Smyrna times., 1943-05-27

word along to Eddie Harrington
and wish him the very best. In fact
L want to wish all the Boys and
Girls in the Service the best OF
everything. This is meant to cover
all the Service folks in the Smyrna
and Clayton area which have not
been spoken of earlier in my letter,
1 hope that will meet up with you
once more and that we will have
the opportunity to talk over old
times together.
See you Dribbles some of these
days, soon hope. 1 will try to let
you know in advance this time if
possible. 1 am an American, a
iDelawarean, and mighty proud of
lit.
Sincerely, your friend,
Pfc. Louis D. Hurd
Pfc. Louis D. Hurd
306th F. S., D. M. F.
Dale Mabry Field
Tallahassee, FLORIDA
Seattle, Washington
Editor of Dribbles
Smyrna, Delaware
Dear Sir:
Please forgive me for not writing
sooner, but we have been very
busy training. When / do have the
opportunity to write a few lines
Mother" comes first. 1 know you
will understand.
1 received my first copy of The
Smyrna Times recently. AS you
can see, it took quite a long time
to reach me. But, old news is a
lot better than no news at all. 1
showed the paper to some of my
friends here in camp. They think
"Dribbles" is swell idea.
I wish 1 could tell you all about
my trip out here, and all about the
camp, but this would fill a book;
besides 1 do not have the time.
However, will try to give you
bit of an idea about the training
and just few other points about
this part of the world.
On the parade ground we have
Infantry drill, bayonet drill, shelter
tent pitching and physical train
ing. The most exciting day of the
week is Thursday when we hold
our parades. If the weather is
clear the band from Fort Lewis
plays for the parade to march by.
1t really makes me feel proud to
march with hundreds of men (sold-
iers) and to realize that 1 am a
small part of this great Army.
Every Friday we have hikes up into
the mountains with all of our field
equipment. I wish you could see
the fat fellows trying to keep up
with the battalion. After a few of
these ten to fifteen mile walks, they
are no longer fat. It's surprising
what the Army can do for you.
The Commanding Officer of this
camp is a Major. His name is
Major Macarthur. One day while
was talking to him, he asked me
where I lived. When 1 told him
Smyrna, Delaware he said that he
lived in Virginia, and that he had
passed through Smyrna on his way
home a few years ago.
The camp I am in isn't very
arge, but it is busy little place.
It is located near a small town call
I'd North Bend, up in the noun
.ains. The scenery is beautiful, but |
We have lot of rain. There are
Snow-topped mountains all around
he camp, and green trees and |
grass from the edge of camp, lead
ng up the slope. To the left of our
lamp is a creek formed from noun
ain streams. The water in the
'reek flows swiftly over large
'ocks. While on gaurd one night
t being moonlight could see the
Silhouette of the mountains, with
he low floating clouds near their
,eaks. 1t made me feel sort of
'omantic-if you know what 1
mean?
Out here we have training
schedule for each week of training.
They have classes on the nomencla-
ure of our rifle and the grenade.
Also classes on the use of the gas
mask and how to identify types of
,asses used during war time by
heir odor. Along with this we
AVE lectures from the Army doc
or on first-aid, health habits, etc.
There are a few fellows out here
rom Wilmington, Delaware and we
ak about Dear old Delaware"
.mong ourselves, wondering what
'ou are doing back home.
So far I have not been out of
amp, SO I don't know much about
he outside world in these parts. 1
xpect to be shipped to my new