Letter to Aunt Ida - December 18, 1917

Ervin enlisted on this day at Fort Slocum, David's Island, NY.

Upper left of envelope has red inverted triangle with YMCA in the center. Under this logo

reads: “WITH THE COLORS”

New Rochelle, NY postmark (6-30P, DEC 20, 1917)

“Fort Slocum Military Branch” Postal Slogan

Stationary reads at top: “WITH THE COLORS” and has a blue and red flag in the upper left corner and the YMCA red triangle on the upper right corner.

Stationary reads at bottom: “HELP YOUR COUNTY BY SAVING. WRITE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS PAPER”

To: Mrs. W. M. Parker

% Mr. Fallon[?] School Ave.

Montpelier, Vermont

Fort Slocum

Dec. 18 - 1917

Dear Aunt Ida:

You no doubt got my last letter by this time. I said that I would let you know when I made a change but I have been busy every minute. We came over here last Sat., and I have been standing in line waiting for different things such as numbers, examinations, vacanations and ect., I have not got my uniform yet but expect to very soon. Most of the fellows that came with me have been sent away then went this morning.

I am sleeping in the barracks now but they are not the best that ever was. We have a mattress, pillow, and two blankets. I am writting this letter from the Y.M.C.A. They certainly are great places. We have a large room here and it is crowed full all the time.

I would like to here from you very much but I don’t see how I can until I get located somewhere. I came very near coming home last Saturday but I thought as long as I had got this far I might as well go through with it as I would have to go through with it again later. There are about 5,000 men on the island now and as many more over in New Rochelle.

You may look for a package from me in the next day or two as I expect to send home some clothes.

You may write me a line to General Delivery Fort Slocum if you send it right away and I will look for it. If I am gone they will forward it.

With Love, Ervin

Leter to Aunt Ida - December 13, 1917

No envelope

Stationary reads at top: “YOUNG MEN’S HEBREW ASSOCIATION 171 WINYAH AVENUE NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. TELEPHONE 1062”

New Rochelle, N.Y.

Dec. 13, 1917

Dear Aunt Ida:

I passed my Exam., at Albany this morning and tomorrow I have my finale at Fort Slocum.  We are staying here as the barracks at the Fort are filled and running over.  It is supposed to accomadate about 4000 and at present they have 11,000 over there and about 3000 here in New Rochelle.  We are placed around in private families and such places as this.  They say that about 10% of the boy[s] fail in their finale Examination  Out of the five that came with me one has been sent back that was Chiquette [?] the one that worked at pines Uncle Will will know who he is Myers[?] Tuttle has been seperated from us but I expect he is in town somewhere.

At this place where we are they are having entertainment’s from some of the leading stars 12 Acts in all and they are going from one place to another it is very good.  They also pay for all mail and pkges that boys want to send away

I pass the Examinations very easy and expect to get through without any trouble.  I was very lucky to get in as I just squeesed in on the last examination at White River.

We are having plenty to eat and a comfortable place to sleep I will let you know what the plans are.

One young fellow that I like very well was seperated from us tonight but I expect to see him again as he is in my Company.  We think quite alot of each other he is only 20 and I expect he will be lonesome tonight.

Coming down from Albany, we had a very pleasent ride we had a special car and in it there was 100 men.  When we got off the train we met a bunch of fellow from Cal. Phil. and Springfield going out to their respective camps.

Some of the boys are having the times of their lives and if they were sent home it would break them all up but I don’t feel that way as I have had more of this transporting around than they have.

    When we get into our camps it will be much better.

Will write you again soon and let you know all

With love,

Ervin

Keep this as I don’t intend to keep a diary.   

November 1917

 

October 1917

 

In February of 1917 there were 322,000 men serving in the American military.
By October of that year that number had swelled to 1,675,000.
It was six months (October of 1917) before U.S. troops were ready for combat and shipped overseas.

In October 1917, the New York Times tells stories about athletic contests that are being held at Fort Slocum. They include track and field events, bicycle races, and grenade tossing. There were also rifle and bayonet demonstrations. The Fort Slocum military band played at various events in New Rochelle, also.

A New York Times article of October 17, 1917 recorded that various entertainers were going to Fort Slocum to entertain the troops. They included Scottish entertainer, Harry Lauder, opera singer Max Rabinoff and monologist (comedian) Julius Tannen.

Julius Tannen

Sir Harry Lauder

The "October Revolution" begins in Russia.

The War Risk Insurance of October 1917 goes into effect.

No letter from Ervin.

September 1917

Colonel H. P. Kingsbury, Inf. Commanded Fort Slocum September 1917 To December 1919.

A New York Times article dated September 30, 1917 read: "BASEBALL AT FORT SLOCUM" says that soldiers at Fort Slocum held an athletic carnival yesterday at the fort. Events included baseball, boxing, cam spree and wrestling contests. The Fort Slocum all-post team defeated the Fort Schyler team. The second all-post team defeated the Fort Wadsworth team.

No letters from Ervin.

July 1917

No letters from Ervin.

Draft Registration June 1917

June 26 First US troops (1st Division) arrive in France.

The New York Times article dated June 14, 1917: "AN 'AMERICANIZED FOREIGN LEGION'" is written by a man who visited Fort Slocum to say good-bye to a younger brother. He notes that a full 60 per cent of the volunteers being trained there were from various foreign countries - speaking in "foreign tongues".


Ervin's registration card reads as follows:

Form 1 3-306 REGISTRATION CARD 1138 479

1 Name in full: Ervin Reuben Wakefield Age: 27
2 Address: 66 Northfield St., Montpelier, Vt.
3 Date of birth: Jan. 21, 1890
4 Citizenship: Natural born
5 Where were you born? Hardwick, Vermont, USA
6 If not a citizen._________________________
7 Present occupation: Manager Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. St[ore]
8 By whom employed: Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
9 Anyone depends on you for support? No
10 Married or single? Single Race: Caucasian
11 What military service have you had? Nation or State: No
12 Do you claim exemption from draft? ___________

I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.

Signed: Ervin Reuben Wakefield


44 - 1 - 13 - A
REGISTRAR’S REPORT

1. Tall, medium, or short? Tall Slender, medium, or stout? Medium
2. Color of eyes? Brown Color of hair? Black Bald? No
3. Any disabilities? No

Signed by registrar [name unreadable]

City: Montpelier
State: Vermont Date: June 5, 1917

[Stamped at bottom:] Local Board, Washington County, Vt.,
[unreadable] Room 12

[Source: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (available through ancestry.com)]