The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-07-04
A Camp DOdger Reports
Camp Dodge, Iowa
June 20, 1918.
To whom it may conc arn:

my friends OF Tauey county TO know
something about our trip and the frs,
month Of service, I say our trip be-
cause several Taney county boys came
together.
After We landed at Hollister we were
led 10 a long table which was laden
with the best Of eats that good nature
can afford and aheI dinner We were
given few encouraging words by prom
inent men which boosted the boys tc
fight for freedom, and l think they
did not 90 amiss; after which We were
transferred 10 Branson By automobile
for which the people Of Branson are to
be given the credit
AT $40 We boarded the train for
Camp Dodge. We had special coach
aud, by the way it was surprise to
The coach TO be picked up at Branson
and set down at Des Moines, Iowa
When our good engineer opened the
throttle the yells began 10 sound and
did not cease until our arrival at Camp
Dodge and l will say here that they
got no less in number the farther we
got.
At Galena, Mo-, We took on forty
two more and from there on our crowd
grew to about 700 in number. By
the time we got to Kansas City our
little coach was escorted by fourteen
other coaches and baggage car.
At Carthage Mo-, we had a box sup,
per and we captains were permitted to
go and eat at a restaurant but We we're
so rushed that we had to grab and eat
and then run, And there Harry Hard
ing and met two Of our old school
mates who attended the School Of the
Ozarks. They were Ralph Simonton
and Gertrude Pickett who we're just
married and on their way to their new
| home.
After riding all night and sleeping
none because at every station we were
cheered by large crowds which showed
the spirit Of the American people
AT all hours Of the night they were out
10 bid US farewell and let US know that
though they be at home and we in
training, they were at the wheel doing
what is the duty Of every American.
II heard the kaiser's name mentioned
once, | heard it a thousand times and
can't tell here what all was said but
there were few expressions like these;
Bring me a razor slrop out Of his
back" Bring his eyes back for marb
les;" and Bring back his scalp stuff
fed with sawdust."
At Trenton, Mo-, we had a box
breakfast, The first that heard Of, and,
by the way, there weren't but about
IS Of our boys who got boxes. 1t be-
gan 10 look like some Of US would miss
our breakfast, and, say, We were
hungry too. The cause Of it was that
the boys ahead took more than was due
them. So we were directed to 20 to
the restaurant.
We arrived at Des Moines Thursday
May 30th about 2!30 p. m and / must
say, We were some worn out. We we're
met by the U. S. Officers and they
marched US through part Of the city
Of Des Mones, a city Of about 10000
inhabitants, to the interurabn which
took US to csmp.
Of course our eyes frightened up
on arrival at camp because it was all
new to US, at least it was to me, and
we saw our new home, which is about
S miles long and mile vide, with a
population Of several thousand, about
5000 Of which arc Alabama blacks.
We were then marched into camp
and 10 ihe assignment quarters. There
We were scattered to various parts Of
| the camp. applied for a clerical job
and as it happened was the only one
in our crowd that did so and I was
sent to the field hospital company all
BY myself except strangers from other
parts Of the state. There met some
mighty friendly boys and now they
seem like brothers 10 me. They have
been a great help to me aud II seems
that every one realizes that We are here
I lor cause and to win freedom for