TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD FEBRUARY 22, 1918 P. 5
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Noon. Feb. 15, 1917.
My Dear Mother and Father:
It is raining as usual. Everything is so soaked that it will take a great many pretty clear days to dry things out. It is very warm here now. We take cold water baths and are all fogged out in our summer cloths. I hate to think about how hot it must be here in the summer. I walk to the rfile range every afternoon to take lessons in shooting. I have been the one picked from the N.C. officers to go to a snipers' school. I am doing fairly well so far, making about as good as the average on my shooting. A sniper is a sharp shooter who picks off the enemy's commanders and for finding the range for the Army. Their aim is supposed to be true so after making a guess at the distance of a target they shoot at it and can tell how much too far or near the sight was set, by watching where bullet lands.
The other day when I took my physical exam for the aviation corps I found that, although I detest this Louisiana country and climate, I have gained about ten pounds since I was home last. I passed my physical and mental exam and was turned down because I was not quite old enough. I will go to the next school though, which will start in the next six months, that is if we are still in the U.S.
I am certainly glad to see that the people of Helena are taking some strides to cut down the long hours of the merchant and the expense attached to same. There is no reason why the stores should remain open all day and half of the night. I do not see why the small stores are allowed to remain open and profit by the efforts of others.
I wonder if any one ever stops to think what Allied aliens have done to win this war. They showed their disloyalty to their own country by remaining here in America while their native countries were at war and now that the country in which they live is at war one would think that they would help. But far be they from such. If there is a foreigner in the 153rd Inf. who was not drafted I have failed to find him. So not only do they fail to help win the war at home by going 50-50 with the American merchant, but they fail to offer their services. So why do the people and officials of Helena allow them to run wide open and profit by the true citizens' effort?
It is rumored that Alexandria and Pineville go dry tonight and that as soon as they close the quarantine will be lifted. I certainly hope so and so does every other soldier. They would rather the place be bone dry and free to leave camp once in a while.
Yours with fond love,
WARD.
NOTES: Shinault Ward Sanford was born on March 3, 1899 in Helena, Arkansas and died on July 10, 1967 in Glendale, California. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Beauregard, La.,
Noon. Feb. 15, 1917.
My Dear Mother and Father:
It is raining as usual. Everything is so soaked that it will take a great many pretty clear days to dry things out. It is very warm here now. We take cold water baths and are all fogged out in our summer cloths. I hate to think about how hot it must be here in the summer. I walk to the rfile range every afternoon to take lessons in shooting. I have been the one picked from the N.C. officers to go to a snipers' school. I am doing fairly well so far, making about as good as the average on my shooting. A sniper is a sharp shooter who picks off the enemy's commanders and for finding the range for the Army. Their aim is supposed to be true so after making a guess at the distance of a target they shoot at it and can tell how much too far or near the sight was set, by watching where bullet lands.
The other day when I took my physical exam for the aviation corps I found that, although I detest this Louisiana country and climate, I have gained about ten pounds since I was home last. I passed my physical and mental exam and was turned down because I was not quite old enough. I will go to the next school though, which will start in the next six months, that is if we are still in the U.S.
I am certainly glad to see that the people of Helena are taking some strides to cut down the long hours of the merchant and the expense attached to same. There is no reason why the stores should remain open all day and half of the night. I do not see why the small stores are allowed to remain open and profit by the efforts of others.
I wonder if any one ever stops to think what Allied aliens have done to win this war. They showed their disloyalty to their own country by remaining here in America while their native countries were at war and now that the country in which they live is at war one would think that they would help. But far be they from such. If there is a foreigner in the 153rd Inf. who was not drafted I have failed to find him. So not only do they fail to help win the war at home by going 50-50 with the American merchant, but they fail to offer their services. So why do the people and officials of Helena allow them to run wide open and profit by the true citizens' effort?
It is rumored that Alexandria and Pineville go dry tonight and that as soon as they close the quarantine will be lifted. I certainly hope so and so does every other soldier. They would rather the place be bone dry and free to leave camp once in a while.
Yours with fond love,
WARD.
NOTES: Shinault Ward Sanford was born on March 3, 1899 in Helena, Arkansas and died on July 10, 1967 in Glendale, California. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD