TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS AUGUST 2, 1918 P. 6
Dear Father and Mother:
I am O.K. We had a nice trip down here. They met us at every station and the Red Cross ladies gave us plenty to eat. There was some crowd at Bakerfield to see us away. We go here at 12 p.m. and had lunch and went to bed. We are to go to bed at 10 p.m. and get up at 5 a.m.
We will get our uniforms in the morning and then we will be real soldiers.
Suppose you are having a fine time to-day the Fourth. Every day is alike to us as we are under quarantine and can't leave the camp for three weeks yet.
I like the army life so far. It would be good for any one after they get used to it. They sure will be tough and clean. We have to shave at least three times a week.
We have a good time playing base ball and foot ball, the band plays every evening. I am so stiff and sore that I can't hardly stand for my clothes to touch me. They make us take off our clothes except our trousers. We run, jump and play leap frog. One guy didn't get over me so we went to the ground and I am all skinned up. Broke the crystal in my watch and am sending it home.
There is 60,000 of us here, all kinds white, black, large, small, good and bad.
This is sure a fine climate here. We keep under two blankets every night The days are great. We are six miles from the ocean, and we get that good ocean breeze.
Of course we can't tell, but there is some talk of us going to Kan. or Okla. the first of September. Will let you know if we come anywhere in that part of the old land.
As ever,
Will.
NOTES: Will Clark was writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Clark of Goshen, Arkansas. He was stationed at Camp Kearny in California.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Father and Mother:
I am O.K. We had a nice trip down here. They met us at every station and the Red Cross ladies gave us plenty to eat. There was some crowd at Bakerfield to see us away. We go here at 12 p.m. and had lunch and went to bed. We are to go to bed at 10 p.m. and get up at 5 a.m.
We will get our uniforms in the morning and then we will be real soldiers.
Suppose you are having a fine time to-day the Fourth. Every day is alike to us as we are under quarantine and can't leave the camp for three weeks yet.
I like the army life so far. It would be good for any one after they get used to it. They sure will be tough and clean. We have to shave at least three times a week.
We have a good time playing base ball and foot ball, the band plays every evening. I am so stiff and sore that I can't hardly stand for my clothes to touch me. They make us take off our clothes except our trousers. We run, jump and play leap frog. One guy didn't get over me so we went to the ground and I am all skinned up. Broke the crystal in my watch and am sending it home.
There is 60,000 of us here, all kinds white, black, large, small, good and bad.
This is sure a fine climate here. We keep under two blankets every night The days are great. We are six miles from the ocean, and we get that good ocean breeze.
Of course we can't tell, but there is some talk of us going to Kan. or Okla. the first of September. Will let you know if we come anywhere in that part of the old land.
As ever,
Will.
NOTES: Will Clark was writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Clark of Goshen, Arkansas. He was stationed at Camp Kearny in California.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD