Letter from Aunt Ida - May 18, 1918

May 18, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came a few days ago and I have just got around to answer it.

I am getting along fine and I don’t mind it so much since I have got used to this kind of  camp life.

Last week I was put in the kitchen to be a mess Sergt. for our Co. mess.  I go to school twice a day.  I think I will like it very much.  All I have to do is see that the work is done in the kitchen and take care of the supplies  I will let you know how I come out on the job.  It seems now that the Co. is going to be filled and I expect we will do something soon.  There was a rumor that we were going north but I guess there is not anything to it.  It would be fine if we could go to Fort Ethan Allen but no such luck.

We have been playing ball here three games a week and have had good luck but don’t expect it to last much longer.

There was a fellow from Mass. that committed suicide this morning (when we were all to breakfast) in the bath house next to ours and of course all the boys had to go down and look at him. I was one.  He cut his throat from ear to ear with a razor.  He had more courage than I would have or want.

We have all got new rifles and packs so we are ready to go any where they want but all we lack is the men.

I stay at the camp most of the time now and I haven’t got much to write about.  Before I went in the kitchen I used to go down town to get a feed but now I have most anything I want.  This noon I had tenderloin stk and mashed potatoes with green peas so you see I am better fixed than some.

Hoping that finds you both in good health.

I remain With Love

    Ervin

Letter to Aunt Ida - May 6, 1018

Unidentified men in a trench.

Camp Wadsworth

May 6th 1918

Dear Aunt Ida

Your letter came some time ago but I have been so busy and time goes by so fast that I have neglected to write.  You will have to forgive me this time.

I got the sugar and money O.K. and I tell you that the sugar tasted good, better than ever before.

We have been doing all kinds of work.  They seem to use this regiment for all kinds of hard work such as digging trenches, putting up tents, pulling them down when the fellows go away and cleaning up around the places they leave and clearing land.  Once in a while we get a little drilling.  I get out of a little work on account of playing ball but I don’t miss much of it.

I have been trying to transfer into some regiment that is going across but don’t have very good success.  The fellows all want to be across and you would to if you was down here and see the boys march away by the thousands.  It is some sight.

The sun is some hot here, the last few days it has been about 105 in the shade and by the looks of me now in about 1 month I will look just like some of these nigers down here.

I didn’t realize it had been so long since I wrote to you and I will not let it happen again.

I am glad that Uncle Will got that job as lister.   It is just the kind of a job for him to get and I think he is just the man for the position.

The hot days here take all of anyone’s ambition and when it gets night we all want to get to bed.  It is now 10 o’clock and the boys want to go to bed so will close but will write you a long letter Sunday.

With love and Kisses

    Ervin