TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER JUNE 6, 1918 P. 3
Dear Editor:
I suppose that you will be surprised to get a letter from me more so to know that I am in the service of Uncle Sam.
I enlisted the 17th of April and was sent to Jefferson Barracks Missouri. I was there 14 days and that was long enough.
When we heard that about three hundred enlisted men came daily with these so I knew the boys had their hands full serving all those fellows, so I feel very fortunate to miss that.
Each man received a large bag for his belongings. After our first examination and when we were ordered for shipment every bag had to be inspected of its contents.
Then a physical examination followed and all but one was all right, altho a great many had sore throats. We were marched to the depot and boarded a troop train on which we were to ride for three days or more.
After leaving there we saw the very nicest of scenery, which was in the Berkshire Mountains of New Hampshire.
Red Cross ladies met us at all the large places and gave us magazines, candy, cigars, and cigaretes all of which were appreciated.
We landed at our destination (Portsmouth New Hampshire) feeling fine and ready for supper, it was near that time.
We underwent another exam. Then 21 of us were picked to form a mining crew as a side line from our branch, which is the coast artillery.
Very fortunate again for its very good.
I am in training at ft. Foster now but will be transfered to a battery in a month or so.
There are only forty two in camp now and the officers are very lenient in every way.
The mess is extra good, we have lots of meat and deserts something unusual in the army menu, a small bunch have the advantage of a large one in that respect.
I am feeling good and rather enjoy this life. One does not get lonesome as there’s something going on all the time. If you remember it has been only a few years since I went to school to you at Weeks and now I am a soldier. Please send me your paper so I can hear from the home folks and the other Scott county soldier boys. As ever your friend
Rufus Terry, 8th Co. C.A.C.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
NOTES;
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS
Dear Editor:
I suppose that you will be surprised to get a letter from me more so to know that I am in the service of Uncle Sam.
I enlisted the 17th of April and was sent to Jefferson Barracks Missouri. I was there 14 days and that was long enough.
When we heard that about three hundred enlisted men came daily with these so I knew the boys had their hands full serving all those fellows, so I feel very fortunate to miss that.
Each man received a large bag for his belongings. After our first examination and when we were ordered for shipment every bag had to be inspected of its contents.
Then a physical examination followed and all but one was all right, altho a great many had sore throats. We were marched to the depot and boarded a troop train on which we were to ride for three days or more.
After leaving there we saw the very nicest of scenery, which was in the Berkshire Mountains of New Hampshire.
Red Cross ladies met us at all the large places and gave us magazines, candy, cigars, and cigaretes all of which were appreciated.
We landed at our destination (Portsmouth New Hampshire) feeling fine and ready for supper, it was near that time.
We underwent another exam. Then 21 of us were picked to form a mining crew as a side line from our branch, which is the coast artillery.
Very fortunate again for its very good.
I am in training at ft. Foster now but will be transfered to a battery in a month or so.
There are only forty two in camp now and the officers are very lenient in every way.
The mess is extra good, we have lots of meat and deserts something unusual in the army menu, a small bunch have the advantage of a large one in that respect.
I am feeling good and rather enjoy this life. One does not get lonesome as there’s something going on all the time. If you remember it has been only a few years since I went to school to you at Weeks and now I am a soldier. Please send me your paper so I can hear from the home folks and the other Scott county soldier boys. As ever your friend
Rufus Terry, 8th Co. C.A.C.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
NOTES;
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS