The Monte Vista journal., 1919-02-22
Hohsr. Germany.
Jan. Is. 1919.
Dear Moth o.

Os"f
Dear Mother:
Jus, received a letter from you
ii. pirht which found me still Gu
,oylnr health and contsntmsnt. u
ma, /, tho next thing TO happiness,
mink I'd be much happier II were
hams but I am far from unhappy II
, ao have to stay here . few months
longer,
I, 1. ss you say. an opportunity
veil worth being able to grasp in u.
much A. Il affords an education In
Itself thru the many experiences and
conditions we 20 thru.
You ask mo what wc do to while
away tho time and Il may seem sur
pri,ins. but our entire time 10 spent
in getting . better education Just as
IL We were going to school. Half Of
our time We spend learning to be
soldiers. Just because We have been
in battle don't signify that we are
soldiers In = true sense OF tho word
You can never become = perfect sold
ier. and as long ~ there II an army
there has to be . course OF instruc-
ton In that army to teach men how
to soldier and keep them up to a
standard which can only be kept up
BY constant drill and training. The
minute that training becomes lax the
standard falls. consequently the con-
stan, routine Of our daily soldier life
not ony helps to make US soldiers
but helps wonderfully in broadening
our knowledge In many ways which
will do Us . world OF good when we
become citizens again.
The other half Of our time is spent
In study. We have organized = Reg
mental school and for . faculty. Of
ncers and men Of this Regiment who
have gone thru college and hold de-
Erees. have been chosen ~ instruc-
tors In their various vocations and
classes have been organised which
last for two periods each afternoon.
The courses offered are German.
French. History. English. Interna-
,ional Law. Accounting. Mathematics
salesmsnship. Agriculture and Com
mercial Correspondence.
I have enrolled for advanced Eng
ish. Salesmsnship and International
Law and II ever should go on to
school my record and grades are
kept here and can be "cashed" for
credits in any college.
This is not only an idea Of ours but
every organization In the Army OF
Occupation have similar schools. 1,
was originally instigated by the Y.
NJ. c. A. and with their aid we are to
get text books for all of our courses.
l got the Xmas package all o. X.
and everything you sent Just hit the
mark. Toilet articles are very rare
over here SO what you sent was much
needed l assure you. and the cake
ASAOAo. "0 uV0 III 8uuAu
rooms. four men to . room and my
three comrades thot the cake was the
most delicious they had ever tasted.
Sweets Of any kind score pretty high
with US as we never get anything like
that. I'd give any thing for pound
OF fudge with few nuts in It or even
little sweet chocolate.
Our weather remains the same:
sunless days and plenty of dampness.
Yesterday we had . heavy down foil
OF snow but 1t meltedas fast as 1t
fell.
The neas almost drive US crazy.
me building we are occupying is lit
orally alive with them, great big red
ones and at night they eat US up.
NY body Is = solid mass Of bites and
all DO Is scratch. Once In a while
! catch one but three come to his
funeral. We have bought oil the in
SECT powder in town but Of no avail.
Since settling down whore we can