TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JUDSONIA ADVANCE JULY 24, 1918 P. 4
Military Detachment
A.&.M. College, Miss.
July 19, 1918
A few lines to let you know what I have learned about Army life.
I like this place fine. I consider myself lucky in getting to come here. There are about 600 men here of which about 350 are from Arkansas. They have several branches here.
We have two months here and are recommended for sergeants. If wefail in examinations we are put back and if we are exceedingly good we are to be sent to Officers Training Camps for Second Lieutenants up.
This is one of the largest schools in the South. It is a three million dollar institution. There are about 700 girls here taking Normal training but some of them are gone now and they will most all be gone when we get out of quarantine (just my luck)
Our eats are great. We have sweet milk most every meal. They have 150 cows, Jerseys. I don’t say a word about what they have on the table, I just grab as soon as the officers say eat. We march at attention to thetable, to work, and every place we go.
I am going to take auto mechanic training. There are not very many here and they are short in France so I guess I will go to France when school is over. The only issue short leave here, only 48 hours, and I can’t get home and back in that time. So if I don’t get back tell all my friends hello, good luck, and God bless them. I mean before I go to France. I will come back with the boys, I think when we get Old Glory up in Berlin and she is going up.
I have had my first shot and am feeling fine now. I go to bed at 9:30 every night and up at 5:30, and I am always ready to go to bed when the time comes.
They issued clothing today. It took all day. We only drilled about one hour today, but we drilled five or six hours yesterday. We will only drill about three hours when we get into school and school about eight hours. We have aeroplanes (Payne College is just 11 miles, over the college most every day doing stunts, but when we are on the drill ground we can’t watch them or we will get two hours extra duty on the rock pile. The drill I got in the Home Guards sure helps me and I feel I owe Capt. Erganbright many, many thanks for his kindness in giving his time to drilling us. I sure want to hear of the Judsonia Home Guard staying in the front.
I have Lieutenant Eps Brown from Des Arc. He is supposed to be the best drill lieutenant in the South. He sure is strict. If you move your hand and he doesn’t tell you to he will give you double quick time about three times as far as you feel like running. However, I have never been called down yet, but I am knocking on wood now.
The Y.M.C.A. sure is the greatest thing in the Army and the Red Cross too, but the “Y” seems like home sweet home to me. I have two fine chums from Arkansas. Our bunks are in the same barracks. I slept on an iron cot the first night with one Army blanket on it.
Well, it is about time for mess, so keep the home fires burning.
Your friend,
PAUL DULIN.
NOTES: Paul Rice Dulin was born on May 29, 1895 in Judsonia, Arkansas and died on November 21, 1960 in Judsonia. He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Corp. serving in 396 Co. MTC during World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Military Detachment
A.&.M. College, Miss.
July 19, 1918
A few lines to let you know what I have learned about Army life.
I like this place fine. I consider myself lucky in getting to come here. There are about 600 men here of which about 350 are from Arkansas. They have several branches here.
We have two months here and are recommended for sergeants. If wefail in examinations we are put back and if we are exceedingly good we are to be sent to Officers Training Camps for Second Lieutenants up.
This is one of the largest schools in the South. It is a three million dollar institution. There are about 700 girls here taking Normal training but some of them are gone now and they will most all be gone when we get out of quarantine (just my luck)
Our eats are great. We have sweet milk most every meal. They have 150 cows, Jerseys. I don’t say a word about what they have on the table, I just grab as soon as the officers say eat. We march at attention to thetable, to work, and every place we go.
I am going to take auto mechanic training. There are not very many here and they are short in France so I guess I will go to France when school is over. The only issue short leave here, only 48 hours, and I can’t get home and back in that time. So if I don’t get back tell all my friends hello, good luck, and God bless them. I mean before I go to France. I will come back with the boys, I think when we get Old Glory up in Berlin and she is going up.
I have had my first shot and am feeling fine now. I go to bed at 9:30 every night and up at 5:30, and I am always ready to go to bed when the time comes.
They issued clothing today. It took all day. We only drilled about one hour today, but we drilled five or six hours yesterday. We will only drill about three hours when we get into school and school about eight hours. We have aeroplanes (Payne College is just 11 miles, over the college most every day doing stunts, but when we are on the drill ground we can’t watch them or we will get two hours extra duty on the rock pile. The drill I got in the Home Guards sure helps me and I feel I owe Capt. Erganbright many, many thanks for his kindness in giving his time to drilling us. I sure want to hear of the Judsonia Home Guard staying in the front.
I have Lieutenant Eps Brown from Des Arc. He is supposed to be the best drill lieutenant in the South. He sure is strict. If you move your hand and he doesn’t tell you to he will give you double quick time about three times as far as you feel like running. However, I have never been called down yet, but I am knocking on wood now.
The Y.M.C.A. sure is the greatest thing in the Army and the Red Cross too, but the “Y” seems like home sweet home to me. I have two fine chums from Arkansas. Our bunks are in the same barracks. I slept on an iron cot the first night with one Army blanket on it.
Well, it is about time for mess, so keep the home fires burning.
Your friend,
PAUL DULIN.
NOTES: Paul Rice Dulin was born on May 29, 1895 in Judsonia, Arkansas and died on November 21, 1960 in Judsonia. He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Corp. serving in 396 Co. MTC during World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON