The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-09-12
LIKES CAMP PIKE
CLARENCE sELK TELLS OF THE
LIFE IN ARKANSAS.

James Mansfield is in receipt of
the following letter from former
member of the Herald force, now in
the service:
Camp Pike, Arkansas, Sept. /.
!. The following is a report from
the Corn Huskers'' serving Uncle
Sammie at Camp Pike. r..
q We arrived at Camp Pike, Ar
kansas, five weeks ago and have suf-
tfered the usual experiences of a
rookie. For the first two weeks we
cnjoyed the privilege of sleeping in
stables that Arkansas mules former
ly occupied, and found II comfortable
except for the rain and dust storms,
flies and heat. Also being accus-
toned to sleeping on a spring bed, it
was a great change to toss our tick
half full of straw on the ground and
roll in. Our mess hall was the most
lroomy one every witnessed. 1t also
consisted of a mule she'd through
which we would pass in a dozen or
more columns, receive our allotment
and find comfortable place TO sit on
the side hill and feed ourselves. Al
that place efficiency was the watch
word. 1t was stated, unofficially
that six thousand five hundred men
were being fed in forty.five minutes
so necessarily the soup was rather
thin. Another thing, to men accus
toned to absolute liberty, two weeks
confinement to an area one hundred
feet square was irritating. During
that time we had good drill Lieut.
OF course we didn't do any drilling tC
amount to very much; but received
exercise for the purpose of polishing
our self respect, as he expressed it
And he sure could find muscles WI
never knew we had. Our chic
pleasure was receiving mail from
home, and there is no doubt abou
: that being pleasure during our ser
vice, even until the time when th
boys come marching home again"
But all that is past now. We hav,
been transferred to regular organiza
tions and find the change profitabl
one. The sleeping quarters ar
= more comfortable and the food is bel
ter. The longer we stay here tn
l better we like it. And besides W
5 are getting mighty blood-thirsty TO
: the Boches. We learn Hun execu
+ tion, self preservation, and how t
! retain our affection for those left be
I hind all at the same time. When W
i get "Over there" we will each ge
J. one for mamma and one for papa an
k one for ourselves. They are shiI
n ping many soldiers out of this cam
each week and many more come il
@ Those who are now occupying tn
G mule stables sure have our sympi
S thy. There was one great pleasur
l. we enjoyed while in the stable
G which | forgot to mention. Tha
s was receiving our uniforms. w
|. couldn't get back to the barns fas
a. enough to make the change afte
they had been issued. And, oh! yo
h should have seen the pride. We a
9 felt like kings after we had struggle
Il into them, which was quite job, b
= the way. 1t was officially announce
. by our commander before going afte
- them that the men in charge of il
- suing the uniforms spend just twent
- seconds per man, so if they are nC
- a perfect fit we know who to blam,
For instance, if man wears a nun
. ber seven shoe in civilian life. he
y sure to get at least nine and ha
= when he gets in the army. ..
l. We are all well and getting alon
y fine and dandy. The only thing
u have to kick about is that l haven
q been receiving the .Oskaloosa Dali
IS Herald, and trust that you will rem
r edy that trouble Immediately.
Sincerely, ..
r PVT. CLARENCE L. SELK,
18th Co. 18th Tr. Bn. lend DepC
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