TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD MARCH 31, 1918 P. 6
Hampton Roads, Va.,
March 19, 1918.
Dear Mother:
A line or so to let you know that all is well up this way and to inquire how the folks at home are by this time
Give my regards to all the McGuire children as well as Marie's.
I am still in the outgoing detention camp, but the chances are now that there will be no sea for your boy for at least a month. You see Mamma, I have had a little good luck due to my ability to drill. It is just like this: I am going to be right guide for a crack company which is going to spend a month touring this eastern part of the country. In interest of the sale of Liberty Bonds and of course will pull off a parade at each town. We leave here next Saturday for Richmond, Va. We are to be back at the station by Monday morning, and on Tuesday evening we leave for Baltimore, Md., where we are to spend a week; then to Washington, D.C., for a week. "O-o-h Boy!" From there to Philadelphia, Pa.; from there to New York, N.Y., and maybe to Boston, Mass. How does that strike you for a trip? Well now, that is the dope at present, and I don't see how they could change it now. They have laid our company out drilling for the past two days. We happen to possess what it takes to do that. You would think should you see us that we were a bunch of Annapolis cadets--just so much like clockwork.
We are still having nice weather and I do hope we will continue to have it for our trip.
The Y.M.C.A. is real convenient here, right in the detention camp. They have a picture show here most every night, so you see we have some way to spend our time, even though we have little or no leisure here.
I wrote Pa a letter yesterday; also wrote Frank Clancy and mailed them both care of their fathers, to be forwarded to them, as I did not know their address.
You can not imagine how proud I am to be in on the trip, and enthusiasm is running high among all the boys. That is about all you can hear them talk of now.
There will no doubt be pictures made of us while drilling in the different cities, and some time about six months from now you may be surprised to see your boy marching at the head of a company of sailors, or on the right of a section. This all depends on the formation we are drilling in. For see Mamma, now (3 LINES MISSING) so I presume by the time these lines reach you there will be one in the mail for me from down that way.
How is Jese and all? John Jo sure _______ the salute in the ______ pictures. That is some boy.
Well, Mother darling, I will have to close for the time. Hoping that all is well at home and with all the love and best wishes to you and all the folks a devoted son could wish.
I am
Your boy,
ELLIS RUANE,
Co. D. U.S. Naval Base.
NOTES: Ellis Edward Ruane was born on October 14, 1894 in Helena, Arkansas. He died on December 8, 1954. He enlisted on December 15, 1917 and was discharged on September 12, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Hampton Roads, Va.,
March 19, 1918.
Dear Mother:
A line or so to let you know that all is well up this way and to inquire how the folks at home are by this time
Give my regards to all the McGuire children as well as Marie's.
I am still in the outgoing detention camp, but the chances are now that there will be no sea for your boy for at least a month. You see Mamma, I have had a little good luck due to my ability to drill. It is just like this: I am going to be right guide for a crack company which is going to spend a month touring this eastern part of the country. In interest of the sale of Liberty Bonds and of course will pull off a parade at each town. We leave here next Saturday for Richmond, Va. We are to be back at the station by Monday morning, and on Tuesday evening we leave for Baltimore, Md., where we are to spend a week; then to Washington, D.C., for a week. "O-o-h Boy!" From there to Philadelphia, Pa.; from there to New York, N.Y., and maybe to Boston, Mass. How does that strike you for a trip? Well now, that is the dope at present, and I don't see how they could change it now. They have laid our company out drilling for the past two days. We happen to possess what it takes to do that. You would think should you see us that we were a bunch of Annapolis cadets--just so much like clockwork.
We are still having nice weather and I do hope we will continue to have it for our trip.
The Y.M.C.A. is real convenient here, right in the detention camp. They have a picture show here most every night, so you see we have some way to spend our time, even though we have little or no leisure here.
I wrote Pa a letter yesterday; also wrote Frank Clancy and mailed them both care of their fathers, to be forwarded to them, as I did not know their address.
You can not imagine how proud I am to be in on the trip, and enthusiasm is running high among all the boys. That is about all you can hear them talk of now.
There will no doubt be pictures made of us while drilling in the different cities, and some time about six months from now you may be surprised to see your boy marching at the head of a company of sailors, or on the right of a section. This all depends on the formation we are drilling in. For see Mamma, now (3 LINES MISSING) so I presume by the time these lines reach you there will be one in the mail for me from down that way.
How is Jese and all? John Jo sure _______ the salute in the ______ pictures. That is some boy.
Well, Mother darling, I will have to close for the time. Hoping that all is well at home and with all the love and best wishes to you and all the folks a devoted son could wish.
I am
Your boy,
ELLIS RUANE,
Co. D. U.S. Naval Base.
NOTES: Ellis Edward Ruane was born on October 14, 1894 in Helena, Arkansas. He died on December 8, 1954. He enlisted on December 15, 1917 and was discharged on September 12, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD