TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BAXTER BULLETIN MARCH 1, 1918 P. 1
Vancover Barracks,
Vancover, Wash.
Feb. 15, 1918
Dear Mr. Shira:
I thought possibly you and the people of Baxter county would like to know something about the army and army life. This cantonment has 5,000 men within it’s walls, mostly aviation men. Their mission here is, to get spruce for the manufacture of flying machines. The government has erected the largest cut-up plant in the world; it will require about 1,800 men to operate the mill every 24 hours. The government wants the best spruce obtainable therefore, out of 1,000 feet of lumber only 250 feet is good enough for aeroplanes. Every piece must be perfect; if there be a knot the size of a lead pencil it must come out and the rest of the piece can be used somewhere as some of the parts are the size of a pencil and half the length. It will require eight months to complete this work and as soon as it is done we will go straight to France.
To show you the spirit that prevails among the soldiers, this plant which was built by soldiers, was put up in 45 working days.
I wish to remind the boys of Baxter county that are in the next call and those who will be called later, of the vastness of the task ahead of us and to do the very best he can, and always be brave and obedient. The world looks to us as a child to its mother, and it is our duty to preserve that which all America holds higher, liberty, thereby, setting an example to all mankind and so as soon as all nations submit or are subdued to the good plans of Democracy, we will have an everlasting peace, and though I enlisted in Oklahoma, I want Baxter county to have the credit of having this soldier in the field, who is out to help down Prussianism. It was too bad about losing the transport, Tuscania, with those brave boys, and we hope that such an accident will never occur again.
There has been considerable sickness in the various camps, but the cause is laid to the extreme cold weather that has prevailed during the past two months, and we expect a change for the better with the coming of spring.
We live in tents and find them very comfortable. There are six men to the tent, which gives ample room for jig dancing, wrestling, and boxing. Of course the latter two sports are a little dangerous in such close quarters but they are frequently indulged in. A funny incident occurred in the next tent to us, a couple of boys were wrestling and one was accidentally thrown against the stove and now he is doing “Bunk Fatigue.” “Bunk Fatigue” is what we commonly call staying in bed. He is waiting for Uncle Sam to decide to make him another pair of trousers.
There is quite a lot of musical talent in the army and nearly every squadron has a jazz band of its own, and every night you can hear music in our section or another of the camps.
Perhaps it would interest you to know that in a squadron there are 150 men and six different kinds of squadrons viz, construction, service and supply. The first named does nothing but build hangers and look after the upkeep of the flying fields, the second is one and the only one which does any flying, it carries six fliers and a machine for every flier which is furnished with two liberty motors, and every day they are changed as one engine can only do one day’s work and then it must be completely overhauled. The supply squadron tends to all supplies for the aviation section. The climate of this section of the country is the most ideal I was ever in. It rains a great deal but it is warm and nice with the exception of one little snow and a temperature of 30 degree above, the thermometer has stood around 50 or 60.
I’d better signoff or the Sergeant will give me Kitchen Police for not standing retreat.
Hoping this finds the health of Baxter county people very good.
Jewel M. Lantz
NOTES
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Vancover Barracks,
Vancover, Wash.
Feb. 15, 1918
Dear Mr. Shira:
I thought possibly you and the people of Baxter county would like to know something about the army and army life. This cantonment has 5,000 men within it’s walls, mostly aviation men. Their mission here is, to get spruce for the manufacture of flying machines. The government has erected the largest cut-up plant in the world; it will require about 1,800 men to operate the mill every 24 hours. The government wants the best spruce obtainable therefore, out of 1,000 feet of lumber only 250 feet is good enough for aeroplanes. Every piece must be perfect; if there be a knot the size of a lead pencil it must come out and the rest of the piece can be used somewhere as some of the parts are the size of a pencil and half the length. It will require eight months to complete this work and as soon as it is done we will go straight to France.
To show you the spirit that prevails among the soldiers, this plant which was built by soldiers, was put up in 45 working days.
I wish to remind the boys of Baxter county that are in the next call and those who will be called later, of the vastness of the task ahead of us and to do the very best he can, and always be brave and obedient. The world looks to us as a child to its mother, and it is our duty to preserve that which all America holds higher, liberty, thereby, setting an example to all mankind and so as soon as all nations submit or are subdued to the good plans of Democracy, we will have an everlasting peace, and though I enlisted in Oklahoma, I want Baxter county to have the credit of having this soldier in the field, who is out to help down Prussianism. It was too bad about losing the transport, Tuscania, with those brave boys, and we hope that such an accident will never occur again.
There has been considerable sickness in the various camps, but the cause is laid to the extreme cold weather that has prevailed during the past two months, and we expect a change for the better with the coming of spring.
We live in tents and find them very comfortable. There are six men to the tent, which gives ample room for jig dancing, wrestling, and boxing. Of course the latter two sports are a little dangerous in such close quarters but they are frequently indulged in. A funny incident occurred in the next tent to us, a couple of boys were wrestling and one was accidentally thrown against the stove and now he is doing “Bunk Fatigue.” “Bunk Fatigue” is what we commonly call staying in bed. He is waiting for Uncle Sam to decide to make him another pair of trousers.
There is quite a lot of musical talent in the army and nearly every squadron has a jazz band of its own, and every night you can hear music in our section or another of the camps.
Perhaps it would interest you to know that in a squadron there are 150 men and six different kinds of squadrons viz, construction, service and supply. The first named does nothing but build hangers and look after the upkeep of the flying fields, the second is one and the only one which does any flying, it carries six fliers and a machine for every flier which is furnished with two liberty motors, and every day they are changed as one engine can only do one day’s work and then it must be completely overhauled. The supply squadron tends to all supplies for the aviation section. The climate of this section of the country is the most ideal I was ever in. It rains a great deal but it is warm and nice with the exception of one little snow and a temperature of 30 degree above, the thermometer has stood around 50 or 60.
I’d better signoff or the Sergeant will give me Kitchen Police for not standing retreat.
Hoping this finds the health of Baxter county people very good.
Jewel M. Lantz
NOTES
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD