Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-18
THE
Mess Kit
"A Dish Of
CHEEKY Food
For Thought
"A Buddie "A Short
Tale

remember meeting Private Frank
handy way back in early summer Ihe
Headquarters staff was IN the making.
The first dozen men chosen for the unit
had arrived and were busily engaged
putting up tents and high-grading wood
On AoOra and other accessories necessary
IN comfort in tent life. These from
nearby neighbors' lately emptied prem
isee.
Ny first Impressions Of Frank We're
THAT he Was evidently Of Irish percentage
or b native son of Ireland, "A CHEEKY,
witty type, one quick to make and keep
friends / recall too that he told me
he was a horsenan, having trained
i horses since a boy, and now in hopes Of
! being chosen orderly to the Colonel
Nothing definite was known as to our
Immediate fates; the dozen soon grew
until the number reached the total
! strength allowed for our organization
In due time Franls found himself as
Isigned to the Headquarters Corral, while
we tArried at the Office. Nothing start
Il ling occurred until after the first Of
series Of promotions were announced.
Some of the original twelve were given
warrants and this brought about the
initial cloud In the Southern Sunny
Skies.
Unfortunately Frank failed to earn the
berth looked for but instead was made
orderly to Major Stanley of the British
Military Mission, who was then stationed
st Camp Hancock. just about this time
4 companion came into his life which
consoied him somewhat for the keen dis
appointment. Frank was soon himself
again, happy and inseparabie from his
new found pal,
one Of the strangest things in Army
Iife lis the different characters and kinds
that team up as 1uddies. Frank had at
tached or been attached to q companion
who now was constant and never-falling.
They showered no end of attention upon
each other. There was always a gene
rous good fellowship between them.
They walked -messed-Frank never sat
down to chow without thinking or shar-
ling his chow with his buddy-they even
bunked together, although the latter was
strictly against military regulations. His
pals assignment Was not under the same
shelter but no one said anything about It.
Occasionally Orderly Frank ran out
Of fund.-, We all do this in camp. But
this never made the slightest bit of diff
ference to his little pai--Rain or Shine
Sick or Well, FITCH or Poor, Frank was
always the Same in the eyes OF buddy.
The time came for Frank to make a
trip home to greet older friends Bud
didn't understand it at FIRST Frank could
not share his confidence; and during the
ten days of absence everyone about the
corral noted how the separation affected
JESSIE
Theret rye told you her name. The
first meeting upon his return was Inn
pl'essive She, greeted him in manner
that left no doubts that she thought Il
whole lot OF Frank, and that a warm
friendship existed between them. Even
his thoughtlessness was soon forgotten
Jessie Is young, well hred fox ter
51ef, and wonderful ratter During her
term OF enlistment as a member Of Head
quarters stan she has kept we'll ahead
Of her traditional inherltances along this
line-~ besides--an now comes the story.
We paid an unexpected visit to the
corral yesterday; walked unannounced
into Tessiets narsery-~-the neither was
feeding her litter OF little fox terriers
i've beautifully marked pups. Rarely
s nave we ever seen prettier kennel pic-t
tnre I sought Frank He was enthu-
sfastic about the pups, and well he might
be- Everyone at Headquarters was M
terested in them, and furthermore
wanted one.
The Colonel did not send his usual
compliments but paid Jessie personal
visit. later bringing along his young
daughters to see the puppies Frank
told me with boyish pride how the Colo
nefs YOUNGSTERS had danced around, say
ing Mister, please, may We have one9
. they wouldn't go away until he prom
them put the reqaisition thru military
Fearing that / was about to ask for a
pup, Frank headed me off with the re-
mark that they We're all ''tooken" adding
that he was intending TO take one home
Z with him when the word comes "As YOU
WERE
When that moment does arrive know
he viii hate to leave the little doggies
especially the faithful mother Ii
Yea top to reflect and dwell upon the
vaiues OF many of your experiences with
friends made in the Army you will real
ixe that your little buddy provided others
besides yourself with beneficial com
Partnership
Haven't YOU found, too, that the dog
gas always a friend. and didn't you dis
cover. too, that friend could be a dog
We are not always cynical. but little
last minute incident which happened in,
he Company Street this A nj. colors
our views and me-thinks makes this
ring true!
Headquarters J. A. o