"I am enjoying the service as well as ever. Every day
I am in I like it better and now begin to realize what I am in
for. All
the boys here are waiting for, is to get to France and I
know they will answer for themselves after that. Every day when
they read about how the Germans are gaining on Italy, they go
around with clenched teeth and say, 'Wait until Uncle Sam gets
there.'
"The Radio work I took up some time ago is real interesting.
It was hard at first, but now I feel pretty sure of myself in
the
speed tests we have every Friday. I wish there was a Radio
Station in Brodhead, so I could talk to you every day. We get
the news from all over the country."
Written to Mr. Dixon.
Paris Island, S.C., Jan. 27, 1918.
"I got back on Paris Island all O.K., after a long ride
on a government train, and for all my liking for train rides,
I said no
place like Paris Isle. Now, don't get the impression from
that, that there is heaven here, for, if you should come here,
I am afraid that you would always hold a grudge against me. After
I had been here a while they put me in the Naval Radio Station
where I am working at the present writing. I like it fine, but
do not expect to be here so very much longer as I am up for transfer.
If this place was further north, I would remain until they moved
me, but Dixieland and I do not seem to join hands very well.
If I were allowed to write all that I could, I could make this
letter more interesting but nearly everything that takes place
and all we learn is confidential. The only thing that is made
public is the Government Naval Press that we receive every night.
"I do not know, if you will believe me or not, when
I tell you that I am sitting here with my sleeves rolled up and
all the
doors and windows open and then I am pretty warm. From the
paper and letters I get from home I know that it has been pretty
cold and lots of snow, while down here it gets so warm that we
all have the hook - in other words laziness. There has just been
snow here once and that was while I was home on a furlough. Then
it laster for only a couple of hours. The boys had a big time
snowballing, so they tell me.
"I must not forget to tell you of a very important thing
that happened today and that was when we went into the mess hall.
We were surprised by discovering dishes of ice cream at every
place (with cake). They usually feed us on wholesome food such
as beans, spaghetti, rice, etc., but I guess some great man must
have died or something happened today.
"I will close wishing you good luck as well as those
that read this. I thank you for your faithfulness in sending
me this
paper."
Radio Office, April 26, 1918.
"You do not need to worry about me as I am in the best
of health and feeling fine in every way. I am no longer in the
Radio Office, but am over to the school as instructor. At
the present writing I am putting in a transmitting set over to
the school. The chief and I are going to have a dandy little
quarter kilowatt set there run by a direct current motor with
a little 500 cycle alternator on the same shaft, in other words
a motor generator. I have been working on it for two days now
and I will not get it done before Monday sometime. The chief
said that he wanted me in school, so I will put in the rest of
my time at the school.
"The chief has been keeping me company most of the time
this afternoon. He goes and then he comes back and tells me
about his trips and about the electrical parts on a battleship.
He is sure good at it, but then he should be for he has worked
at it for over twelve years now. He is going to have me put in
a new wireless set in the school, as soon as I get back from
my trip to Atlanta. I want to do all the work that I can for
then I will learn about it. The chief and I are about like Knut
and I used to be. I am glad of it for I can learn a lot during
the time that I in the service under him.
"I am going to bring this to a close as I have to go
and get some chow for the office."
Written to Mr. Dixon.
June 27, 1918.
"My pal also was transferred to the Radio school as
instructor. The two of us have about one hundred and fifty men
under instruction all the time. It makes life interesting
to have a company of men like that to look after, and then, sometimes
time here passes slowly.
"Lots of hot days here now. Hot weather, certainly makes
the corn grow here. It seems queer to see corn tasseling out
and know it is not the Fourth of July. All of the grain has
been threshed. The first part of last month I saw grain cut and
shocked. Just like patches, but that is the extent of their crop
here.
"The other day I saw Helmar Olmstead - he was cutting
hair. Queer, how many barbers Brodhead turns out. He has
tanned since arriving here. I am glad he likes it, as I influenced
him into joining the Marines. But, since the Marines have fought
in France, they speak for themselves.
"Undoubtedly, you will have a new electric plant when
I get home. Just to keep up with the times, I sent after a
correspondence course in Wireless and Electrical Engineering.
I have two hours to myself every evening and I may as well use
them. The plant will be much different, so I will need to do
some studying.
"Here is some interesting news for Wisconsin boys. I
was told today that of all the men that came into the Marine
Corps
so far, the health conditions, according to states are: Minnesota
first, Wisconsin second, New York third, etc. I should have twisted
it around and put Wisconsin first, but we are there anyway."