TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JUDSONIA ADVANCE SEPTEMBER 19, 1919 P. 7
Co. 15, 3rd Regiment.
Camp Paul Jones, U. S. N. T. S.
Great Lakes, Ill., 9-3-17.
Mr. R. C. Mann,
I will endeavor to briefly outline our first week in the Navy’s detention camp.
We arrived at Camp Ross, which is the main detention camp, about 7 p.m. on the night of the 5th. We then assembled in company formation in one of the main streets where the boys were relieved of cigarettes chewing tobacco and other objectionables. After this we marched to the main barracks for muster and received our bedding.
Next day we were vaccinated in both arms. In the right for typhoid fever and in the left for smallpox.
Thursday and Friday we drilled.
Saturday morning we were assigned part of our clothing, including one suit of blues, four suits of underclothes, one wool sweater, hats, caps, boots, shoes, leggings, socks, handkerchiefs, and other small equipment.
Saturday afternoon we marched about three miles carrying our camp equipment, except tents, being transferred to Camp Paul Jones which is another detention camp but over on the lake shore.
Sunday morning we went to church and organized a bible class for our company, which is now Co. 15. Monday, 11th, Tuesday and Wednesday were days of hard drilling in company and battalion drills; also physical exercise drills. The physical drill is a beautiful one done in ten acts with sixteen counts to the act; this is performed with the use of the rifle.
Clemons was sick a few days but is feeling fine today. We like the navy fine. We have Y. M. C. A. where we can spend leisure hours, but so far they are few. We are to have an amateur boxing contest this afternoon and are to organize a foot ball team in our company.
Our eats are good. We have good meat and some kind of fruit each day. We had cantaloupe for breakfast.
Monday and Tuesday nights were intensely cold for us thin-blooded Southerners. The frost was heavy and we are about to get over our colds.
Most of the boys are doing nicely and all are anxious to get aboard ship but there is a rumor of us being transferred to Florida just as soon as our detention period is up, Sept. 25.
With best regards to our friends, we are,
Devoe and Clemons
NOTES: R. C. Mann is the editor of the newspaper. William Wesley DeVoe was born in Cottonwood, Kansas on October 17, 1891. He moved to White County Arkansas as a young boy. He moved to Colorado where he was a dairy farmer and businessman. He moved to California in 1967. He died on September 1, 1987 and is buried in the El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, California.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Co. 15, 3rd Regiment.
Camp Paul Jones, U. S. N. T. S.
Great Lakes, Ill., 9-3-17.
Mr. R. C. Mann,
I will endeavor to briefly outline our first week in the Navy’s detention camp.
We arrived at Camp Ross, which is the main detention camp, about 7 p.m. on the night of the 5th. We then assembled in company formation in one of the main streets where the boys were relieved of cigarettes chewing tobacco and other objectionables. After this we marched to the main barracks for muster and received our bedding.
Next day we were vaccinated in both arms. In the right for typhoid fever and in the left for smallpox.
Thursday and Friday we drilled.
Saturday morning we were assigned part of our clothing, including one suit of blues, four suits of underclothes, one wool sweater, hats, caps, boots, shoes, leggings, socks, handkerchiefs, and other small equipment.
Saturday afternoon we marched about three miles carrying our camp equipment, except tents, being transferred to Camp Paul Jones which is another detention camp but over on the lake shore.
Sunday morning we went to church and organized a bible class for our company, which is now Co. 15. Monday, 11th, Tuesday and Wednesday were days of hard drilling in company and battalion drills; also physical exercise drills. The physical drill is a beautiful one done in ten acts with sixteen counts to the act; this is performed with the use of the rifle.
Clemons was sick a few days but is feeling fine today. We like the navy fine. We have Y. M. C. A. where we can spend leisure hours, but so far they are few. We are to have an amateur boxing contest this afternoon and are to organize a foot ball team in our company.
Our eats are good. We have good meat and some kind of fruit each day. We had cantaloupe for breakfast.
Monday and Tuesday nights were intensely cold for us thin-blooded Southerners. The frost was heavy and we are about to get over our colds.
Most of the boys are doing nicely and all are anxious to get aboard ship but there is a rumor of us being transferred to Florida just as soon as our detention period is up, Sept. 25.
With best regards to our friends, we are,
Devoe and Clemons
NOTES: R. C. Mann is the editor of the newspaper. William Wesley DeVoe was born in Cottonwood, Kansas on October 17, 1891. He moved to White County Arkansas as a young boy. He moved to Colorado where he was a dairy farmer and businessman. He moved to California in 1967. He died on September 1, 1987 and is buried in the El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, California.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD