Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-01-28
LETTER FROM CARTER
JOHNSON

U. S. n Training Camp,
Pelham Bay, N. Y.
Sth Reg. Barracks, 9L
January 20, 1919.
Wausau Pilot,
Wausau, Wis.
Dear Editor:
While on my brief furlough at Wau-
sau, | heard how wonderfully you all
| rendered your greatest efforts to the
various war relief organizations unit
| ed under one head the Marathon
War Fund" and supported and sup
piled food and clothing and material
to us boys, who had the great fortune
and privilege to sail over seas in this
great war 1t is obvious to me that
people will have tendency to praise
and honor the men who donned the
uniform and performed service over
there, but will neglect to praise and
honor those who could not go but
stayed at home and did their duty and
bought bonds until it hurt and sup
piled and backed their fighting men.
|, for one, claim no credit nor honor
that | cannot share with you. 1t is
ours together. l am truly sorry that
L could not have given as much as
some of the boys who will never come
back.
While in France, we lacked nothing
in the line f clothing or food to keep
us healthy and comfortable. Of course
you know that we Americans are as
big at eating as we are in everything
else, and often we saw times when
we thought we could easily stand an
other plate of beans, but didn't see
our wishes fulfilled, but in the end
we all came out healthy, husky and
developed men, which proves that
Uncle Sam thinks with his brains and
not with his stomach.
AS the stocks of provisions came
in endlessly, 1 couldn't help but think
OF the folks at home, right on the
job. as they always are and constantly
thinking of us lads. We couldn't very
well work or live without these pro-
visions. So now 1 say, you did the
job splendidly.
| Incessantly the Red Cross came in
touch with us boys. l am not able to
enumerate the many personal acts of
kindness it has shown to me and I
know that it is the same with all of
/ IAAO DOyO' w ullS tIdNGllUS we were
given lunches and hot drinks. In
depots we were given a welcome with
cigarettes, newspapers, candy, lunches
or personal service. These seem
trif1ing things to mention, yet they
are big things for they touched the
hearts of the boys and made them feel
as though someone really cared. Be-
fore being sent across, each one of us
were we'll stocked with comfort kits
and wooden goods and many of us had
sweaters, socks, helmets and mittens
sticking out from our sea bags. But
| is it for me TO reap the many benefits
and blessings rendered by this organ
ization? No! My expressions are too
feeble. There are thousands of people
in Europe who can do better, who owe
their lives to this society.
The Y. NJ. C.. A."and K. of G. played
big part in this war. These organ
lzations though separate and divided,
| by petty differences were united and
guided by the same belief and power
and worked for but one thing in view;
justice, righteousness, peace, liberty
and world democracy. These organiz-
ations did very much to keep up the
spirit and morale of the men. At
these places we found home; warm,
pleasant and agreeable. 1t was to
these places we went to write our
letters, to get amusement, to get warm,
to find companionship, to buy our
wants, and above all to get religious
| nourishment. 1t was here that a
united church was formed and found
| its birth. 1t was attended by every
nationality, creed and race available.
1t invited everyone, your faith or creed
was not questioned. You were bound
in no way except to serve and love
God and to love your fellow men. 1t
did not believe in charging for any re-
| ligious function that it performed. The
rich man was not shown any partiality.
| The poor man lost nothing by his
poverty.
The government hired the chaplain.
He did his job we'll. Knowing that he
was not dependent on any one of the
members for his wearing apparel and
provisions, the chaplain didn't form
his sermons to suit their wishes, as
is often done in many of our churches.
He spoke forcefully and convincingly.
What was the truth he spoke and it
hurt sometimes and made you blush
back of your ears. We know that if
all preachers of the gospel made their
| sermons according to the way we
liked them best, some of us would
stand poor chance of going to heav-
en-. This church had no secrets.
| We have much to thank the Y. NJ
c. a. and K. of c. men for their efforts
everywhere, also the ]. W. B. and Sal
vation army. These men unable to
enter the army service undertook a
task; overwhelming and in many cases
harder than that of a soldier-I mean
in the sense that their efforts were
oftentimes expected and less times ap-
lpreciated.
The Y. NJ. C. A. canteen service
alone is well worth mentioning
Wherever / went, and I have been In
five stations. home and abroad, things
could be bought at a very reasonable
Iitem. I have heard many conflicting
and unsatisfactory reports from per.
sons about the Y. NJ. C. A. and theil
!canteen service, but in most case: