Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-06-28
Life in Naval Training Camp.
Knights of Columbus Hall,
Newport, R. l., June %.

NeWpOtIi ~ H. June Go~
Editor The Beacon:
Arrived here last Tuesday morning
and after being in detention camp for
two days. am at last in the regular
training camp. We are all having big
time here and most of the boys seem to
like it fine. There was quise a crowd
of US the day'w landed here from New
York. about 100 l think in all, and
there's just such a bunch as that end
some times as many as 200 to come in at
one time. They have. been sending a
bunch over from the Great Lakes
Training camp and other camps, too, so
we are pretty well filled up right now.
We are located on an island about a
mile from Newport. and l think there
must be something like $1,000 here'now
from every state in the Union, and
some from foreign countries.
Camp life in the navy isn't so bad as
one might think. | rather like it my
self and feel cure its going to do me
lot of good. We sleep in hammocks in
stead of beds and cots as they do in the
army. The hammocks are seven feet
from the floor, and it is real amusing to
see and hear the boys falling out of
them all night long One boy fell out
last night and hurt himself real bad
had to take him to the the hospital and
he hasn't returned yet. Another one
fell out and didn't wake up, Just slept
the rest of the night on the floor. We
all have to crawl out at five o'clock in
the morning, lash up our hammocks. eat
breakfast aud then start to drilling.
We drill until dinner time, then have
thirty minutes off for dinner and start
again and drill until four o'clock. Then
we have to wash our clothes, shine our
shoes and lots of other little things Of
that kind, and get ready to eat supper
we all have "libertv" Except those on
guard duty) until $50, and then we al
turn in for the night.
Everything is run by schedule. We
have just certain length Of time to do
certain thing, and believe me. when
the time is up you had better have it
done.
We have splendidly equipped Y. M.
G. A. and also K. of C. hall. as you
will see at the top of the page. There
are all kinds of amusements. such as
base ball, basket ball. swimming, boat
rowing, boxing matches, dances, pic
ture- she VS., ETC.
We ere doing some real Hooverizing
up here havn't seen grain of sugar
since ! got here except small package
one of the boys got from home. 1t was
hard to get used to coffee without sugar
but after / had been out xnd drilled a
couple of days it tasted real sweet to
me. You never hear any kicks about
the food except from the boys who have
just made their first trip to the mess
hall. After they stay here day or
two they eat any and everything that is
put be fore them.
The weather is very different from
what it was when | left home. 1t has
been very cold all the week-men all
wear their overcoats and ladies their
cloaks and furs.
Gene Murphey, Tom Tyson and l
were all pretty lucky. as we are not
very far from eacn other. Tom and
are in the same regiment and just
short distance from Gene, so we have
good times together at night and while
not on duty. We all went out across
the point the other day where all the
big millionaires have their summer
homes along the beach, and it is GER
taitly beautiful place.
Saw Van Shumaker yesterday and he
told me his four years would be up nsxt
Saturday and he will be out of the navy
for good. He said he and his wife were
going home to New Orleans to see his
people'and thought he would enlist again
down there.
Uncle Sans submarine chasers are
as thick as flies around here. Also see
a few friends once in while.
Regards to friends.
Yours,
War sVATEo