Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-01-03

-o-
LETTER FROM
CHARLES FlckEL
! Camp Cody, Nov. %. 1917.
Dear Cousin:
| cxpetct you will be surprised
to hear from me. but l thought
you would probably like to hear
little about army life, although
you have heard about me from
Albert most likely. We were at
Camp Funston just two weeks,
then were shipped down here on
! October 81, landing here on the
oath, and were transferred to this
company on the goth. This regi-
ment is the old Fifth Nebraska
National guard, hut was drafted
Unto the national army. We have
a big sack with a draw string at
the top that we carry our clothes
in and they are made of blue
denim. We are quarantined to
our company street for the meas
les, so we can't go any place, and
our squad was out to the contact
camp where they keep the ex-
iposed men, as two of them had
the measles, and were put into
the hospital, but the rest of us
didn't come down, so we didn't
have TO stay long. l got my O. ID.
lwoolen uniform Saturday and feel
like a soldier now. We have had
Jour rifles quite a while and are
getting aiming and bayonet drill,
and expect to get on the rifle
range next week some time. The
bayonct drill is hard work and will
take lots of practice to make per-
feet, but like it all just fine and
am getting to like the army better
every day.
We have been reviewing most
evcry day before the high officers
and Tuesday we reviewed before
some officers from Iowa. so by
/ that you may know that we are
getting whipped into shape pretty
! fast. although We will never, know
when we will go across.
i Sunday morning they had rcgi-
imcnfal chapel over at he officers
Quarters and the band played.
l'I'hen the chaplain gave us a
DANDY talk on the duty OF a SOL
Idier TO his country, home, honor,
land TO himself, physically and
Imorally. 1t certainly was fine
and put lots of fellows to think
ling. We certainly miss the Y. NJ.
IG. A. since we have been quaran-
tined. as there was something do
ling there all The time and il is a
foods blessing to The army, and
Twill always have a good word for
lit. Every Wednesday is athletic
day. SO we don't drill much, and
on Saturdays we have inspection
OF our rifles and other equipment,
so we have to keep i'm tip top
tshape all the time. We have
shower baths here any time we
want to- take them. so we don't
need to go dirty. We have our
Town clothes to wash, but am get
ting to be pretty good hand at it
Ihy This time. We get pretty good
\ feeds and all we want to eat. AS
tomorrow is Thanksgiving we are
ito have the feed of our lives.
| won't undertake to tell YOU of
all The good stuff we arc to have,
but as [ am detailed to be on The
Kitchen police TO help get the din
ner~ you may be sure it will be
good ] don't like this country
very much, as ii is TOO dusty and
dry, although the climate is pref
/ ly good and am feeling pretty
tgood now, as | am getting acclim-
lated. | did have rather bad cold
land sore throat when first came
here, but it has left me, so l am
| feeling fine and have six mems
appetites. | have been on guard
twice since | have been here, and
once at amp Funston. The first
j time here was on regimental
guard and Sunday night and Mon
day was on division guard. That
lis guarding the whole camp, and
it took our whole company, but
on regimenlal guard it only takes
about so men, as we just have the
regiment to guard. The different
companies and regiments take
| turns at guarding. We have to
do regimental guard every two
weeks and division guard about
every 80 days. Well, must quit,
as it is away past my bed time,
land | have hard days work
ahead of me. Write as often as
you can and tell me how you
folks are getting along and I'll
try and answer as soon as can.
Lots of love to all. "CHICK."
! Co. E, i34th U. S. Inf, Camp
Cody, N. M.
LETTER FROM
| ERaNclS McnEnn0rr