TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JUDSONIA ADVANCE OCTOBER 24, 1917 P. 1
Ft. Brady, Mich.
Saulte Ste. Marie is a nice little place, about 20,000 population. It’s awful cold up here now. Colder than it ever gets in Arkansas. The care of the Locks and the International Bridge is in our hands. You would be amazed at the stupendousness of the shipping which passes through the Locks. I was on guard last night and counted 115 ships, anyone of which could carry Judsonia away at one load, then some.
You see all the shipping that goes through here is munitions and wheat, there has been one or two attempts to destroy the Locks by German suspects.
The Guard is done under the same conditions, in regard to strictness, as if we were at the front. The battalion commander informed us that the punishment for sleeping on post was, to be a target for the firing squad.
The 33rd Michigan Regiment of the Militia was here but I guess they couldn’t fill the bill. Anyway they sent’em to the “Sunny South,” to drill and stuck a handful of Regulars in their place to do the hardest bit a soldier can do, walking a lonesome post in the most severe climate on earth. I believe I would as lief be in the first line trenches in France.
But I am glad to get out of the recruit class and do some real soldiering.
There are a lot of deer up here and Moose too. Am going to get me one before winter is over.
NOTE: This is a partial letter written by Glenn Cole to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. M. L. Cole.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Ft. Brady, Mich.
Saulte Ste. Marie is a nice little place, about 20,000 population. It’s awful cold up here now. Colder than it ever gets in Arkansas. The care of the Locks and the International Bridge is in our hands. You would be amazed at the stupendousness of the shipping which passes through the Locks. I was on guard last night and counted 115 ships, anyone of which could carry Judsonia away at one load, then some.
You see all the shipping that goes through here is munitions and wheat, there has been one or two attempts to destroy the Locks by German suspects.
The Guard is done under the same conditions, in regard to strictness, as if we were at the front. The battalion commander informed us that the punishment for sleeping on post was, to be a target for the firing squad.
The 33rd Michigan Regiment of the Militia was here but I guess they couldn’t fill the bill. Anyway they sent’em to the “Sunny South,” to drill and stuck a handful of Regulars in their place to do the hardest bit a soldier can do, walking a lonesome post in the most severe climate on earth. I believe I would as lief be in the first line trenches in France.
But I am glad to get out of the recruit class and do some real soldiering.
There are a lot of deer up here and Moose too. Am going to get me one before winter is over.
NOTE: This is a partial letter written by Glenn Cole to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. M. L. Cole.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD