TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MALVERN TIMES JOURNAL FEBRUARY 7, 1919 P. 6
January 21, 1918
Dear Mr. Young:
I have thought for some time past that I would write you, but it seems as though I cannot find time to write and still I don’t have a great deal to do.
I have been transferred to the Headquarters office here and I suppose from what the Lieutenant tells me that I am liable to be here for some time as they have just opened this office to take the place of all the offices they have used heretofore. It is quite an office; they work about seventy five men, operate twenty one typewriters and are always wanting more. It seems that they cannot get the necessary equipment and it seems a little strange to me to be in an office so large as this one. They order typewriters by the dozen and all other office supplies in proportion. At the present they are using L. C. Smith typewriters. I suppose this would be pleasing to you if you were here.
They keep a complete record of every man on the card index plan, using large cards with all kinds of questions and information blanks to be filled in. They have the office divided into several sections, each department to attend to a part of the work on these cards; after they are completed they are turned over to the Card Department to be assorted and filed. I happened to be fortunate enough to be placed in charge of the card department the second day after I was in the office and I am responsible for all the cards which go through my department. When cards are turned over to me I issue a receipt for them and when I let them out I sure get a receipt for them. You can imagine the surprise to me when the Lieutenant gave me the key to the card file and gave me my orders. We are using four men in the card department; however, the specifications for the office allow seven. Possibly we will have more when we get further along with the work. I am very much pleased with my work so far but you know a man in the army can never tell how long he will be in one place or how long he will be on one job, they transfer them so much. This office is to be the receiving office for all three of the Kelly fields and also all of the drafted men sent to this district. You would be surprised to know how fast they come in, both volunteers and drafted men. They are coming in and going out by the thousands all the while and even with one large card to the man we have quite a number of cards to handle. The card gives a complete history of the man from the time he enlisted until he was assigned to his tent here.
Van and Rutherford took the examination with me to come to Headquarters office to work, but they were not called for duty here. In fact there were only two, myself and another man from our lines who were called for the service. When I came here to work I had to leave all the Malvern fellows and while I didn’t like to leave them I thought I had better do the best I could for myself. I am quite sure that if there was ever a place in all the world where a man had to look out for himself it is certainly in the army. I heard today where they are located and I expect to go down to see them tonight, possibly. I suppose if we should complete our work in the office we would be placed back in the field with them unless they could use us in another office. The officers over me are nice fellows, and they tell me that they expect to keep me here in the office for possibly several months, that suits me all right and I hope they do so.
They claim we have seventeen hundred air machines here and I suppose they must have them, can see them going at all hours of the day when you look up. I was somewhat surprised to find out that the machines make so much noise while flying, some of the fellows fly close to the ground while others go above the clouds. They also have quite a number of balloons. The things all look real pretty while in the air, still I have never been able to create much of a desire to take a ride.
San Antonio is quite a place. They have many things there of interest, some parts of it looks as though it has been there since the beginning of time, still the larger part is an uptodate city. It is made up of all kinds of people, but even at that they are all nice to the soldiers and when all soldiers get in town from the different camps hear it looks as though it was for soldiers, only. Don’t see many negroes here most of the common labor, or at least what the negro does in Malvern, is done by the Mexicans here.
Most of the time we have great weather here, just about like June or July at home still when the wind comes from the North, it will turn cold in an hour, and possibly have snow. We have had snow once, and have also had several of the regular old Texas storms I have had many peculiar experiences since in the army, and have seen and learned quite a good deal, and I am sure that when I get out, they will be worth something to me.
Remember me to the Malvern people and I will let you hear from me from time to time.
Yours very truly,
Wm.
NOTES: This letter is written by William Murry to Mr. J. Elmo Young.
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN