Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-02-04
.W.S.S.-
Sailor Boy Writes Letter.

l.. A. Chapman of Windsor, Colo, and
former Webster City residents, writes
the following interesting letter to his
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. w. w.
Hyatt of this city. Glenn is stationed
in the west and from his letter he
seems to be enjoying camp life very
much. Having transferred from the
navy to a radio school in California,
he is learning something that will be
an interesting and paying profession
for life after the war; and the Harvard
training course which will be his in
side of a few months is something that
will be invaluable to him. His letter,
which will be of interest to many
Webster City people, appears below
under the date line of January 20,
1918.
Dear Grandpa ard Grandma: Just
came back from the hospital at Mare
Island last week. l got the German
measles before l left the detention
barracks and had to go to the hospital
and be quarantined for three weeks.
| Wasn't sick at all after the first three
days, but couldn't write letters or do
anything that wanted to and my mail
never came over there. SO when l got
back here l had sixteen letters and
two packages at the post Office and
yours was among them. So you can
imagine how busy I've been answering
them. And to top it off, l was put on
mess duty this week, too. Have TO
help feed these fellows and there are
about eighteen hundred here. Its
quite a job to feed that many men
three times a day. But everyone has
to take his turn at mess duty, so I'm
not the only one that has to work at IT.
Everything is much nicer here than
at the detention barracks. We have
warm, steam heated quarters
to sleep in and have two liberty days
Wednesday and Saturday.
On Wednesday we can go from 4
o'clock until 7:O5 next morning and
Saturday we leave at l o'clock and
come back at 12 o'clock Sunday night.
Have lots more and better grub here,
too. Have to sleep in hammocks and
it's quite job getting used to them
for they are awful easy to turn over
and as they arc hung about six feet
from the floor its hard lighting.
Il tried to get into the electrical
school, but it is filled up so transferred
from seaman to the radio school
il is wireless and telegraph operating.
We are given about two months
course here and then sent to Harvard
University for a six months course
and from there aboard a ship as a
wireless operator 1t will be much
nicer than the seaman branch and
this going to Harvard is worth lot
II have been over to Frisco several
times. but it is about like any
other big town, especially when you
don't know the town.
I'VE have picture show here every
night and vaudeville on Friday nights.
Also have all sorts Of gymnasium
things, pool tables, big dance hall.
swimming pool and almost everything
to make it pleasant-and big library,
SnnIa
morning.
commanders are awfully strict
when we are drilling but most of them
are good fellows.
"I've met several boys from near
home. but the company that | was in
had left here when I came back from
the hospital so there wasn't soul
here knew. But it doesn't take mucn
to get acquainted with the boys when
we are all here together.
81 was invited over to San Francisco
to big dinner party last Sunday.
There were sixteen of us sailor boys
and as many girls. The party was
given at one of the girls homes. Had
big five course dinner and. believe
me, 1t did taste good. We all did en-
Joy ourselves and next Sunday one OF
the other girls has invited us over to
her house to dinner.
"These uniforms don't look good to
me, but the girls seem to fall for them.
A sailor or army man can almost go
up and take girl away from civil
lian now At least it is that way here.
There is to be another sailors
dance in frisco given by the Red
Cross next Wednesday night. Had a
real good time at the last one so think
I'll go again.
"Wednesday afternoon OF every