TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GREEN FOREST TRIBUNE JUNE 28, 1918 P. 2
Ft. Casey, Wash., June 11, 1918.
Dear Mrs. Smith
As my stenographer is not busy and I am a little homesick, we’ll have a few lines written, enclosing $1 for the Tribune to be sent to our address.
Well, we are way out here sixty miles from Seattle on an island in Puget sound. There are three other islands strung out across the channel and each island has a fort; each fort has a couple of dozen heavy coast defense guns and I’d like to see a Fritz fleet run these forts. They’d think General Sherman was right.
Fort Casey is on a small mountain in the center of the island and is a very pretty place. We have about 4000 men here now and more men coming in. We certainly have sent a bunch over there. They came here for a few weeks training, then they go over after Fritz.
I am regimental physical director, having charge of all athletics here at the fort, wrestling, boxing, setting up exercises, gym work, etc. The Y. M. C. A. is doing its best to give the soldiers some good wholesome entertainment, athletics, and a touch of home. The short we are trying to give the fellows something to keep them clean so they won’t forget their home ones.
We have a cottage about two miles from the fort. I get home every night. A group of the officers live out there and it makes it nice for our wives, every one enjoys the military life and is looking fine.
I guess we have Green Forest boys in almost every branch of the service.
Yours for a manly army,
Ralph I. Reed
Regimental Physical Director, Army Y. M. C. A., Ft. Casey, Wash.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Ft. Casey, Wash., June 11, 1918.
Dear Mrs. Smith
As my stenographer is not busy and I am a little homesick, we’ll have a few lines written, enclosing $1 for the Tribune to be sent to our address.
Well, we are way out here sixty miles from Seattle on an island in Puget sound. There are three other islands strung out across the channel and each island has a fort; each fort has a couple of dozen heavy coast defense guns and I’d like to see a Fritz fleet run these forts. They’d think General Sherman was right.
Fort Casey is on a small mountain in the center of the island and is a very pretty place. We have about 4000 men here now and more men coming in. We certainly have sent a bunch over there. They came here for a few weeks training, then they go over after Fritz.
I am regimental physical director, having charge of all athletics here at the fort, wrestling, boxing, setting up exercises, gym work, etc. The Y. M. C. A. is doing its best to give the soldiers some good wholesome entertainment, athletics, and a touch of home. The short we are trying to give the fellows something to keep them clean so they won’t forget their home ones.
We have a cottage about two miles from the fort. I get home every night. A group of the officers live out there and it makes it nice for our wives, every one enjoys the military life and is looking fine.
I guess we have Green Forest boys in almost every branch of the service.
Yours for a manly army,
Ralph I. Reed
Regimental Physical Director, Army Y. M. C. A., Ft. Casey, Wash.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD