Williston graphic., 1918-11-28
CHARLES {. SMITH
RECEIVES Com.
I WONDERFUL WORK BEING
DONE BY BOYS

Charles E. Smith, better known as
Smut Smith here in Williston, writes
of his experiences at training school
where he received commission as
Second Lieutenant. His letter is as
follows:
A. E. F. France, Nov. 1, 1918.
Dear Folks:
l suppose you are worried to death,
not hearing rom me for such a long
not hearing from me for such a long
write. You see, when wrote let
ter it had to be perfect, if there was
q little mistake in it, we got deperits
Or rather black marks against us, SO
.esu know what kind Of letter I
write therefore you cannot blame Inc
for not writing, as every mark meant
that I would have to work that much
harder to get my commission and the
Lord only knows that we had to work
hard enough without any black marks
being added to make it worse.
l left the best job in the army
when l left the Top Sgts job with Co.
E. l sure was sitting on the world
and hated to leave, but when was
corporal I wanted to be a Sgt. after
got to be a Sgt. wanted to be a
top Sgt. and when got there l
wanted to be an officer, but
now that I am an officer l realize
that ! never knew when was we'll
off. Pretty soon the Top Sgt. will
draw 500 month, board, room and
clothes, what more does anybody
want than that. After l started to
school here I sure, thought of that
a good many times, but I knew if ]
funked here, you and all the rest of
the folks would have been very dis
appointed in me and l know Capt.
Evans and 1st. 1t. Jeffrey would have
been because l know they would have
bet their last dollar l would make it
and when anybody puts faith in me
am going to do my best to make
good. Capt. Evans talked to me
about my education and said he wish
ed it was better, | often have that
thought about it since l came to
school and kicked myself because |
could not write a decent hand and
word my letters better, but l always
realize that it was nobodys fault but
ny own. Orders came to the school
% watch for all men whose writing
md spelling was bad and it had me
sitting on needles and pins all dur
ng the course. Our Captain or some /
,ody said war cannot be won by |
,aper and pencils but it's the rifle, !;
,ayonet, handled by man with COM
non sense on the battle field that will |
10 the BUSINESS.
Many college graduates have come I
O this school and have failed to make /
.ood because they could not handle |
nen, so I am not going to worry t
ny more about education. When .
et home I'll hide myself out on my {
arm in No Mans Land where edu-
alton is not needed and believe me
II stay there. You and Unk said
about going out there to
I'VE. T sure wish you would. . 1t
rould help me out when I get back.
would not have to start the thing
Y myself.
l have not sent any money home on
ccount of this school, you know it Z
axes quite bit Of money to start "
ut as an officer and all the comfort
e get out of life over here is the
othes and the eats we buy and it's
,ming winter, therefore l have got :
have a fur coat and good shoes
.use when you are at the front you
e not sleeping in feather bed, !
,ell >hole is your bed and the world
ith the sky as your roof is your bed
'om, you are lucky if you can. get a
,ell hole, there are lot of them
CONTINUED on page y