Category: Uncategorized

June 5, 1918

Yesterday was most thrilling. First – all kinds of bad war news; then rumors of German submarines and airplanes getting ready to bomb N.Y. All agreed that Liberty would be a fine victory for the enemy, and spent the evening figuring out where we’d go when she began to sway. Then someone said; “But suppose their aim isn’t much and they miss the statue by about 100 ft. and hit us”. It was time to change the subject. The authorities also seemed to think Liz a dangerous mark, because she wasn’t lighted. And of course we had the quarantine scare, and talked symptoms, etc. Oh it was a cheerful evening.

It must have been odd to be at a fort at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Not sure why he called her “Liz”.

Next post June 6.

June 3, 1918

Last night the gang was wild again. They just couldn’t settle down. Wagner and Elmer gave amateur theatricals till we got sick of laughing. Wagner walked up and down outside the tents for 2 hours – trying to work off his wildness. Once he followed a cat all over the parade grounds. They had it fixed to hoist Prehodzki – cot and all – up in the air, then drop him. But after all, we fell asleep and forgot it.

Next post June 5.

May 30, 1918

This is Decoration Day: they are supposed to put flowers on the graves of departed soldiers of the Blue and the Gray. It doesn’t do me much good. I have no grave and don’t intend to get one. I’m a soldier more or less, but still no sign of departing. I’m blue and the day’s gray. Hell!

Wild doings today, I suppose; things began last night. In the first place Jones, after tender farewells to Waddles, walked up the dock with Eldridge and me and opened and read a letter from his wife. Great disappointment – no money in it.

Then they announced a ball game for 2:30 today between the sundodgers and the rain makers – the only people left on the island. Too bad it rained.

Then they had it fixed up to pull all the Worrie’s blankets off, after he got to sleep, jerk them into the next tent and hide them. They tried hard, but something slipped and they only managed to wake him. To this minute he believes Huston, next to him, did it in a dream.

This morning everyone got up for reveille, except Sulzer and me; then there wasn’t any, and we had the laugh on them.

 

Decoration Day is the earlier name for Memorial Day. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

 

May 29, 1918

Still no news. The latest is that the captain is supposed to be trying to work it so that if we are not going this week the passes will be returned. I don’t know whether there’s any truth in it or not. They’re getting efficient around here. Today they’re going to try a fire drill. The call will be blown without warning, and we go through the motions of fire fighting. I’m undecided whether to join the bucket platoon or the hook and ladder bunch. Great doings.

Just heard the joyous news that tomorrow is a holiday for everyone at Ft. Wood, except the photographers and meteorologists.

 

May 26, 1918

It is certain we can’t go before Monday anyhow. – It looks like rain, now, damn it. This island’s awful when it rains. Hope it doesn’t. Please thank Dany and Mother for the candy. This on behalf of the whole photographic unit. And Clarence said the cake was the best he’d ever tasted. We finished it last night.

 

May 23, 1918

About 75 new men have come in during the last two days, and things are getting crowded. The mess line starts at 11:15, that it starts to form. Mess is 11:30 but when I tried to make it today the line was already hopelessly long. It will be the same at the second mess, which is 12:10.

I am in the day room now and Jones is phoning his girl, urging her to tell her boss she is sick, so she can take the 5 o’clock boat. It’s funny.

Gosh, I’m tired of this island. Wish they’d give back our passes if they don’t intend to send us. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to come to N.Y. and be out till 12:45 at night, etc., etc.

 

May 21, 1918

Pouring rain – no work, so I have some time to write. Really I wasn’t so foolish, as I may have sounded. The entertainment was a regular church entertainment. Several people got up and sang a great deal of bad music very badly. A couple of fair impersonations, and some negro melodies completed the program. Afterward there was dancing which I enjoyed very much asleep in my bed.

The identification boys left this morning. Still can’t tell when we shall. The only thing that hasn’t been worked is figuring out the date by Bible verses. — This afternoon I am orderly, which is a fine indoor do-nothing job.

This is a cheerless night. A wet tent’s a dismal place, so I’m in the day room among a pool table, phonograph and drill a lot so the war will be over next week. It’s beginning to bore me. The inaction, I think.

 

May 16, 1918

Today they took our passes away. That’s why I couldn’t come tonight. Of course you can still [see] me, but you must come here. Any time will do.

It doesn’t necessarily mean we go right away, but it may be soon. If you should come, ask the first soldier you see for Private Friend, Photographic Division.

 

May 11, 1918

Inspection today. Everyone cleans up – himself and quarters. Then the company lines up and the captain examines each for neatness of uniform. Then comes inspection of quarters. Our row of tents was especially complimented.

They’re so darned paternal in the army. Tomorrow is Mothers’ Day. They ask every man to write a letter to his mother and lest there be some “alibis”, announce that paper and envelope may be had in the office. Two or three fellows had bloodshot eyes last week, not pink-eye, just colds. But today they examined all eyes.

At first you resent this business of the army assuming the powers of providence, your conscience, all responsibility and even your free will. But in time you get used to it, and sometimes even take some pride in it.

Except for the island part of it, this is a fine place to be stationed. There are not too many or too few men, and those in charge are regular chaps.