The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-19
MP. EXPERIENCES
AT CAMP MEADE

Golfers Weekly says, in an editorial
addressed to soldiers: "All of us back
home want to hear what you are do
ing, what you are seeing, what you
are thinking about; and remember
that us means everybody, every
where-folks you may never have
met, but who are thinking about you
just the same" Mrs. James Burke of
Winnemucca permits us to make few
extracts from a letter from her SOL
dier-husband, written at Camp Mead i,
December 81:
when | wrote before / was on NIP.
and waiting for call. 1t came about
8 o'clock that night and l went to one
of the outposts at a little town on the
electric road, called Admiral. The
duties of an NIP. at that station are
varied, and none of them pleasant, but
interesting to me. l went on watch at
2 am. (here your sweater was used)
at a crossroads where ii was some
dark and cold. My business there was
to keep all unauthorized people out
and all soldiers without passes in.
hdA NdlNh 10 DA0Nig Ooh tAS JOO
/ had the next day was some busy. l
went on at 2 pm. and stayed until 6.
My business on this job was to ride
cars on to Camp Meade and see that
all the soldiers returning from their
homes had passes Those that didn' t
l was to arrest All | got to had EN-.
/" ut was also my duty to search
civilians for booze. Didn't find any
myself, but some of the other boys did.
One fellow had a suitcase full. l am
glad ii wasn't me that found that!
The government will send him to the
Federal prison for several years, |
guess. There are some amusing things
happen, too. While l was there they
caught a negro that was seven davs
over his leave. He had two big boxes.
The sergeant opened them. One had
clothes and the other had bake
chicken, several pies and cakes and
cookies. We confiseated all the eats,
which we're real good.
Another niger was out without
leave The sergeant asked him which
he would rather haye-a job cooking
for the MP.s (the M.P.s on outpost
have to do their own cooking), or 20
10 the stockade. He chose the cooking
job and-believe me!-he knew how.
Those are all nice fellows. but don Z
like that class of the service. Was
set for last night TO come back to my
own regiment TO take another shot in
the arm, which | got today; also short
the arm, which | got today.
II forgot to tell you about our dress
parade and review. President Wilson
and the Secretary of War were here.
/ saw several motion-picture machines
around. so guess | had my picture
taken. Twenty thousand were on
march. We looked good.
"Was on the sick list on account OF
the inoculation | got. Sure knocks me
sideways. | watched the doctor shoot
some of the other boys. He sticks il
in over an inch. Some of the boys
arms swell up the size of their legs.
Nobody knows when we will leave
here. Here is an example. The other
day one of the infantry regiments was
out drilling. All the officers were with
them. A messenger came out and told
them they had fifteen minutes to pack
up. They left, and no one here knows
where they went. This regiment IS
not filled up yet. and l don't think
they will move us until it is. unless II
is to some other camp in this country
"A fellow came in just now and said
he heard they were going to send me
back to the M.P.s tomorrow. | don't
care. | will have some interesting eX-
periences, and that is partly why / am
here"