Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-02-20
From Orie l.. Walton
nerican Salvage Depot No. /.

day | would hear from YOU hut as
yet. It's the same old story The las,
mail steamer came in for several
days. mail arrived in large quantities
and my allotment was one letter
from Charlie and two home papers.
which were interestingly read. They
were dated October 24th and Nov
ember 9TH. I can't see why all my
correspondents are 50 busy but
suess since peace was declared. you
figure | can get alonS without re-
ceiving more mail.
or course We are greatiy enthused
but from the class Of my work.
will be here for another six months
for work is increasing daily and we
have old clothes enough On hand 10
supply all Of France for 20 years
We have 500 900 men in three base
sections 10 furnish dress suits for
their arrival home AMI after they are
furnished We will clad ourselves in
denIms and come back As the La
dies Navy" Thousands are leaving
each day and it makes ones blood
Jingle 10 hear the steamers whistle
each morning. bound Tor the land of
Home Sweet Home. That makes us
more home-sick than 2ayth!ng else
but | figure myself lucky il | get
back by July 18th and never worry
about il.
We are we'll fixed for the winter.
such as they have here. Yesterday
the sun shone for two hourn and |
discovered my desk was facing il
7 have beer here for . month and
reyer knew it before. We have
cloudy weather contigually, but
seemingly there is ~ bad effects
from il. or Course q soldier cant
let the weather bother him.
noticed in II OF the papers q
lstter from Ira Stout. He spoke of
Jim T.iteller being with him too. |
have net several pals from camr IN
the states and only a week ago one
Of nay best friends from Camp Meigs
was attached 10 the organization.
The chances are 10 numerous for
Us 10 spend enjoyable evenings. but
we make the best of il and look for
ward 10 when We can again be at
home and enjoy the pleasures more
than ever \ few days ago We had
n little excitement when 4 girl fell
off a 90 foot per into the river and
would have drowned but for q boy
who proved himself a life saver.
The 18th of last month got MY
warrant as a sergeant after 80 long
2 time. | should have got it az soon
as we were organized In the states.
but for the last Of a commanding Of
f!cer | have been s. o. L. (Some
army slang). an chief clerk for
the salvage depot and have three
stanographers. such as they are. and
one enlisted man helping ME Have
asked for three more men and will
get them soon go at present | am
doing four mems work. This $500
helps wonderfully. for with a $50
a!lottment out Of $40 didn't leave
NE very well fixed financially. Have
you ever received any allotment pay
meAts beginning from the first Of
August
managed to send all Of you but
Charley a Christman reminder and
hope you received them in due time
| will remember him before leaving
France and will try and send him
something soon 1t Is hard to rea-
lie that Christmas is here, for we
have. had NJ winter weather whatev-
er. Well, | remember q year ago to-
day and wish it could be duplicated
but hardly expect 1t for several
months. 1t wouldn't be half go bad
over here If there was anything you
could bay beLiden, wine. A good
meal would be enjoyed each day at
least but they are hard TO get,
Il was four months ago today that
our convoy sailed out of New York
herbor too. Con7nring Ia hardly so
strict now and ! ran tell you a little
Of our trip across the pond. Our
convoy of IA transports left the
piers al noon AID We came across ny
the northern route. going up the
coast to Newfoundland and then or
across, seeing several iceburgs and
had quite 4 sub one night when
we were chased for W hours. We
came through the Irish sea and land
ed in Liverpool. Was there n
day when we left for Southampton
by rail Was there a day when we
crossed the English Channel and
landed in an English starvation camp
where we remained two weeks. Then
we made a four mile hike and would
have gladly made a forty mile one
when W began our tour of France
in cattle cars, one half the size Of
ours, with 40 men to a car. None
Of us would have missed that trip
for 81 900, and not many would give
5 cents to take 1t again either. Since
arriving here. there can be no COM
plant made for We have all q SOL
der could ask for, considering the
conditions.
Well. | think this is enough for
H. ,,rr... ,nl 80, U,aat1v In hnnn-