TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PRESCOTT DAILY NEWS APRIL 26, 1918 P. 5
April 16, 1918.
Dear Uncle:
Since last I wrote to you, I have been moving like a checker game. First I left quarantine 26th of Feb.; move to Second Reg., the one I left when I went to P.G.; did not stay there very long, for about 12th of March we had to move to make room for a big bunch of recruit aviators. Went to the Fifth Reg., then on the 33rd we went to the Rifle Range at Mt. Pleasant and while there one night was in the Mt. Pleasant Community Club and while looking over the register I saw Fred Horne‘s name, but I did not know whether he had already left or not, so the next day I saw his name on the bulletin board and tried to find him, but he was busy so I let it go, but next day we were on the firing line and I just happened to ask a fellow who was directing the shooting if he knew Fred Horne, “I ought to.” for it was him. We had a long chat about Prescott and a long time ago. He had been in a month or two longer than I had. He is a coach at the Rifle Range, Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Well, to continue my story, we were only over there one week and one day; left on the 31st. We went back to the 5th Reg. and left there on the second for Hampton Roads, Va. was there two days, then came in this ship the fifth, but since I came on we have experienced a few rough days out on the deep, but I have not been feeding the fish yet, like a few of the boys did. Just received a letter from mamma, the first from home since I left Charleston. I got your letter in with hers on the 31st, just before leaving Mt. Pleasant, but have not had time to write since then as mail does not leave the ship only when we are in port, but now I hope you will forgive me for not writing sooner. You said you wanted to send me something. but you know I was not used to getting things that way before I came to the navy and it is a little hard to get used to telling people what I want; before if I wanted it I would buy it, if I could afford it, but now if I expect to get anything it will have to be that way, I guess. But I am not going to tell you what I want; I am just going to tell you what I could use to good advantage on this ship. You will see that this pen is not very good. Well, if I could get a fountain pen it would be better to write with, don’t you think? I have not had a payday in two—the last two have passed me up, and if this one don’t I will be lucky, for I drew fifteen ollars worth of clothes last week. My pay is thirty-five ninety per month, but out of that comes fifteen on a twenty dollar allotment; sixty-six for insurance and five for a Liberty Bond, which makes twenty-six sixty per month. That leaves me $9.30 per month and March 5th I was paid; that makes just one month and a half, so fifteen dollars will about kill my bill, but if I don’t get any I will get part of some mama said she would send if I needed it.
So I guess that score will be settled. Mama said Homer wanted me to write to him, but I have about all I can manage when I write home and to a girlfriend or two. How is everybody there; is Amy out of school yet, or when will she be? I have a very easy task on the ship and I couldn’t want anything easier that I have it now, only I miss my liberty as I was going regular while in Charleston. Just about room to tell you my address which is
Clarence Wilson,
U.S.S Georgia, care Postmaster
Fortress Monroe, Va., Box 10.
Give everybody my best regards.
NOTES: Clarence Wilson of Jonesboro, Arkansas enlisted in the navy at age 17.
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY.
April 16, 1918.
Dear Uncle:
Since last I wrote to you, I have been moving like a checker game. First I left quarantine 26th of Feb.; move to Second Reg., the one I left when I went to P.G.; did not stay there very long, for about 12th of March we had to move to make room for a big bunch of recruit aviators. Went to the Fifth Reg., then on the 33rd we went to the Rifle Range at Mt. Pleasant and while there one night was in the Mt. Pleasant Community Club and while looking over the register I saw Fred Horne‘s name, but I did not know whether he had already left or not, so the next day I saw his name on the bulletin board and tried to find him, but he was busy so I let it go, but next day we were on the firing line and I just happened to ask a fellow who was directing the shooting if he knew Fred Horne, “I ought to.” for it was him. We had a long chat about Prescott and a long time ago. He had been in a month or two longer than I had. He is a coach at the Rifle Range, Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Well, to continue my story, we were only over there one week and one day; left on the 31st. We went back to the 5th Reg. and left there on the second for Hampton Roads, Va. was there two days, then came in this ship the fifth, but since I came on we have experienced a few rough days out on the deep, but I have not been feeding the fish yet, like a few of the boys did. Just received a letter from mamma, the first from home since I left Charleston. I got your letter in with hers on the 31st, just before leaving Mt. Pleasant, but have not had time to write since then as mail does not leave the ship only when we are in port, but now I hope you will forgive me for not writing sooner. You said you wanted to send me something. but you know I was not used to getting things that way before I came to the navy and it is a little hard to get used to telling people what I want; before if I wanted it I would buy it, if I could afford it, but now if I expect to get anything it will have to be that way, I guess. But I am not going to tell you what I want; I am just going to tell you what I could use to good advantage on this ship. You will see that this pen is not very good. Well, if I could get a fountain pen it would be better to write with, don’t you think? I have not had a payday in two—the last two have passed me up, and if this one don’t I will be lucky, for I drew fifteen ollars worth of clothes last week. My pay is thirty-five ninety per month, but out of that comes fifteen on a twenty dollar allotment; sixty-six for insurance and five for a Liberty Bond, which makes twenty-six sixty per month. That leaves me $9.30 per month and March 5th I was paid; that makes just one month and a half, so fifteen dollars will about kill my bill, but if I don’t get any I will get part of some mama said she would send if I needed it.
So I guess that score will be settled. Mama said Homer wanted me to write to him, but I have about all I can manage when I write home and to a girlfriend or two. How is everybody there; is Amy out of school yet, or when will she be? I have a very easy task on the ship and I couldn’t want anything easier that I have it now, only I miss my liberty as I was going regular while in Charleston. Just about room to tell you my address which is
Clarence Wilson,
U.S.S Georgia, care Postmaster
Fortress Monroe, Va., Box 10.
Give everybody my best regards.
NOTES: Clarence Wilson of Jonesboro, Arkansas enlisted in the navy at age 17.
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY.