Camp Lewis
June 9, 1918
Dearest Mother & the rest
This is Sunday once more and this sure is a dreary old place
on Sunday. We are beginning to get used
to the routine of it by this time but one thing is certain, my mother, how much
a fellow appreciates home before he came here,
he will certainly appreciate it more than that when he gets back; not
that this is such a terribly disagreeable place to stay but it gets so
monotonous seeing the same things day after day, week in and week out. But we are all in good health and are
picking up the drill work quite rapidly and they say that we are doing fine.
We are still in quarantine & will be for a couple of
weeks yet. All new men are kept in
quarantine for 21 days, until they have been thoroughly vaccinated. We are vaccinated once for smallpox in the
left arm (and mine has grown to be some looking sore by this time too) and
three times in the right arm for typhoid coming a week apart and they sure make
you feel sick for a while as well as stiffening your right arm up until you can
hardly put on your coat.
Although we are quarantined we still have considerable
liberty. That is we can go anyplace
within the Depot Brigade, and there are several YMCA's as well as a picture
show to go to so it isn't so bad as it might be.
They didn't drill us much last week but gave us several
lectures on contagious diseases and how to prevent them. They certainly make the fellows keep clean
here, and it's a fine thing for some of them.
I received your dear letter yesterday and was sure tickled
to get it and to know everything is alright at home. About that song, if it isn't too much trouble
I wish you would please send it to me as soon as possible, but don't register
it as I can't get it then until I get out of quarantine but be sure to write
the address very plainly and also write your return address on it.
If you looked at that statement from the bank I suppose you
noticed that my balance there was rather low.
Now as far as I am concerned myself I can get along fine,
but I have a little plan in mind and I don't know how to explain it so you will
see it as I do. You have been aware for
a long time that Elda and I are engaged and were to have been married this
spring but this beastly war upset our plans as it has done for so many other
young people as well as old ones.
You know how hard it is to be separated from those who are
so dear to you and I think the world of her as I know she does of me.
A good many of the soldiers have their wives here near the
camp so that can go home nearly every night and on Saturdays can go home at
noon and stay until Sunday night.
I got a letter from Elda the other day and she said she
simply couldn't stand it at home and wanted to come down here so badly and I
sure hope I can have her come. She said
that her mother would furnish her all the clothes she needs and that her Dad
would pay her ticket down here.
Her mother intends to come with her as far as Portland and I
am to meet them there as soon as I can get out of quarantine.
Now that would all be very fine but I don't like the idea of
letting them sacrifice so much and so little.
I am sorry that I have been unable to save any more than I did last
winter but I have a hundred and fifty dollars in Liberty Bonds which would be
very handy at this time. I wondered if
it would be possible for you to help me out a little in this matter. I would like to have about a hundred ($100)
if possible. If you don't feel that you could give it to me outright I can let
you have my $100 Liberty bond for security for I think I shall be able to pay
it back before so very long. I hope you
can do this for me for you know a fellow doesn't get any too much happiness out
of this military life anyway and it means so much to Elda and me. Please send it by money order as soon as possible, but if you can't let me know so I
can make other arrangements. Do not send
a check as it is almost impossible to get them cashed here.
Well I suppose you think I am a pretty good beggar by this
time, but I have spoken the truth and I have spoken as plainly as I could and I
hope I am not asking anything foolish or unreasonable and that I may hear from
you very soon. I am with a world of love
to you all.
Your faithful son,
Fred
P.S. Please send the song as soon as you can for I am very
anxious to see it.
Saw Martin Peterson and Joe Riley and Lester Riley the other
day. Old Martin looks as ornery as ever.
16th Co. 4 Bn. 166 Depot Brigade
Camp Lewis Washinton
Comments:
His "Dear Mother & the rest" is an interesting
salutation.
I don't know what the "song" is that he refers
to. The handwriting seems very clear in
both places it is mentioned.
Like young people of every generation, they beg parents for
funds to start their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment