TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEVADA COUNTY PICAYUNE MAY 16, 1918 P. 12
LETTER FROM TRACY H. BLACK
Dear Friends,
I have heard from many of you and this I appreciate very much. Letters form the only link with the fighters past life.
Eagerly every sailor waits and the gladness or sorrow of a week may depend on a bit of scribbled paper. 'Tis true that I haven't been on the water very much, but to see how glad a sailor is made when he hears from home or some friend while still in his own country, proves that a letter has a real value on the high seas or abroad. When companies are lined up for the distribution of the mail, it is noticed that some receive great quantities of mail while some never get any at all. Of course this is embarrassing for anyone, and makes him feel as though he is outclassed.
I have been in the Navy nearly five months and have seen and observed quite a few things--many more than I can write, but will give a brief view of my experiences. On the 7th day of December I enlisted at Little Rock and from there I was sent to the naval training station at Great Lakes, Ill. I found Great Lakes to be more homely than I expected, at the same time many things were entirely new to me. The worse thing that I found to contend with was the cold. I think this is the cause of me having meningitis. A great number of boys suffered from this and the greater number from the South. Eighty per cent of these survived while some were left in critical conditions.
The medical attention throughout the station seemed to be good. We had plenty of clothing, and plenty to eat and most of the time we had comfortable quarters. Our first training was drilling, and this lasted about 3 weeks and from then on we worked--most of the time shoveling snow and coal.
Our drilling was done on the inside of a drill hall, which was more comfortable than at times, our barracks. We were never rushed through our work, neither were we ever given more work than we could do. Seven hours per day is as much as we ever put in.
We seamen were granted 12 hours liberty per week, either on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Many of us spent this time at the different clubs which are provided in Chicago and the surrounding towns about Great Lakes, while some after forming acquaintances, visited homes. Many of us went to church in town when opportunity offered itself. The sailors are never without some place to go to and are always met with a hearty welcome.
The clubs are doing a great good. They furnish most every kind of amusement, and are highly appreciated by the soldiers and sailors. For the sailors, soldiers, and myself, I wish to thank those who have already given aid to this work. I know some who have already done so and I can assure you that you are certainly remembered by me.
The Red Cross holds a very, very warm place in the hearts of the sailors. This organization has done more in donating clothing supplies than any other. The Red Cross trains and ships are common in the East. The Y M.C.A. stands first in providing devotional exercises. I have found nice Y M.C.A. buildings in every station that I have been in. They are kept open from early 'till 9 o'clock at night. At these buildings we find plenty of writing material and nice places to write. A phonograph is placed on the stand for our entertainment. Magazines and books are at our access.
At Great Lakes the Y.M.C.A. sends men to the different barracks on Sunday at 9 o'clock to act as our Sunday School teachers and at 10 o'clock we were compelled to go to church.
From Great Lakes there were 500 of us to leave for Philadelphia, but we were only kept there three days and then we were sent to Hampton Roads, Va. This place is more like a city than any. 'Tis very attractive. It has its street car lines. Hampton Roads is a new name for the old historic Jamestown. Some of the old historic marks are still seen. The buildings which were erected during the Jamestown Exposition, are now used by the Navy.
While I was at home I was asked what a soldier or sailor would appreciate most and are allowed to have. Below I have given a list of some things which they are allowed to have after the three months training:
Candy (small pack at a time,) kodak pictures (easy to keep), hdkfs, (with full name or initial) gum (only one slip in letter is common), polishing kits, soap cases, trench mirrors, tooth paste and brushes, home or county papers, stamps (hard to get at times), poodle bags, comfort kits.
Tracy H. Black,
U.S.S. Rhode Island,
New York,
Care Postmaster.
NOTES: Tracy Harry Black was born in Bluff City, Arkansas on February 19,1894 and died in North Little Rock, Arkansas on August 20, 1970. He is buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in Malvern, Arkansas. He enlisted on December 7, 1917 and died on December 24, 1918.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
LETTER FROM TRACY H. BLACK
Dear Friends,
I have heard from many of you and this I appreciate very much. Letters form the only link with the fighters past life.
Eagerly every sailor waits and the gladness or sorrow of a week may depend on a bit of scribbled paper. 'Tis true that I haven't been on the water very much, but to see how glad a sailor is made when he hears from home or some friend while still in his own country, proves that a letter has a real value on the high seas or abroad. When companies are lined up for the distribution of the mail, it is noticed that some receive great quantities of mail while some never get any at all. Of course this is embarrassing for anyone, and makes him feel as though he is outclassed.
I have been in the Navy nearly five months and have seen and observed quite a few things--many more than I can write, but will give a brief view of my experiences. On the 7th day of December I enlisted at Little Rock and from there I was sent to the naval training station at Great Lakes, Ill. I found Great Lakes to be more homely than I expected, at the same time many things were entirely new to me. The worse thing that I found to contend with was the cold. I think this is the cause of me having meningitis. A great number of boys suffered from this and the greater number from the South. Eighty per cent of these survived while some were left in critical conditions.
The medical attention throughout the station seemed to be good. We had plenty of clothing, and plenty to eat and most of the time we had comfortable quarters. Our first training was drilling, and this lasted about 3 weeks and from then on we worked--most of the time shoveling snow and coal.
Our drilling was done on the inside of a drill hall, which was more comfortable than at times, our barracks. We were never rushed through our work, neither were we ever given more work than we could do. Seven hours per day is as much as we ever put in.
We seamen were granted 12 hours liberty per week, either on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Many of us spent this time at the different clubs which are provided in Chicago and the surrounding towns about Great Lakes, while some after forming acquaintances, visited homes. Many of us went to church in town when opportunity offered itself. The sailors are never without some place to go to and are always met with a hearty welcome.
The clubs are doing a great good. They furnish most every kind of amusement, and are highly appreciated by the soldiers and sailors. For the sailors, soldiers, and myself, I wish to thank those who have already given aid to this work. I know some who have already done so and I can assure you that you are certainly remembered by me.
The Red Cross holds a very, very warm place in the hearts of the sailors. This organization has done more in donating clothing supplies than any other. The Red Cross trains and ships are common in the East. The Y M.C.A. stands first in providing devotional exercises. I have found nice Y M.C.A. buildings in every station that I have been in. They are kept open from early 'till 9 o'clock at night. At these buildings we find plenty of writing material and nice places to write. A phonograph is placed on the stand for our entertainment. Magazines and books are at our access.
At Great Lakes the Y.M.C.A. sends men to the different barracks on Sunday at 9 o'clock to act as our Sunday School teachers and at 10 o'clock we were compelled to go to church.
From Great Lakes there were 500 of us to leave for Philadelphia, but we were only kept there three days and then we were sent to Hampton Roads, Va. This place is more like a city than any. 'Tis very attractive. It has its street car lines. Hampton Roads is a new name for the old historic Jamestown. Some of the old historic marks are still seen. The buildings which were erected during the Jamestown Exposition, are now used by the Navy.
While I was at home I was asked what a soldier or sailor would appreciate most and are allowed to have. Below I have given a list of some things which they are allowed to have after the three months training:
Candy (small pack at a time,) kodak pictures (easy to keep), hdkfs, (with full name or initial) gum (only one slip in letter is common), polishing kits, soap cases, trench mirrors, tooth paste and brushes, home or county papers, stamps (hard to get at times), poodle bags, comfort kits.
Tracy H. Black,
U.S.S. Rhode Island,
New York,
Care Postmaster.
NOTES: Tracy Harry Black was born in Bluff City, Arkansas on February 19,1894 and died in North Little Rock, Arkansas on August 20, 1970. He is buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in Malvern, Arkansas. He enlisted on December 7, 1917 and died on December 24, 1918.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD