Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1918 — John Fenzel Writes From Purdue Training Camp. [ARTICLE]

John Fenzel Writes From Purdue Training Camp.

John Fenzel of Walker township, who was recently sent to the training camp at Purdue, writes The Democrat as follows: Camp Purdue. May 25, 191 S. Mr. F. E. Babcock. Rensselaer, Ind. Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find two dollars, for which please send from time to time to the address I send yon The Jasper County Democrat. 1 am now- stationed at Purdue university. We have a small camp of live hundred and nine men here. We have a fine large brick armory for our headquarters. We are making good progress and expect to be on our way to France soon. We are getting about three hours of drill daily besides eight hours of class work and our work around our armory, so you can see our time is taken up completely. We get the practical and technical part of the automobile and trucks, but must specialize on the Pierce: Arrow and Liberty trucks. Those who make a goocl grade will graduate as experts, and 1 suppose be put in command of a company of men. The work is very interesting and I like it fine as , far as I have gone. As time is limited I will close for this time, with best regards to my Jasper county friends, I remain, : f Yours truly, JOHN FENZEL, Co. 1. P. U. T. Det. X. A. West Lafayette. Indiana.

Camp Mills. Long Island, May 24, 1918. Dead Dad: We arrived at Camp Mills Sunday night about 10:20 o'clock and are doing little or nothing but killing time, presumably awaiting a transport. The trip here was a dandy one, our train being made up of solid Pullmans and we came through several large cities, including Washington. D, C. and Jersey City, N. .1., Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. 1 got a transfer from Go. C to the Engineer train, and so lar I am delighted with the new place. We get the best of eats I have ever had in the army and so far have done little work and have no drilling to do to speak of. There are eighty-one men in this organization and all are either motor truck drivers or helpers on trucks or mechanics. Our trucks haven’t arrived yet,-but a requisition has been made .for them.

Camp Mills, Long Island,relocated about 1 miles from Hempstead, L. 1.. and is a tent camp and a large one. One can go to Jamacia, X. Y., from camp for fifteen cents and to New York City for about twenty-five cents. I expect to go to the latter place and take in the sights this afternoon. I sent you some post cards from Washington, D C*, where we got out of the train to stretch a bit and were served coffee and sandwiches by - the Red Gross. At almost every goodrslzed place our rrain stopped we were given ettes, post cards, candy or fruit by the Red Cross, all of which we appreciated fully. I sent a card or two to Edith, and also one to Francis Jones, telegraph editor of the Lafayette Journal!. So many of the men left the first day to take in the sights of Xew York City without permission that our regiment has been confined to the camp up to yesterday, when passes were giv-

en allowing one to remain away twenty-four hours. Oh, yes. Dad, there are several aeroplane squadrons here, and I was talking with an aviator last night who said his organization was from Kelley Field, San Antonio, Texas. Inquiring about line “L,” he said be thought the Bquadron that George was in was also located here in the East and It may be that George is also at Camp Mills. " I intend to find out this afternoon, if possible. (George Babcock is still at Wright Field. Dayton, Ohio. —Ed.) Aeroplanes are very numerous here and there are some good fUere, too. One aviator was out the other afternoon and did some fancy flying, and it was a great exhibition, too. He turned loop the loops, turned completely over twice, shot straight down for possibly half a mile and did several interesting stunts. The Curtis Aeroplane Co. has a plant at one edge of the camp, where I sup* pose men are taught the mechanism, and the machines are assembled and repaired. I have seen aa many as twelve aeroplanes In the sky at one time here.

f have received aliqpst a complete new outfit of clogteg, including almost everything Jpe wouid use to keep clean 'find neat looking. Our commanding officer seems to be a fine man. He was made a lieutenant from the ranks and knows what a private has to con' tend with and governs himself accordingly. We have but four noncommissioned officers and they are ▼ery nice. I got a good fit in trousers in my new suit and took the blouse to Hempstead and had it cut to fit me, and my suit look* now like it had been tailored especially to fit me. 1 have already passed successfully the truck drivers’ examination and will undoubtedly be given a truck. Truck drivers are given a Colts automatic .45 and also sling a :’,O-:50 11. S. Tifle along the side of their truck. I understand that most of our work will be done at night, and will be, rather fat removed from the froift line trenches. liatbiyg facilities are a little poor Jsefe. all of the showers having nothing but cold water, and it is so dusty here one has a hard time keeping clean. I have been issued twelve pairs of light weight wool sox and therefore, as almost all of my other clothing is new, have had but little wasbLng to do. We turned in our long overcoats yesterday and were given a short heavy one in its place, as the long ones would be in our way in and about a truck. v Tell mother not to send me the sox she sphke of sending as I do not know how long I’ll be here. Some regiments have remained here but four days,, while others have stayed two weeks. If necessary I can get them after arriving In France or England, as I understand the government goes to great pains to see that packages reach soldiers there as soon as possible. I understand that truck drivers get $44 per month, which will help materially to better my financial standing. Well, Dad, it is getting late, so with love to you and mother, will close for this time. DEB. My addresß at present is D. J. Babcock. 105th Engr. Train, Camp Mills, Long Island. However, a card received Monday noon, and dated Bridgeport, Conn., May 25, said: “We are going .northeast again after a week’s at Camp Mills, L. I. Having a dandy trip and like the East fine. Will write soon aa possible.— D. d. 8.,” so it seems his stay at Camp Mills was quite short and he imay even now be en route “over there.”

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