"Yesterday was the opening of the Texas Cotton Palace,
featuring this year the 'Allied War Exposition.' This is one
of
the banner doings in Texas, so it was up to the soldiers
and aviators to start the thing off right. The C.I.O.T.S. formed
on our parade ground at 7:30 a.m. had a regimental inspection
including the two battalions of about 3,000 student officers
and officers. We then started for the city of Waco, about three
miles or more from here. Heading the parade was Col. Bori and
his staff., then the band, officers and men of 2d Battalion,
then the officers and 7,000 men from the replacement camp. We
carried rifles and side arms. When we were well into the city,
we halted and fixed bayonets and passed the reviewing stand.
We marched in platoon formation, that is four squads abreast
(16 men in front rank and 16 men in rear rank). The Commanding
General was the big bug in the reviewing stand.
"Aeroplanes from all over Texas took part and there
were 148 ships in formation. The paper says it was the most ships
ever in the parade. You can hardly imagine the sight. They
were pulling all kinds of stunts all day long. The largest crowd
ever at the opening of the Cotton Palace. Do you know it would
seem very strange to me to stand on the street in civilian clothes
and see such a parade go by, bands playing, and that good American
flag flying between the two guards. It thrills me way up. A fellow
can feel mighty proud to be one of Uncle Sam's soldiers in this
crisis and I wouldn't be out of the army for anything. When one
gets tired and discouraged he can just remember he is one of
millions who are doing the same and worse.
"Our training gets more severe every day. We are having
bayonet now and I guess it's the most strenuous of all. The
Captain said this morning that after we finish our bayonet
training he wanted every man so tired he would have to lie right
down on his back, too tired to move. And I will tell the world
we were a stiff and tired bunch when we were through. It comes
right after the physical drill so we get a real good workout.
We have a practice march after each afternoon with heavy pack
for an hour, and so on. When I finish this course I am going
to be as hard as a rock or pushing daisies. Guess it all agrees
with me as I was weighed Saturday night and tipped the scales
at 165 pounds, so you see I have gained some.
"We have about the nicest Y.M.C.A. there is in the country,
all painted up nice and it is fine. The great difficulty is we