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Dearest Mother and family;
It has rained all day today and we did nothing but lie around and listen
to lectures, etc. I was glad to get Grace's letter telling me the news of
the advent into our family of my first brother-in-law. We have waited a
good while, haven't we? I couldn't have picked a better one had I the
choosing. As to getting "hooked" before coming down here, tell sis I said
"go to it." You know my sentiments were mostly prejudiced anyhow being an
old bachelor and also somewhat of a trifler, as it were. I'll say again
that I am proud of Ben for a brother-in -law and I hope Florence can do as
well someday. I know myself that anyone that "caps" her will have to be
there. Write me all the particulars as they come up in this sweet period
of preparation and anticipation. I suppose the Rev. Dr. W.S.* will
officiate I would like to be on hand but as it stands I suppose Ben will
be without both ushers and best man. I am in good health and spirits and
eat heartily of everything set before me. When I come back I won't be as
picky as I once was. When I come in off the field down here as hungry as a
bear and the dinner is made up of macaroni & cheese I eat it because no
one will go down the cellar and get a piece of steak and fry it with eggs
for me. I eat mush and milk for breakfast and can also go tomatoes and
bread crumbs. Even ate sauerkraut the other day. That's coming down to it.
Eh what? Where we had dust yesterday, we have a sea of mud today. Instead
of being asked to enlist for oversea duty at the meeting yesterday, we
were permitted to listen to Dr. Wesbohm (?sp) the Field Secretary of the
American Red Cross. He was a wonderful speaker and told the boys what the
Red Cross did for them here, even there at home. By the way if you are
still knitting helmets you may as well stop, for orders are against
wearing them and all sweaters must be under the shirt, if worn. I told you
I guess that Mr. and Mrs. Perry
were here Sun. but I was the only one they didn't see. I am in the kitchen
tomorrow for the first time. We take turns about. I don't know what to do
about applying for transfer. They are very strict about it down here and
all that must be handled thru the commanding officer. That is, you take it
up with him, and if he thinks you would be of better service to the nation
in another branch of the service he can recommend you for transfer. One
Sergt. here wanted transferred so he went straight to Washington, and when
our Capt. found it out he was reduced to the ranks and confined to
quarters for two weeks. I don't want to get into trouble but I suppose if
I took it up here, [rest of line illegible because of crease in
paper.]
I
like it here alright and altho the infantry is the lowliest branch of the
service, they are the ones that "give them the steel" and also the ones
who will win the war in the end. I am thinking it over however and will
use my head. I don't want to get out of this into a soft snap because that
would be yellow. At least it would look that way from where I sit. What is
Dad going to do? These officers down here can almost tell your name before
they see you. They were showing us how to turn around without looking at
our feet and one pulled me out front to demonstrate. When I did it he said
"See there, this fellow has been used to doing fast work -his feet don't
need watching." Some guys, the old ones, I mean.
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