Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-09-24
DAVE LOWE WRITES TO
LOCAL DRAFT BOARD


Dave Lowe, former chairman of the
local draft board, to the board, will
be read with interest:
September 5, 1912.
| Dear Friends.-A last / have
found a few minutes l might call
my own, for this army life certainly
is fast and furious, from 5 a. m.
every morning except Sunday, until
9 p. M, when the lights go out;
then a race for the recreation hall,
and at least one letter to my three
top soldiers at home.
| | was only detained five days at
Fort Harrison (Indianas real work
shop and really got taste of army
life-on all night guard detail, days
work as truckers helper on a cloth
ing shipment detail, and plenty Of
window washing. But the food was
| fine and plentiful-can'U say the
same for this Fort, for the first six
days we were attached to third reg
iment which had to feed 460 men
on an allowance of $50 mems ra-
tiOns.
l saw about ten Morgan county
boys at Harrison and was with them
about every evening we were there,
and | see from the county papers
we are scattered in about eight diff
ferent states. 1t is pretty hard
shipping out from the reception
centers, for that is your last con-
tact with anyone from home; how
ever a few hours on troop train
and your new acquaintance have
begun. About so from Fort Benz
amin Harrison were attached to ap-
proximately 200 other soldiers at
Chicago, and We arrived here in
Wyoming two days later-traveled
first class and really enjoyed the
trip. About ten of our group We're
Buckeyes, and the rest from Indiana
and Kentucky. Quite a few mar
ried men who were drafted, and one
in particular from Kentucky had a
wife and four youngsters. / hope
local number one for Morgan is
not that far down the list yet. But,
from what l read in the Denver
Post you will still be getting those
heavy calls from now on.
Fort Warren is one of the larg-
est for quartermasters' corps, as
about 80 to 40 thousand are in
training here at all times. The fort
itself is an old fort of frontier days,
known for years as Fort Rusk. 1t
is located only three miles out of
Cheyenne, and consists of 500 acres.
Do believe they have marched us
over most of the 500 acres, and l
wonder why the Indians fought so
TO keep at least this part of Wyom-
ing, for the altitude here is $500
feet above sea level, and little or no
vegetation-some buffalo grass, and
the trees amount to a few willows
along the creek beds.
The days are plenty hot with
boiling sun, but always a nice
breeze AS soon as the sun goes
down it begins to get cool, and at 5
a. m. jacket is hardly enough on
top of our summer clothes issued at
FIT. Harrison. I have received two
pair gloves, galoshes, overcoat and
winter cap already, and heavy un-
derwear, and full winter issue will
be received by the 18th. 1t is truly
winter camp, and December tenn
peratures have reached 80 degrees
below zero.
To date I have been more than
busy trying to absorb the basic
training which they have boiled
down to about 13 wee1c work: for
another three weeks mine will con-
sist of regular infantry drill and
training-then about eight weeks
classroom work on motor transport
management, and then the decree
as to whether / qualify for officers
training, probably here in the old
fort, but hoping at Camp Lee, in
Virginia. V. 0. C. are certainly
frowned on here, and to say they
are in disfavor is putting it mildly.
Seems as though some V. O. C.'s
were of the opinion they could
transfer to reserve and go home
whenever they liked, so they acted
accordingly, and this fort certainly
doesn't give any chances for much
hopeful planning as an officer can
didate. The figures to date since
May are less than 40 percent being
qualified. The final oral examina-
tion is two and one half hours On
current events. today's geography,
catchy and quiz questions. But, to
date really like it and will con-
tinue to give it my best.
I see Judge Cox is now a mem
Der Of that fine board, and am sure
the same square dealings for each
and every regfstrant will continue.
Wishing you each and all the very
best these troubled times can afford,
! am. sincerely yours, Pvt Dave
Lowe, Co. A, and Replacement, @.
M. G. Regm., Fort Warren, Wyom-
ing.