"Well I am now pretty well settled down on this island
of nowhere. Am feeling fine, but take it from me it sure is hot.
Around 100 in the shade each day, and when a fellow has to
wear his woolen shirt buttoned up tight all around, it will in
most cases take the grease out of a man. Still they say this
is not hot, simply warm.
"I've already had my first swim in the Atlantic, have
had my first seat under palm trees and on my way down saw my
first
cotton field. All the water for washing is salty and it doesn't
take the dirt off like fresh water. It is very hard to shave
with, as it is almost impossible to get soap to lather in it.
"We have all kinds of amusements down here, picture
shows, orchestras, boxing, bowling, pool and billiards, and fine
Y.M.C.A.'s. When a man isn't training, he's washing clothes
or something or other so there isn't any time to get home-sick.
"We have some sport with the corporals and sergeants
down here, and believe me they have some time with us. If a man
makes a little mistake a corporal will pull you out of the
ranks and say: 'You're a bad hay shaker, aren't you? Say yes.'
And of course you'll have to admit it. Then again he'll say:
'You came down here to get out of the draft, didn't you?' And
of course you'll have to tell him yes. Still they say they aren't
as bad as they used to be. They are not allowed to use profane
language to the men nor are they allowed to strike them. There
is one little music (bugler) around here who is deaf on account
of a corporal striking him, but the corporal got a general court-martial,
and is in the pen for two years.
"They use a lot of funny phrases down here. In the morning
when the corporal wakes you up he'll yell, 'Hit the deck.'
When someone makes a lot of noise after taps, someone will
yell, 'Pipe down.' The meals are called 'chow.' 'Out o' luck'
is used more than anything else in the army."