Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1918 — WRITES FROM TRAINING GAMP [ARTICLE]

WRITES FROM TRAINING GAMP

Good Eats and Little to Do At Present Time. In letters received a few days ago. from George M. Babcock, who is In the field service of the aviation division at Kelly Field No. 1, San Antonio, Texas, he said, among other things: Things here are running along fine these days, except for the weather, which on Friday night (February 8 ) got away from the prognosticators without the least bit of warning. UP to that time we had been having Indiana July weather and cloudless skies. But on Friday night the wind blew high and hard and considerable of the real estate hereabouts changed position during the night. About 6:30 in the morning quite a bit of rain fell and since then we have been carrying a portion of the state around on our shoes. Ope day last week we oiled the floor of the barracks and as a result we are able to sweep out in the morning without choking up from the rising dust. This (Sunday) morning we began eating /from our new dishes (which members of his company had contributed to a fund to purchase) which helps to recall home life. The dishes are blue enameled ware and when placed on the table present a very neat appearance. It is proposed to get our mess fund collected and working in the best shape possible in a few days, and then we will live like kings down here. As it is we are not doing so badly. For breakfast this morning we had oranges, corn flakes, milk, cottage fried potatoes, bread and coffee. For dinner —roast pork, apple sauce, creamed peas, sweet potatoes, gravy, celery, bread, fruit salad and cocoa. For supper—breaded calf brains, mashed sweet potatoes, lettuce salad, stewed peaches, boiled rice, raisin pudding, apple pie and tea. I believe I have gained ten pounds or more since coming in the army. (It is probable that some parts of the ■menu described above was J>urchased from the mess fund, and not

all is likely to have been furnished by the government——Ed.) i I have been told by the lieutenant; that he would fix me up the first of the week so that I can take the i ' test for truck driving, and if I am' ' lucky 1 hope to get a job soon. I understand there will be 30,000 men begin to pour in here after February 15, so I believe it will take lots of trucks to supply their needs, j These men will be supplied by the ' draft, of course, and large mess halls, shower bath buildings and 1 tent floors are being built to accom- . i.iodate them. I have also heard that the entire tent site is to be ( oiled to keep down the dust when ( the wind blows. These drafted men certainly do not have much I kick coming, because the governI ment is doing its best to make • things as comfortable for them as i possible. i In a letter written February 14, George says: , Things here are going along pretty smoothly with plenty of hot weather and sunshine. Am able to gain a few pounds weight and then go out and take a sun bath and sweat down to normal again. I do not believe I have felt better I than 1 do now for a long time. We ! get plenty of sleep and eats and Ido not do much but loaf around 1 the greater part of the time. Since installing the piano we stick pretty close to quarters as there are several good players in the squadron and we are rarely without music. j Last night Lieutenant Joe Myers ' chine around to say good-by, as he j is leaving today for Fort Sill, Ok- ■ lahoma, to take special schooling prior to going to France, he said. He went in and saw the lieutenant about me and I am going over this

afternoon to take the trade test as a truck driver. (Mr. Myers is Itrom Rensselaer and was employed as linotype operator on The Democrat for about three years. He attended the officers’ training camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison last fall and was commissioned a first lieutenant. He was sent to Camp Travis—several miles from Kelly Field—San Antonio, but was recently transferred to the camp where George is stationed and the latter in a former letter wrote of their accidental meeting and how glad they were to see each other. They have since met frequently. —Ed.) This morning 1 was examined for tuberculosis. The examining officer had me look at the ceiling while he placed his hands over my eyes and removed them now and then. He also tapped me on the knee with a small hammer and asked a few questions. I do not know whether I passed or not, but think I did.

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