TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PARIS EXPRESS JULY 26, 1917 P. 1
Ft. Snelling, Minn., 7-17-17
Dear Mr. Greenwood:
I thought a brief account of Ft. Snelling might interest your readers.
The post is situated in the forks of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers on a high well drained location. It was established as an Indian outpost in the latter part of the 18th century (about 1798).
There are at present, besides the regular barracks, large cantonments for three full regiments and tent room for nearly 4,000 troops outside of the Minnesota militia camps. The cantonments are not completed but are well equipped in every way and very comfortable for a soldier who has to get used to roughing it.
There are the 36th, 40th and 41st U.S. Inf. occupying these buildings, while the regular barracks are filed with the officers training school students, about 2,200 in number. The tent section is held for new recruit detachments arriving from Jefferson and Columbus. The total number at the post when all regiments are filled to war strength will be between 10,000 and 12,000.
I am a member of the 36th Inf. which forms the nucleus of the three regiments. There are a considerable number of soldiers of for-birth in these troops and I must say that the foreign element is showing great patriotism. We have a splendid compliment of officers headed by Col. Parmeter, and believe we can accomplish our part for home and country when we get a few months of intensive training.
Snelling is surrounded by many interesting places and adjacent to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul; right in the center of the lake district; plenty of boating and fishing for the “Sammies” spare time.
The men who will form the national army will have little to regret, as we are well cared for. Food is plentiful, but necessarily plain. Pies and cake are great luxuries and the boys all appreciate boxes of cake, pie and candy from home. It seems everyone develops a sweet tooth in the army.
We were all looking forward to the time when we will be sufficiently trained to take our place on the firing line to uphold, with our gallant allies, the cause of humanity and democracy and to fill our belated duty in championing the cause of little Belgium, which has bled and suffered that we, along with the others of our allies, might live. I am an Englishman by birth, but I take off my hat to any member of the bravest little country in the wide world.
Uncle Sam’s boys in khaki will do their part and it is now up to you folks at home to do yours.
Hoping I may have said something that will interest someone, I will close, hoping to hear from your locality, for above all a soldier enjoys letters from home.
Yours for the flag,
Rupert F. Suffling,
Co. D, 36th U.S. Inf.
NOTES: Rupert Frank Suffling was born on August 15, 1887 in London, England and died on October 14, 1976 at Newton, Mississippi. He is buried in the Masonic Cemeterat Newton. He enlisted June 27, 1917. He was described as being tall and slender with blue eyes and black hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Ft. Snelling, Minn., 7-17-17
Dear Mr. Greenwood:
I thought a brief account of Ft. Snelling might interest your readers.
The post is situated in the forks of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers on a high well drained location. It was established as an Indian outpost in the latter part of the 18th century (about 1798).
There are at present, besides the regular barracks, large cantonments for three full regiments and tent room for nearly 4,000 troops outside of the Minnesota militia camps. The cantonments are not completed but are well equipped in every way and very comfortable for a soldier who has to get used to roughing it.
There are the 36th, 40th and 41st U.S. Inf. occupying these buildings, while the regular barracks are filed with the officers training school students, about 2,200 in number. The tent section is held for new recruit detachments arriving from Jefferson and Columbus. The total number at the post when all regiments are filled to war strength will be between 10,000 and 12,000.
I am a member of the 36th Inf. which forms the nucleus of the three regiments. There are a considerable number of soldiers of for-birth in these troops and I must say that the foreign element is showing great patriotism. We have a splendid compliment of officers headed by Col. Parmeter, and believe we can accomplish our part for home and country when we get a few months of intensive training.
Snelling is surrounded by many interesting places and adjacent to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul; right in the center of the lake district; plenty of boating and fishing for the “Sammies” spare time.
The men who will form the national army will have little to regret, as we are well cared for. Food is plentiful, but necessarily plain. Pies and cake are great luxuries and the boys all appreciate boxes of cake, pie and candy from home. It seems everyone develops a sweet tooth in the army.
We were all looking forward to the time when we will be sufficiently trained to take our place on the firing line to uphold, with our gallant allies, the cause of humanity and democracy and to fill our belated duty in championing the cause of little Belgium, which has bled and suffered that we, along with the others of our allies, might live. I am an Englishman by birth, but I take off my hat to any member of the bravest little country in the wide world.
Uncle Sam’s boys in khaki will do their part and it is now up to you folks at home to do yours.
Hoping I may have said something that will interest someone, I will close, hoping to hear from your locality, for above all a soldier enjoys letters from home.
Yours for the flag,
Rupert F. Suffling,
Co. D, 36th U.S. Inf.
NOTES: Rupert Frank Suffling was born on August 15, 1887 in London, England and died on October 14, 1976 at Newton, Mississippi. He is buried in the Masonic Cemeterat Newton. He enlisted June 27, 1917. He was described as being tall and slender with blue eyes and black hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT