By: tsb On: Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:33 pm
>
> FARM KID in the ARMY
>
>
> Dear Ma and Pa,
>
>
> I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the
> Army beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick
> before all of the places are filled.
>
>
> I was restless at first because you get to stay in bed till nearly 6
> a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you
> do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to
> slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically
> nothing.
>
>
> Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water.
> Breakfast
> is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc.., but
> kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other
> regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city
> boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds you until noon
> when
> you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.
>
>
> We go on 'route marches,' which the platoon sergeant says are long
> walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him
> different. A 'route march' is about as far as to our mailbox at home.
> Then
> the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.
>
>
> The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain
> is
> like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown.
> They don't bother you none.
>
>
> This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting
> medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big
> as a
> chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the
> Higgett
> boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it.
> You don't even load your own cartridges They come in boxes..
>
>
> Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get
> to
> wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break
> real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm
> about
> the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver
> Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm
> only
> 5'6' and 130 pounds and he's 6'8' and near 300 pounds dry.
>
>
> Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other
> fellers
> get onto this setup and come stampeding in.
>
>
>
>
> Your loving daughter ,
>
> Alice