Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-06-27
Letter From the Richmond School.
Company D. Training Detachment,

Company D, Training Detachment,
Richmond, Va,
June 81, 1918
Dear Mr.. SNYDER thought 1t might
be of interest to you and perhaps some
others to hear little about this school,
now that we are really going and we IAN
see development. We were little time
getting started, for there was some de-
lay in getting the army ofiicers mere,
and things don't move In the army
without officers. However, that was
soon remeded and then we got down 10
work. | haven't had a spare minute
since, though it is not because nave
worked so hard at times as II was that
| was supposed to be at certain place
all the time. However, that is past,
for this week haven't had minute to
loaf for | have been acting sergeant
major. and believe me that is some
lob. Ii takes all morning to get out the
reports and to check the ones that come
in. The afternoon is spent in getting
out orders, finishing up the muster roll
and taking general care Of all the nu-
merous inquiries that come up: i
felt quite proud of the promotion,
Though | hated to leave my company
company commander, for he has been
commander, for he has been mi ghty
fine to me and is yet, though | don't do
any of the company work for him.
To get back to the school. We had
left, when the mastering was over, just
seven hundred and ninety-seven men
out of eight hundred and twelve. FIJI
teen were rejected for minor troubles,
and | can tell you that they were not
glad. To me it would be hard blow
to be told that was not fit to fight IN
this glorious army of ours. The 79l
men are divided about as follows: one
hundred are studying radio, and most
of them have about reached the mini
mum requirement, which is to be able
to take twelve words minute from the
buzzer. They have to learn qnlte a
bit about the machinery also, but that
is small matter. There are about
thirty blacksmiths, four hundred auto
mechanics and drivers, one hundred and
seventy carpenters and bench Wood
workers, and about hundred machln-
lists and electricians. These men are
taught a good working knowledge OF
these trades, and we have quite few
fine men along these lines, for they
have worked at them for years. There
will be a few retained here for in
structors in the next school and also
some for the Office work. If care to
be, it is possible that may be retained
| should like it very much if ! have to
stay in this country, but if there is q
chance to go to France that is what
want to do, and believe that express
the wish of practically every fellow in
the camp.
The boys are getting anxious about
what they are to do, for there are only
about twenty days of school left, and
then it is somewhere else for most oil
us. Of course the ones who do not
make good will be sent to the infantry
and at the present time that is branch
of the service for which have no
hankering. We have certainly had
every chance, and if a fellow does not
make good it is his own fault, for there
is always something for the man who is
willing to put his best foot forward and
then push his body up to it. We have
bunch of officers here that could not
be beaten if we went and picked them
ourselves. They are considerate and
really have the welfare of the men at
heart, and there is nothing too much
trouble for them to do for fellow if
he deserves it.
1t is about times for the Register to
appear on the scene, and | just have to
get that as soon as it arrives, if posi-
pie. | will even break a regulation to
get it if there is any possible chance to
get by with it.
Sincerely,
= WIZ TAMSON