Letter to Uncle Will - June 21, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

Spartanburg, S. C.

June 21 1918

Dear Uncle Will:

Your letter came some few days ago and also the check. Now about lending the money it is perfectly safe, where the money is loaned the fellows give a slip promiseing to pay at the first of the month and that is handed to the Captain and he keeps the money out of the pay. The fellow that was going on a furlough had gone before I rec’d the check.

Since I wrote you last I have been made Sergeant and my pay has been raised to $38.00 dollars a month. I was made Sergeant over 2 Corporal’s and they don’t seem to like it very much but guess they will have to stand it.

It started in raining since last night and it certainly has been some rain. One side of our tent leaks and there is a regular brook running through the center of the floor.

We expect to get some men from the next draft witch will be in here in about 1 week when they get here. I expect we will have plenty of work to do. We are all going to non-commissioned officer school witch is studying from maps and all kinds of signal practice.

Most of the boys are getting about 8 hours drilling a day now and you ought to see them. They are as black as the ace of spades. The sun is very warm here.  We have to change our under clothes about every day we sweat so much but it is a good thing as we are sure to keep clean. We take a bath every day and it feels good to be in under the showers everyday after our drilling.

The Y. M. C. A. now here in camp are picking out a team that will be called a all star team composed of the best men in the Pioneer division to play the 6th division witch is composed of Regular Army men. This game will be played on the 4th of July. I expect there will be some excitement and all kinds of money put up on the game. I don’t know if I will be picked or not I believe I had rather see the game than play.

Some of the Pioneer Regiments are beginning to leave for France this week. But it will be some time before we go probably late in the fall.

I will keep you well posted about everything that takes place as we can tell within one or two weeks of when we are going to move.

Hoping this finds you O. K. I remain with love to you both.

Ervin R Wakefield

Letter to Aunt Ida - May 31, 1918

Mailcall

Camp Wadsworth

May 31st 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came last night and I was glad to get it.  This is a lonesome place here and news from home is one thing we all look forward to.  When the boy comes down with the mail we all rush out of our tents to see if we have any mail.  I guess I get as many letter as anyone in the Co.

I received the box of sugar and tobacco and I tell you the tobacco came in handy.  It came the last of the month and all the boys were broke so I had good many friends and they all seem to have extra large pipes.  I think they keep large ones on purpose so they can get a lot in them.

Yes I got a box from Ida May and it certianly was a dandy.  It contained a large cake, nut meats, cookies, and maple sugar cakes.  The minute it came all the boy came in and said, what was in the box “Tip” so I had to show them. You can imagine how long it lasted.

You sent me a clipping where it said I was made Mess Sergh.  Well I was not and am not going to be.  How did you mistake my letter that way.  The Captain told me I was going to be but I had not been made I was going to school for that purpose.  I have been relieved from that duty. There was a fellow that had been studying for the position for more than a year and the Capt., decided to let him have it but mind you I was his choice.  But rather than cause any hard feelings among the boys he decided to let him have it.  But he was very much pleased at the way I looked at it and told me that I would be as well off if not better.  Some of the boys that are now Commissioned officers are afraid that I will rank them.  You bet I will to before I get through with this job.  I think the Captain has as much confidence in me as anyone in the Company.  I had rather you wouldn’t say anything about my future to anyone as you can never can tell how things turn out.  I have perfect confidence in myself and I surely will make good.  It is just as well if people don’t know what I am or what I am going to be.  There has been more talk about me than any other man in the Regiment and there is not a single offier in the Regiment that does not know me.  It had been due to playing base ball. I have been very successful at that and I think that it will get me somewhere.

You asked me about the insurance, well I took out the full amount but I just got it in time. It was at Fort  Slocum that I took it out and just got it before they shut them off.  I have $6.80 taken out of my pay every month.  I have had just about money enough to last me through the month.  It [?] hard for me to get along but I think that I will be able to save something each month from now on.

I am feeling fine. I don’t think that I ever felt any better but the weather is d---- hot down here and I don’t like the dry baked earth that sifts into everything. We have to take a bath once or twice a day and change our cloth’s every day.  So you see it takes most of our spare time washing clothe’s.  Yesterday it was 128 in the shade.

They are sending drafted men in here by the thousands and our Regiment will probably be filled up with them but the fellows don’t seem to mind as when we get together we are all the same fighting for the same purpose.  Of course there will be a lot of trouble between the two enlisted and drafted.

I was talking with one of the Officers the other day and he said that he would bet $100.00 that we would be in France before the 1st of September.  Now about coming home.  If I go acording to the list that is made out now I am fourteen [?] that will mean the middle or last of July.  I don’t say that for sure but that is the way it looks now as soon as I know for sure I will let you know.

Will write you again soon hoping this finds you both in the best of health.  I remain

With lots of love,

    Ervin