Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1918 — CECIL REES WRITES TWO INTERESTING LETTERS [ARTICLE]

CECIL REES WRITES TWO INTERESTING LETTERS

I July 28, 1918. 7th Company. I Coast Art. Corps. Dear Father and Mother: Well as this is Sunday afternoon, I will answer your letter I got yesterday. Was very glad to hear from you all. I am well and hope you are the same. It is nice here today. Somewhat cooler. Say I saw the biggest turtle today I ever saw. It was about three feet across one way, and about four feet the other way. It weighs close to three hundred pounds. Of course, you will want to know how I happened to see it. Well a bunch was up the beach late yesterday eyening and saw him. They caught him and turned him over on his back, and went after him today in a mule cart. It made four men a big job to get him in the cart. After they got him up in the camp it was a curiosity for us all. Every body had to have his picture taken you know with the turtle to send home, hut I did not care to get that close to a live one, ha! ha! A large man who weighs over two hundred pounds got on the turtle’s back and it walked right off with him. I never dreamed of such a thing. I will get one of the pictures if I can and send it to you. I guess, they will cook the turtle, I don’t know. Some soup, eh? Well, we are getting lots of drill now. It is very interesting. Yesterday the entire post passed in review before the Colonel and his staff. It was grand. We are to be inspected again tomorrow to some other official from the capital, I guess. We parade as a general rule about three times weekly. Gee! we would make the “Kaiser” go if we could just get over there. I wish we could leave at once, but there is not much chance of that yet, I guess. From the way the papers read the American boys over there will have them whipped before we can get over there. They are sure giving them enough now, aren’t they. Well I had my picture taken today and after I get them I will serid you them if they are any good. I sent you a )>ox of sea shells today. You should get them about the time you get this letter. I sent some of all sizes so I think you will lite them. There are lots nicer ones away up the beach, but I have hot had time to go very far up the beach, as yet. I got a letter from Forest and Ethel the other day, too. I must answer soon. I got a card from Mr. A. C. Campbell yesterday. I got a letter from Thelma last week, she is well and I sent her car fare to come home on, so I think she will come home right away, now. Say pop, I was surprised to get a letter from you for you seldom write. Was glad you liked the handkerchief. I am glad they are starting the dredge for it will be the making of Newland and vicinity. Am glad the crops look fine. Well as it is very near church time, I must close. We have church every Sunday morning in our barracks. Good bye. Write soon. CECIL.

P. S. You asked me if I had made an “allotment.” No I did not for I thought it Ibest for it to be paid to me, so if I get a chance to get a furlough I can come home. It takes quite a lot for necessary things that are not issued us. Thursday, July 25, 1918. 7th Co., Coast Artillery Corps, Ft. Caswell, N. C. Dear Father and Mother:— Well as I am at leisure for about an hour I will answer your letter I goKyesterday. I am well and glad to hqar you are all the same. . I am workmg in the kitchen for a couple of days. We all have a turn as Kr P’s.

It is very warm here now but we don’t mind it very much any more. The temperature ranges from 90 to TOO most every day of late. That is pretty hot for drill/but we are getting more used to-it now. It is sure fine to drill out on the beach for there is a breeze there all the time. While the tide is out we drill out there. You asked me if I have taken out insurance. Yes, I did. I took out the full amount, ten thousand dollars. I think it is grand. It costs me six dollars and fifty cents per month. Mam, this money will in no wise keep me from being killed on the battle line, but it is a protection for me if I get crippled, to keep me after the war, or if I get killed it will be paid to you, not to take my place at home in your hearts, but, it is, in other words, a pension the same as other soldiers got in recent wars. Most all of the boys here have the full, amount also. You asked me why it wAs that most of the drafted men had to take equipment with them. I don’t know, only I know we volunteers did not have to furnish anything. We got hair brush, tooth brush, blankets, towels, soap, comb, pants, shirt, blouse, mess kit, recruit bag, rain coat and blue denims and two pairs of shoes and leggings, socks also, three extra pairs of shoestrings, the regulation hat and belt, and gun, of course. Also when we go to France we even get safety razors and I don’t know what all e&e, because we havfe not got all our equip'ment yet. Besides all this we have some very nice shower conveniences, everything at hand to make a real soldier. We are now getting instructions with our rifles, how to load, aim, trigger Squeeze, etc. Part of us will go rifle range soon, I guess. I understand that one has to make a possible 18 out Of 25 at close range to be put on real target practice. I have not found tiine to gather any shells lately, but will get them some time and

send them to you. I got the candy Forest sent me O. K. I wrote to him Sunday. Will be glad.to hear from Uncle Sol. I supposes the crops are doing and looking fine by this time. Hello Lester and Russell, how are you by this time? You must write. Hello, Nellie. You must write, too. Well, as it is about dinner time I must close, hoping to hear from you soon. Good bye. Write soon. CECIL. Oh, yes, I got those papers and was sure glad to get them, for there was news from Jasper. The Republican especially was fine witlrall those letters from the front. With love, your son, . CECIL R. RElfe.