TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 11, 1918 P. 1
Camp Balboa, Sept. 17th.
DEAR FOLKS AT HOME:
Will try and tell you something of my trip out here and what I have so far seen of navy life. Leaving Leslie we arrived at Little Rock 11:30 p.m, reported at recruiting station next morning at 10 o'clock. The officer told us (we numbered 23) we would leave that night at 8:30 for San Diego, Cal. I drew a long breath and told him all right.
We had a first-class Pullman from L.R. to Ft. Worth, but the rest of the way we had a second-class car and the boys made a rough house of it. They turned it into a gambling room and one boy on going broke had to sell his wrist watch to get a little change. After that he was out of the game.
The Red Cross met us at Ft. Worth, Dallas and El Paso, giving us cards, candy, gum and apples. While at El Paso some of our boys wanted to go to the border, and did go to the international bridge, where they were arrested and escorted to army headquarters. They soon explained who they were and were released.
I had thought of the plains of Western Texas, but they didn't look as I had expected. It had been so dry it was almost a desert. The mountains in Arizona and New Mexico certainly are a show. If I were going to try to tell you how they look I would refer you to a relief map.
I saw no country I liked until we reached California. This is the prettiest country I ever saw. You can see all kinds of flowers and fruits but the prettiest sight is the orange orchards. Oranges are about half-grown now. They sell here for ten or fifteen cents a dozen.
But back to the plains--the wind blows so much sand that one side of the telegraph poles is worn slick. I only passed the spurs of the Rockies, but I believe they are rightly named. They certainly are rocky. It is not uncommon to see clouds lower than the mountains.
Yesterday was examination day and I passed o.k. We were also vaccinated. Have just been to supper and I sure feel like I had been there. We have plenty of eats--green beans, pork, beef gravy, sausage, butter. loaf bread and pie. When an officer gives us an order we sho do hop.
Our clothes were assigned us this morning and we now have some new rags. We received five suits of clothes--three white and two blue--one cap, two hats, five suits of underwear, six handkerchiefs, six pair socks, two towels, one pair shoes, two dozen buttons, one package of needles, three spools of thread, two cakes of soap, yes, an overcoat and a rack to carry the outfit in. We have to be in bed at 9:50 o'clock, but we can turn in any time after 8 o'clock. When the bugle calls we sure have to hit the floor. If we didn't we might had ourselves carrying our cot up and down the street. There is a penalty for eating on your cot in the day time, as I use to test. As this is more than I usually write, guess I had better close. With love to you all, I am,
Your son,
WALTER S. COUCH.
U.S.N. Training Station, Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif.
NOTES: Walter Scott Couch was born in Archey, Arkansas on April 11, 1896 and died in Levelland, Texas on December 7, 1949. He is buried in the Levelland Municipal Cemetery in Levelland.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD.
Camp Balboa, Sept. 17th.
DEAR FOLKS AT HOME:
Will try and tell you something of my trip out here and what I have so far seen of navy life. Leaving Leslie we arrived at Little Rock 11:30 p.m, reported at recruiting station next morning at 10 o'clock. The officer told us (we numbered 23) we would leave that night at 8:30 for San Diego, Cal. I drew a long breath and told him all right.
We had a first-class Pullman from L.R. to Ft. Worth, but the rest of the way we had a second-class car and the boys made a rough house of it. They turned it into a gambling room and one boy on going broke had to sell his wrist watch to get a little change. After that he was out of the game.
The Red Cross met us at Ft. Worth, Dallas and El Paso, giving us cards, candy, gum and apples. While at El Paso some of our boys wanted to go to the border, and did go to the international bridge, where they were arrested and escorted to army headquarters. They soon explained who they were and were released.
I had thought of the plains of Western Texas, but they didn't look as I had expected. It had been so dry it was almost a desert. The mountains in Arizona and New Mexico certainly are a show. If I were going to try to tell you how they look I would refer you to a relief map.
I saw no country I liked until we reached California. This is the prettiest country I ever saw. You can see all kinds of flowers and fruits but the prettiest sight is the orange orchards. Oranges are about half-grown now. They sell here for ten or fifteen cents a dozen.
But back to the plains--the wind blows so much sand that one side of the telegraph poles is worn slick. I only passed the spurs of the Rockies, but I believe they are rightly named. They certainly are rocky. It is not uncommon to see clouds lower than the mountains.
Yesterday was examination day and I passed o.k. We were also vaccinated. Have just been to supper and I sure feel like I had been there. We have plenty of eats--green beans, pork, beef gravy, sausage, butter. loaf bread and pie. When an officer gives us an order we sho do hop.
Our clothes were assigned us this morning and we now have some new rags. We received five suits of clothes--three white and two blue--one cap, two hats, five suits of underwear, six handkerchiefs, six pair socks, two towels, one pair shoes, two dozen buttons, one package of needles, three spools of thread, two cakes of soap, yes, an overcoat and a rack to carry the outfit in. We have to be in bed at 9:50 o'clock, but we can turn in any time after 8 o'clock. When the bugle calls we sure have to hit the floor. If we didn't we might had ourselves carrying our cot up and down the street. There is a penalty for eating on your cot in the day time, as I use to test. As this is more than I usually write, guess I had better close. With love to you all, I am,
Your son,
WALTER S. COUCH.
U.S.N. Training Station, Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif.
NOTES: Walter Scott Couch was born in Archey, Arkansas on April 11, 1896 and died in Levelland, Texas on December 7, 1949. He is buried in the Levelland Municipal Cemetery in Levelland.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD.