TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 27, 1917 P. 6
Camp Travis, Texas, Sept. 20 '17.
Editor Courier-Democrat:
I will endeavor to give you a brief description of army life as seen in the new army camps at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. There is now over 20,000 men stationed in those camps, and they are still coming in by train loads. They now have branch lines running from the main railroad lines to various sections of the Camps, so that each lot of men can be sent to his particular quarters, where they will undergo a slight physical examination, be vaccinated and receive their innoculation (Which is not so slight). They will then be sent to their alloted quarters where they will receive their uniforms, blankets, mess kits, and other necessary articles for the soldier.
We receive good "Chuck" and as good lodging as could be expected. I think I would be safe in saying that there are thousands of men here that get more to eat and better place to sleep that they ever got before, while of course, this is not true in all cases. This is one place that we all meet as equals. Some guys look rather "sporty" when they first drag in, but when they don the khaki and drag in off of an all day's hike they are no more so than any of the rest of us. We have all classes of men, including bankers, brokers, lawyers, merchants and all classes of workmen.
Some of the men look blue, feel blue and are blue and down hearted in every sense, while the majority are in good spirits and anxious for the time to come when we shall go over the top and--get the Kaisers' goat.
One can see most all kinds of modern war fare equipment. From my window I can see boys drilling, in one direction, in another can see a few practicing throwing hand grenades, while still farther in the distance I can see artillery and cavalry on the march, and often we can see the aviators "loop the loop" and doing other stunts in the vicinity of our camps. Last Sunday we could see a fleet of airplanes in the far distance, scattering flowers. We were told that they were paying tribute to one of their comrades who had met with a fatal accident a few days before. At night we can see the rays of a powerful search light, that continually circles about over our camps and also others near here. You all can imagine its purpose.
I had the pleasure of visiting Camp Bowie, located at Fort Worth, while enroute to San Antonio. I found it to be a great Military Post, but not comparable to Camp Travis.
We can obtain a pass to town on Wednesday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday. I believe most everyone takes advantage of the opportunity. I had the pleasure of visiting in the beautiful city of San Antonio last Sunday. Of all the beautiful scenery none appealed to me so much as did the historic old Alomo building, where our 175 brave Texans, among whom were David Crockett, Travis, Bowie and other heroes who for several days held back the Mexican Army of some 5000 men. and by-the-way, this same blood or people are wearing the Khaki, and united with their former conquerors in an effort to smash Kaiser Bill and his Prussianism, with all its brutality and uncivilized warfare.
Can't tell you yet how I would feel after an all days hike or a day's drilling, for I have been doing clerical and stenographic work in the office of the Chief Mustering Officer since I entered camps.
If these few lines find space in the columns of the C-D, I will try to write again. With best wishes to the editor and all the readers of the C-D, I remain,
JAMES M. TURNER
Co. "A" 4th Batallion
Depot Brigade, Camp Travis, Texas.
NOTES: Turner was born on December 31, 1884 in Dover, Arkansas and died on October 2, 1946. He was living in Texas when he registered for the draft. Just before being called into the service he had completed a course in the Tyler Commercial College and had accepted a teller’s position in a Texas bank.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Travis, Texas, Sept. 20 '17.
Editor Courier-Democrat:
I will endeavor to give you a brief description of army life as seen in the new army camps at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. There is now over 20,000 men stationed in those camps, and they are still coming in by train loads. They now have branch lines running from the main railroad lines to various sections of the Camps, so that each lot of men can be sent to his particular quarters, where they will undergo a slight physical examination, be vaccinated and receive their innoculation (Which is not so slight). They will then be sent to their alloted quarters where they will receive their uniforms, blankets, mess kits, and other necessary articles for the soldier.
We receive good "Chuck" and as good lodging as could be expected. I think I would be safe in saying that there are thousands of men here that get more to eat and better place to sleep that they ever got before, while of course, this is not true in all cases. This is one place that we all meet as equals. Some guys look rather "sporty" when they first drag in, but when they don the khaki and drag in off of an all day's hike they are no more so than any of the rest of us. We have all classes of men, including bankers, brokers, lawyers, merchants and all classes of workmen.
Some of the men look blue, feel blue and are blue and down hearted in every sense, while the majority are in good spirits and anxious for the time to come when we shall go over the top and--get the Kaisers' goat.
One can see most all kinds of modern war fare equipment. From my window I can see boys drilling, in one direction, in another can see a few practicing throwing hand grenades, while still farther in the distance I can see artillery and cavalry on the march, and often we can see the aviators "loop the loop" and doing other stunts in the vicinity of our camps. Last Sunday we could see a fleet of airplanes in the far distance, scattering flowers. We were told that they were paying tribute to one of their comrades who had met with a fatal accident a few days before. At night we can see the rays of a powerful search light, that continually circles about over our camps and also others near here. You all can imagine its purpose.
I had the pleasure of visiting Camp Bowie, located at Fort Worth, while enroute to San Antonio. I found it to be a great Military Post, but not comparable to Camp Travis.
We can obtain a pass to town on Wednesday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday. I believe most everyone takes advantage of the opportunity. I had the pleasure of visiting in the beautiful city of San Antonio last Sunday. Of all the beautiful scenery none appealed to me so much as did the historic old Alomo building, where our 175 brave Texans, among whom were David Crockett, Travis, Bowie and other heroes who for several days held back the Mexican Army of some 5000 men. and by-the-way, this same blood or people are wearing the Khaki, and united with their former conquerors in an effort to smash Kaiser Bill and his Prussianism, with all its brutality and uncivilized warfare.
Can't tell you yet how I would feel after an all days hike or a day's drilling, for I have been doing clerical and stenographic work in the office of the Chief Mustering Officer since I entered camps.
If these few lines find space in the columns of the C-D, I will try to write again. With best wishes to the editor and all the readers of the C-D, I remain,
JAMES M. TURNER
Co. "A" 4th Batallion
Depot Brigade, Camp Travis, Texas.
NOTES: Turner was born on December 31, 1884 in Dover, Arkansas and died on October 2, 1946. He was living in Texas when he registered for the draft. Just before being called into the service he had completed a course in the Tyler Commercial College and had accepted a teller’s position in a Texas bank.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD