TRANSCRIBED FROM SHARP COUNTY RECORD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1918, P. 4
Editor Record:
Please allow me a few lines to the people of Sharp county.
I have been here since July 7th, and it is a great life at Camp Shelby. I came down with a large crowd of boys from Independence county, and although we are separated now, all the boys are each other’s friend when pinned down to the real thing.
We left Batesville July 5th and took a train south until we reached Monroe, La. While there for a few minutes some of the boys who loved booze got a few drinks and felt pretty good in a little while. I saw some fine country in Louisiana. The cane and cotton crops were fine, and the land was mostly level. As we neared the Mississippi river bottoms we saw large corn fields, which looked good too.
The next stop after leaving Monroe was at Vicksburg, where we crossed the great Mississippi river. The next stop was at Jackson, where we got our first square meal after leaving Batesville, after which we pulled on for the camp. Camp Shelby is situated about 11 miles south of Hattiesburg, and we reached her about 12:30 at night, and ate our first supper in the army. After this we were issued a cot and a couple of blankets and took our first nap. When daylight came I knew not which way was home. I was in quarantine for 21 day, which is almost like being in jail, I imagine. Afterward I was transferred into the main camp, where I enjoy life.
We are busy down here getting ready for our share of the Huns, and when the Camp Shelby boys get there they are going “over the top” singing “The Old Gray Mare is Not What She Used To Be.” You can hear the non commissioned officers on every corner of the field counting one, two, three, four. That means the boys must get some “pep” in their work, but we don’t need the encouragement. We are glad to get out on hikes or skirmishes so we can see something new. We also enjoy being on the combat range firing our rifles. We can Imagine we are killing the Huns, as they killed the poor Belgians.
There is another thing I have learned to do down here, and that is to wash my own clothes. A brush, bucket and soap is all the equipment I need. The woman who happens to get a good soldier will get a good husband, and I am not trying to fool any good Sharp county girl, either.
I wish all the people happiness and success.
Homer West.
Camp Shelby, Miss.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY JORDAN HOLYFIELD
Editor Record:
Please allow me a few lines to the people of Sharp county.
I have been here since July 7th, and it is a great life at Camp Shelby. I came down with a large crowd of boys from Independence county, and although we are separated now, all the boys are each other’s friend when pinned down to the real thing.
We left Batesville July 5th and took a train south until we reached Monroe, La. While there for a few minutes some of the boys who loved booze got a few drinks and felt pretty good in a little while. I saw some fine country in Louisiana. The cane and cotton crops were fine, and the land was mostly level. As we neared the Mississippi river bottoms we saw large corn fields, which looked good too.
The next stop after leaving Monroe was at Vicksburg, where we crossed the great Mississippi river. The next stop was at Jackson, where we got our first square meal after leaving Batesville, after which we pulled on for the camp. Camp Shelby is situated about 11 miles south of Hattiesburg, and we reached her about 12:30 at night, and ate our first supper in the army. After this we were issued a cot and a couple of blankets and took our first nap. When daylight came I knew not which way was home. I was in quarantine for 21 day, which is almost like being in jail, I imagine. Afterward I was transferred into the main camp, where I enjoy life.
We are busy down here getting ready for our share of the Huns, and when the Camp Shelby boys get there they are going “over the top” singing “The Old Gray Mare is Not What She Used To Be.” You can hear the non commissioned officers on every corner of the field counting one, two, three, four. That means the boys must get some “pep” in their work, but we don’t need the encouragement. We are glad to get out on hikes or skirmishes so we can see something new. We also enjoy being on the combat range firing our rifles. We can Imagine we are killing the Huns, as they killed the poor Belgians.
There is another thing I have learned to do down here, and that is to wash my own clothes. A brush, bucket and soap is all the equipment I need. The woman who happens to get a good soldier will get a good husband, and I am not trying to fool any good Sharp county girl, either.
I wish all the people happiness and success.
Homer West.
Camp Shelby, Miss.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY JORDAN HOLYFIELD