The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-02-15

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monccd throwing a miscellaneous ne
sortment Of straps, buckles and otheS
paraphernalia into IL. l thought he
! would never stop, blt when the pile
reached - my knees he paused long
enough TO say, "NeXt No. 5217 'Arris
B company" l gazod in bewlldermen'
at the pile of junk IN front Of me and
then my eyes wandered around looking
fos the wagon which was to carry II
10 barracks. ! was rudely brought TO
earth by the quarter" exclamlng,
Ere, you, 'op H. tykc II aw'y; blind
my eyes, 'e's looking for lis botman to
'clp i'm carry it,"
Struggling under the load, with fre-
quent pauses for rest, | reached our
barracks (large car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue 1t
was a marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task, he showed me
how 70 adjust il on my person. Pretty
soon | stood before him a proper Tom
my Atkins in heavy marching order,
feeling like an overloaded camel
On my feet were hcayy-solod boots,
studded with h0buails, the toes and
heels Of which were re-enforced by
steel haf-moons. My legs were in
eased In woolen puttbes, olive drab in
color. with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then - wooden khaki
tunic under which was a blush gray
wooden shirt, minus Il collar; beneath
this shirt wooden belly band about
six inches wide held in place by tie
strings Of white tgpe. On my head
V0s a heavy wooden trench cap, with
huge oarapg butoned over the top
Then the equipment: A canvas belt
with ammunition pockets and two
wide canvas straps like suspendcrS,
called "D' straps. fastened TO the belt
In front passing over each shoulder
crossing in the middle Of my back, and
attached hy buckles to the rear of the
belt. ON the right side Of the belt
hung a water bottle, covered with felt;
on The left side was my bayonet and
ecabbard, ana mfronching tool handle,
this handle strapped to the bayonet
scabhard In the rear was my In
tronching tool, carried in a canvas case.
This tool was Il combination pick and
padc. A canvas hayersack was
strapped to the left side of the belt,
While ON my back was the pack, also
of canvas, held in place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
on the bottom Of the pack was my
mess tin or canteen in q neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet
looking like a jelly roll was strapped
on top Of the pack; with a wooden stick
for cleaning the breach Of the rifle pro-
jccting from each and. on lanyard
around my waist hung a huge jack
knife with cun-oponcr attachments
The pack contained my ovcrcoat. an
extra pair of socks change Of under
wear, hold all Containing knife. fork.
sroon comh too,,nr,sh 1ofhor hrush
sbovino eoon ,rd = ro0n,.. ,,ado or tin
With "Made in England stamped on
tie blade; vhor irving 70 shave with
ris If made you wish th,i Won were
at war Win Patagonia. sn that Won
could have q "olov ground" slammed
"Madc in Germany") then your house.
wife, button.clcaning outfit, consisting
Of a brass button stick. two stiff
brushes, and box of "SoldierS'
Friend" paste, then shoe brush and
LuN OF dubblu writing pad. indel.
hle pencil envelopes. and nay book.
ald personal belongings, such as Il
small mirror decent razor aud Il
shoof Of unanswered letters, and fags,
IN Your hayer,ack YOU carry your iron
ratonS meaning tin of bully beef.
TOUR biscuits ana a can containing ten,
sugar ana oHo CUBES; Il couple or
Ilt"S ana pack oi ShaS' TN or rlilc
OIL ana puH-through. Iommy gen
eIaIiF carries me OIL with ms ratlohs !
u gives tle cheese SORT OF safd!he
laSIe.
A0d 10 inns a nrst-ald pouch Hnd Il
lonI' unsalH'y rihe p0t'ethea alter lhe
i'alie' Boone perlod' ana you nave an
ioeo ol q brluSh soluler IN biisAiy'
beiore ieaVluE lor rance lhiS rlii'
,"N''l III u" n,'u an" n' - 'asue''
'i'' ' ~ ''i ''le'o 9ii0i' uen''' i'i'e
"''0 d, "''o'' D's'
iU FI"uc' ne receives 'No gus hei'
H''lF, Il aHePl'sNh coat ruooef muck