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Military Letters, WWI As
found in old newsletters. |
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Updated Friday, March 05, 2010
| Moore, Harry
M.
Camp Lewis, Wash. June 7,
1918 To Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Ohlson Dear Friends, Well how are you making it these days? I suppose you are farming your place with all of the spare time when you're not in the office. I don't suppose I'll get back to Oacoma until after the war. I've passed all of the exams. There were about nine doctors and I was vaccinated in the arms two different times and have one more left to get. The first time I got a shot I fainted while marching. A couple of the boys carried me back to the barracks. I'm 1600 miles from home now. That's quite a ways. Suppose I will get some letters in the mail tomorrow as I haven't gotten any yet. I got my military uniform a couple of days ago. I saw Andrew Hansen, Vernie Kendell and Billie Mussman, but haven't seen Will Schatz yet. There were two or three of the boys in our crowd on the train who were sent home. A couple had bad teeth and one was too light - only weighed 110 pounds. Saw lots of country coming here. Went through the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Mountains and through a tunnel about two miles long and 5-600 feet high. Sure seemed funny to be riding underground on a train for two miles. The mountains are filled with trees as thick as they can stand. It seems as though there are enough soldiers in our camp to lick Germany. At night, the Infantry and Artillery are out drilling and the guns make so much noise that a person can't sleep till 11 or 12. Last night I heard two or three cannons. They sure make a ringing noise. We have to shave almost every day and have to take a bath three times a week and keep our beds neat all of the time. We are quarantined now, but a week from tomorrow we'll be out so we can go to Tacoma. About 12 miles from camp. The first week here I about froze but the last two days have been pretty warm. We have a YMCA here and they give us our writing material; all but stamps. I have almost quit using tobacco as you can't use it in the daytime anyway. Well I guess I had better close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, your friend as before, Yours truly,
Camp Kearney, Calif. July 21, 1918 Dear friend Alvena (Schatz), I should have written sooner, but have been very busy since coming to camp. Say, that picture of you and Zesta and May Brennan was very good. I don't expect to be here longer than this remaining week. I think we will leave here Monday. They gave us a tag with our name on it to sew on our barracks bag to be shipped. We were assigned to a gunner squadron yesterday. There are seven in a squad. Two of us have automatic rifles and we have tents big enough for just one person (about three feet high) and each have a little spade and gunner shell belts and our clothing. I have two pairs of wool trousers, one jacket of cotton, four shirts, wool and cotton, and two pair of shoes and toilet articles. I sure have about all I want to carry. I sure would liked to have seen your brother Willie when I was in camp. I was quarantined all the time I was there and could go only so far. I think Zesta told me Willie is in France. I expect to be there in a short time now. They are rushing us right through now. I've seen two shows since I've been in camp. Seems like I never find time to go. I had the measles and was in the hospital for two weeks. There are lots of airplanes flying here every day. Yesterday there was one flying very high and turned a somersault and all at once it turned six and sailed off. They come from San Diego to here. I have to shave so I will close for this time. Hope you can read this. I have to write on my knee with a thin tablet. Tell Carl, Lydia, Ruth and all "hello" for me. Best regards to you all. Your friend,
France Oct 23, 1918 Dear Mother and family, I'm well and getting along fine at this date and hope this letter will find you the same. Our company issued us coupons for Christmas packages and it must not weigh any more than three pounds. You can read the coupon then you will know the size to send. Send something that won't spoil. We are back at a rest camp after 20 days on the front. It is kind of hard luck when you have to write a letter on a piece of wrapping paper. Have you heard from Tom or Walter Powers lately? Where are they? I have not seen any of the boys from out there. In your package, send some Copenhagen and the rest of the things you can choose. Send what you think I will need over here. Tell Chris and Hattie and Bess and the bunch "Hello" for me, also love to you all. Your son |