Letter to Aunt Ida - January 31, 1918

On this day, Germany announces the renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic as German torpedo-armed submarines prepare to attack all ships, including civilian passenger carriers.

Mrs. W. M. Parker

5 School Ave.

Monpelier, Vermont

[Stationary reads at the top:] “AT FORTS JAY, SCHUYLER, SLOCUM, WADSWORTH AND WOOD, NEW YORK HARBOR”

[Stationary reads at top left:] “PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE TO INSURE THE RETURN OF THIS LETTER IF NOT DELIVERED, WRITE YOUR NAME AND STATION ON ENVELOPE IN WHICH IT IS POSTED”

[Stationary reads at top right:] “ARMY BRANCH OF THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK”

Fort Slocum, New York Harbor

Jan. 31st, 1917

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letters came and also the box of candy I was glad to get it. The doughnuts were very good. I took them over to the mess hall and ate them with coffee for breakfast.

My hand is cold and it is hard writting. I just came in from muster. We stood out for a hour and one half. We expect to get paid Sat., or Mon., our first pay.

Tell Uncle Will that I will get the blank he sent me signed and sent to him soon. The Major has been busy and I haven’t been able to see him yet.

Last Sat., I got a pass and went over to New York. Ida, Martha and I went to the Strand Roof Garden and had a fine time I expect to get off every Sat., now untill Sunday night at twelve as long as I stay on the island. But expect I will be shipped out soon.

I haven’t taken out any insurance yet but am going to as soon as they are ready to accept it.

I don’t expect I can get the position in the canteen store as I expected as I am in the National Guards and I can not get transfered from the N.G. to the regular army.

I will write you again soon as it gets a little warmer. I am getting along O.K. and like it better all the time Remember me to everyone

.With Love,

Ervin

[On back of envelope]

E. R. Wakefield

2nd Company

Fort Slocum, NY

January 31, 1917 notes

Strand Roof Garden: A caberet in Manhattan that provided vaudeville variety shows that were all the rage at the time.

Letter to Aunt Ida - January 18, 1918 and from Robert Frost



Y.M.C.A. Building, Fort Slocum

 

Fort Slocum
Jan. 18, 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:
Just a few lines to let you know that I rec’d your pkge and the bath robe O.K. and surely was glad of the food it tasted good. I havent’ slept in my robe yet but it will keep me warm I know and it’s just what I need.

Bob [Robert Frost?] is here and I am sending this with his letter [see his letter below] I saw him last night where I wrote you but had the letter sealed so didn’t let you know. He has been busy all day getting his uniform and haven’t seen him until tonight. I wrote to Rena [?] Fay [?] this afternoon and am going to write Homer[?] tomorrow.

I expect to go in the kitchen tomorrow for 24 hours but I don’t mind as I have been there before and it isn’t bad.

Sunday I expect to have the day off and I am going over to Ida May.

Hoping this finds you O.K. I remain With Love to All
Ervin

I had my name put in the canteen if I get that I will have a pretty good job and extra money.



Jan 18, 1918
Pte. Robert M. Frost
Medical Dept.
Bar. 51
Fort Slocum, N.Y.

Dear Ida:

I suppose Irvine [Ervin] told you that he met me here. I had looked about for him for a long time before I finally found him in this, the Y.M.C.A. building. I got the third degree yesterday, final examination, it was an experience not soon to be forgotten. This is certainly a busy place with so many men coming and going every day. I received my uniform today, with shoes, stockings, underwear etc.. and post my valise with my civilian clothes back to Andy. Irvine says he is getting so that he likes this place better and he says that he may get a permanent job here. I hope I am not here very long myself, would like to be at camp for training and to find out just what my duties are to be. There is a piano in this Y.M.C.A. building, someone is playing just now and the boys are singing “Over There”.

Well, Irvine has just tapped me on the sholder, am so glad to see him. Now I shall visit with him for a while.

Give my regards to Will and accept same for yourself.
Truly yours,
Robert

Letter to Aunt Ida - January 17, 1918



Kitchen - General Mess, Fort Slocum

Fort Slocum

Jan. 17, 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:
Your letter came today but I didn’t recieve the pkg. but probably will soon.

I have been looking around here on the island for a job. I would like to be stationed here as I hear that the camps are not half as good so if I can get a position in the canteen I will be stationed here and my name will be crossed off the out going list. As I understand it all the camps are crowded and they are not shipping out any more in my branch but I can be transferred to something else.

Don’t worry about me as I am felling fine and I have a good warm place to sleep with a locker to put my clothes in. I also have a new overcoat that is just like officer’s and it is much warmer and it fits me like a glove. I was down to the Quartermasters carrying overcoats to the place where they given out and I run across this one so I carried it up and asked the Sergent if I might change and he said yes, it is made of the finest material with a lining all the down with silk.

Yesterday we started drilling. We have five drills in the morning and in the afternoon we get work yesterday afternoon we carried wood and this afternoon we didn’t have anything to do so I walked around the sea wall and got cleaned up.

We have a couple of cold days since I came back but today was fine just as warm as can be. I was out all day roaming around.

I recieved a letter from Ida today and she seems to like [her job] better than when she started. I am going to try and get over and see her Sunday.

Today the Major came out and explained about the insurance. I am going to take out $10,000 worth that will cost me about $5.00 a month, and if I am disabled I will receive about $57.00 a month and on top of that I would get a compensation of $3,000 a month.

The harbor is all frozen over and it is hard to get coal over here so we are burning wood but the harbor is breaking up now so we expect to get in supplies and coal. We haven’t received any mail for ? day on account of the ice.

I expect to go in the dinning room or kitchen for 24 hours begining tomorrow afternoon but I don’t mind it as I am getting used to it and it doesn’t come so hard as the first fime.

I will let you know as soon as I receive the pkges, and remember me to all the people.

With Love to you All

Ervin

2nd Company