TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEWITT ENTERPRISE SEPTEMBER 19, 1918 P. 1
18th Co., 5th Tr. Ba.
Camp Pike, Ark.
Dear Mrs. Bowers:
Only a few lines to let you hear how I am getting along in the army. I have been transferred to the 18th Co., 5th Tr. Ba. I am well satisfied with army life so far; it is not as hard as some say it is. The army life is all right if you do right. The first thing they ask you when you get here is, “Where you from, boys?” All the boys here seem like brothers together. They get along fine. All you see here is soldier boys. I have seen enough boys here to last me a long time. If Old Kaiser Bill could see all the men Uncle Sammie has here in the training camps he would quit fighting; but if he don’t stop we will get to shave him yet. But I hope I will be the fellow to cut his long mustache off.
The funniest thing in the army is to see all the men washing their clothes. This war will make men of some boys and tramps of others. One thing men will know how to do will be to cook beans and wash clothes. We have to work each our share in the kitchen. We have all the food we want to eat. We don’t know what is a meatless and wheatless and beanless day. I have eaten enough beans so that I think I will be a sun bean by the time the war is over.
The nicest part about the camp is the Rifle Range. You can go and pick the bullets up by the handful where they shoot against the mountain. They started drilling me Monday morning. I drill from six to eight hours a day. Drill sure makes you very sore the first few days, but you get used to it.
One thing I can’t praise enough is the Y.M.C.A. because it reminds us boys of home. You can go in the Y at any time and see men writing to home folks. We also, have preaching twice a week and Sunday school on Sunday, so even if I am in the army anyway I will get to go to Sunday school. So, fellows at home, whenever you help the Y.M.C.A. you are helping a good cause.
I don’t know how long we will get to stay here, but hope they will leave us here a little longer. The only way a fellow can get along in the army is to do right, and then he will get along fine. I think every man ought to be able to serve his nation in a good cause like we are fighting for.
I will close for this time and ask you to give the editor of the DeWitt paper, if you please.
Your friend,
Joseph G. Girerd
NOTES: He is writing from Camp Pike to his Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Verne Bowers. His mother was a native of Belgium and his father was born in France. He also has a brother in the service. He has relatives in both Belgium and France.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
18th Co., 5th Tr. Ba.
Camp Pike, Ark.
Dear Mrs. Bowers:
Only a few lines to let you hear how I am getting along in the army. I have been transferred to the 18th Co., 5th Tr. Ba. I am well satisfied with army life so far; it is not as hard as some say it is. The army life is all right if you do right. The first thing they ask you when you get here is, “Where you from, boys?” All the boys here seem like brothers together. They get along fine. All you see here is soldier boys. I have seen enough boys here to last me a long time. If Old Kaiser Bill could see all the men Uncle Sammie has here in the training camps he would quit fighting; but if he don’t stop we will get to shave him yet. But I hope I will be the fellow to cut his long mustache off.
The funniest thing in the army is to see all the men washing their clothes. This war will make men of some boys and tramps of others. One thing men will know how to do will be to cook beans and wash clothes. We have to work each our share in the kitchen. We have all the food we want to eat. We don’t know what is a meatless and wheatless and beanless day. I have eaten enough beans so that I think I will be a sun bean by the time the war is over.
The nicest part about the camp is the Rifle Range. You can go and pick the bullets up by the handful where they shoot against the mountain. They started drilling me Monday morning. I drill from six to eight hours a day. Drill sure makes you very sore the first few days, but you get used to it.
One thing I can’t praise enough is the Y.M.C.A. because it reminds us boys of home. You can go in the Y at any time and see men writing to home folks. We also, have preaching twice a week and Sunday school on Sunday, so even if I am in the army anyway I will get to go to Sunday school. So, fellows at home, whenever you help the Y.M.C.A. you are helping a good cause.
I don’t know how long we will get to stay here, but hope they will leave us here a little longer. The only way a fellow can get along in the army is to do right, and then he will get along fine. I think every man ought to be able to serve his nation in a good cause like we are fighting for.
I will close for this time and ask you to give the editor of the DeWitt paper, if you please.
Your friend,
Joseph G. Girerd
NOTES: He is writing from Camp Pike to his Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Verne Bowers. His mother was a native of Belgium and his father was born in France. He also has a brother in the service. He has relatives in both Belgium and France.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD