Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1918 — FROM OUR SOLDIER BOYS [ARTICLE]

FROM OUR SOLDIER BOYS

INTERESTING LETTERS FROM BOYS DOING THEIR “BIT” FOR UNCLE SAM. LETTER FROM HARVEY J. PHILLIPS L’aber Wrach, France, May 15, 1918. My Dear Friends: . Well, Pearl, u one year ago today we were plowing and I suppose you are doing the same today. Take my advice and stay on the farm until after harvest at least. You krtow some one has to stay at home to keep the boys at the front in things to eat and wear. J don’t know of any place better for a farmer than on,the farm. You can do your bit better raising a big crop than by wearing a uniform. Of course it does not seem as patriotic, but nevertheless it is absolutely necessary. Take the farmer away and how long could we stay in the war. Well, Pearl, we are working about as hard as is possible for a fellow to work. That is most of us are, although I have a pretty easy snap and nothing to do except monkey around and look wise. I have charge of the stores, that is the supplies for cooking and eating. Have a motor boat and small truck at my disposal. I am getting almost $45 per month and going up for a higher rating the first of June. If I make it I will draw a little over fifty. That is not so bad for a farmer, eh! But you see I was in the first draft here and we had the hardest work and naturally we get the best ones now that we have a bigger ibunch. I almost forgot to tell you we have biscuits about four times a week. Of couse you know that makes me mad, but I always manage to get away with about ten. I always eat in the galley with the cooks and therefore get a little better than the others. Not that I eat any more but my job permits it. In the last draft that came, there was a store keeper with a higher rating than myself. I thought I was out of a job and asked to get on a motor boat but the paymaster said he would tell me when he wanted me to quit. He used to raise h—with us about every day. I soon got used to it and would only laugh about it. Now he is a very good old duck and is trying to get me a better job or rather a higher rating to put me on an equal footing with this other kid. I have had to do all the work and show him at the same time what there was to do. So I can’t see that he is of very much help to me. HARVEY J. PHILLIPS, U. S. N, Aviation Base, L’aber Wrach, France.