the grounds The capitol is
straight down State street from the
u" We can see the dome from our
squad room. Cannot describe it only
that is is place the people Of Wiscon-
sin can be proud OF. Smith and Zebra
are in company c., quarters on the
fourth floor of the armory. They are
in the carpenter class
Smith fell out of ranks at drill last
week. Just keeled over. The heat
was a little too much for him. We
were issued uniforms Saturday morn
ing. Every man In the company was
told to get hair cut, and that we have
a slick shave for inspection
have ran onto several boys here
that are acquainted in and around La
dysmith. Well it is about time to fall
in for mess, so | will have to close
My address is Private Omer e.
Curtis. University Of Wisconsin Train
ing Detachment, U. S. A. Care OF Army
\. NJ. c. A., Madison, Wisconsin.
Expect to see Ladysmith in about
month, however I may not get to, as
they only give SO hours leave Unless
l can get an extension / never could
make it.
Would sure be glad to get the News
Budget and knew the other two from
Rusk county would like to see it.
OMER CURTIS.