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