Elda Has A Job

Letter in an envelope "The Salvation Army, Greene Park, Camp Lewis, Washington"

To:  Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

Postmarked October 15, 1918

 

Camp Lewis

Oct. 13, 1918

Dearest Mother & All,

Your dear letter came today and am attempting to answer it immediately, for if I put it off at all I am apt to put it off too long.

I am sure getting anxious to see you all again.  Seems like ten years since I was home.  The news these days sure looks good tho doesn't it and if they keep up the good work I think we will soon all be home again.  But one thing is sure we don't want to come home to stay until old Kaiser Bill & his infamous brood are sizzling on the coals in the hottest corner of Hell.  Gosh but won't that be a joyful day!  I'll be so darn glad to get back to civil life that I don't believe I'll have sense enough to wait for a train.  Elda says she feels the same way.  We are sure enjoying fine health and she likes her work better all the time.  I am writing this at one of the Salvation Army Headquarters while waiting for her to come off work.

How is the weather back there now?  It has been raining here for about a week now but yesterday and today have been pretty good.

We did not have the regular Saturday morning inspection yesterday morning but instead went out and listened to a program in celebration of Columbus Day.  To the lusty playing of two brass bands, the whole Depot Brigade assembled on the baseball field, marching in long columns from all sided, in perfect order keeping step to the music.  It was sure a grand sight. The program consisted of the reading of President Wilson's 4th Liberty Loan speech followed by a quartetto song furnished by the Field Artillery.

Then a very distinguished minister addressed us by the name of Reverend Freeman of Minnesota, and when he had finished I believe every man in that audience felt a deeper thrill of the true American spirit and was prouder than before that he was living under that beautiful starry banner of ours.

 Elda and I are saving our nickels these days for that said trip home which we hope we shall be able to make not later than Thanksgiving.

 I am afraid you won't know me as I am again wearing a hideous pompadour haircut as an order has come out stating that the hair must not be worn more than an inch long on any part of the head. I suppose when cold weather comes we will have to have it all cut off.  I look like a monkey for sure now.

Glad to see that you have so much nice fruit this year.  Wish we were there to enjoy some of it.  Perhaps we will be soon.

 Saw Ole and Roy yesterday.  They are getting along fine and dandy.  There is talk of them going to Siberia.  Gee, I hope not.

 Well dear ones it is about time for Elda to get thru work so I'll stop for this time.

 Write soon again to your loving kids.

 

Elda & Fred

 

Tell some of the kids to write to us if they have time.