TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT AUGUST 27, 1918 P. 2
Vancouver Cantonment,
Vancouver, Wash.,
August 17, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from home and am sorry sister is not feeling well, but hope she will be all right in a day or so. Hope you are well, also papa and everybory.
Be sure and send me the pictures and also the papers as they read good. I saw a Newport Independent last night and was glad to get it. It was sent to one of the boys from home.
Tell grandma that I read the testament every night and think of her becase she thought I would not bring it but every night after supper I try and read a few chapters.
Don’t worry about the work that I will have to do as they don’t make us work hard. I have only worked a couple of days since I came here, but expect to be assigned to a company in probably a week or two and then I will known what I am to do. You ought to see me doing my washing, as we have to do it and take a bath twice a week.
I was on K.P. one day (K. P. means kitchen police) and their work is to peel spuds and onions and wash the kitchen vessels. There were about 50 on the day I was there. They have three kitchens, all in different parts of the camp and they are cooking all the time—night and day.
They feed about 5,000 men in about an hour. Every man is given an outfit when he arrives, which consists of messkit, 2 pair of shoes, 2 shirts, 3 pair of socks, 2 suits of underwear, 1 hat, 1 overcoat, 1 raincoat, 1 pair pants, 1 dress coat and a suit of overalls.
Every man has to wash his own dishes and clothes.
I have had my second shot and it did not bother me at all, but some of the boys were mighty sick for a few days.
Mama, put my fishing tackle away so it won’t get lost. I am going to send all my clotthes I brought from home back in a few days as I won’t need them out here.
Tell everybody hello, and write a long letter and tell everyone to do the same, as a letter from home reads good. Am still feeling fine and get enough to eat.
It is still cool at night and in the morning, but in the day it gets hot.
Well, I guess I have told you all the news, so give my love to all.
Your son,
Charles.
When Effie makes the sweater tell her to make it longer than she did the first one. You can send me some Bull Durham tobacco if you want to, as we can’t hardly get any kind, except some old strong kind.
NOTES: This letter is written by Charles Snetser of Newport, Arkansas. He is working in the spruce fields in Washington State. He was born on August 20, 1893 in Searcy, Arkansas and died on September 22, 1939 at Newport. He is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery at Newport.
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE
Vancouver Cantonment,
Vancouver, Wash.,
August 17, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from home and am sorry sister is not feeling well, but hope she will be all right in a day or so. Hope you are well, also papa and everybory.
Be sure and send me the pictures and also the papers as they read good. I saw a Newport Independent last night and was glad to get it. It was sent to one of the boys from home.
Tell grandma that I read the testament every night and think of her becase she thought I would not bring it but every night after supper I try and read a few chapters.
Don’t worry about the work that I will have to do as they don’t make us work hard. I have only worked a couple of days since I came here, but expect to be assigned to a company in probably a week or two and then I will known what I am to do. You ought to see me doing my washing, as we have to do it and take a bath twice a week.
I was on K.P. one day (K. P. means kitchen police) and their work is to peel spuds and onions and wash the kitchen vessels. There were about 50 on the day I was there. They have three kitchens, all in different parts of the camp and they are cooking all the time—night and day.
They feed about 5,000 men in about an hour. Every man is given an outfit when he arrives, which consists of messkit, 2 pair of shoes, 2 shirts, 3 pair of socks, 2 suits of underwear, 1 hat, 1 overcoat, 1 raincoat, 1 pair pants, 1 dress coat and a suit of overalls.
Every man has to wash his own dishes and clothes.
I have had my second shot and it did not bother me at all, but some of the boys were mighty sick for a few days.
Mama, put my fishing tackle away so it won’t get lost. I am going to send all my clotthes I brought from home back in a few days as I won’t need them out here.
Tell everybody hello, and write a long letter and tell everyone to do the same, as a letter from home reads good. Am still feeling fine and get enough to eat.
It is still cool at night and in the morning, but in the day it gets hot.
Well, I guess I have told you all the news, so give my love to all.
Your son,
Charles.
When Effie makes the sweater tell her to make it longer than she did the first one. You can send me some Bull Durham tobacco if you want to, as we can’t hardly get any kind, except some old strong kind.
NOTES: This letter is written by Charles Snetser of Newport, Arkansas. He is working in the spruce fields in Washington State. He was born on August 20, 1893 in Searcy, Arkansas and died on September 22, 1939 at Newport. He is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery at Newport.
TRANSCRIBED BY STEPHANE LECOINTE