Earliest Service-Related Letter Found -

March 5, 1917 / Peekskill, NY. / Headquarters Post 2 / Co. M, 1st Inf., N.G.N.Y.

Dear Aunt Nel -

Your letter of yesterday came today. Am glad you find the time to write!

I, too, have very little upon which I can base a letter, as there seems practically nothing to say!

Your hours are fully as strenuous as this military stuff, aren't they? If you only had to get out at midnight for a couple hours out-post duty, you would have a good copy of our hours at being awake.

Am now in Headquarters barracks as I think my last letter told you and like it much better! Sick! Huh! No, oh no! We have somebody with rheumatism, grippe, "con"[?], or something all the time. Two men have been discharged with consumption, and there is, I hear a case or two of pneumonia up the line some where. As for me, I'm too blamed tough to get sick. I am such a 'husky' guy, I can't get sick! But laying all joking aside, it isn't a man's physique, nor his health, it's - as always - his brains, his experience, training and knowledge! The man, used to the trail, learned in the ways of the strenuous out-of-door life, etc., that with the knowledge of self care, hygiene, etc., keeps you well, not health & 'huskiness." Discipline for the soul - yes - excellent - you learn all the cuss-words, you get so nervous that you are on hair-trigger edge continually! Everything annoys you, you damn the meals, the quarters, the detailed fatigues and everything & every body else, and lonesome - wow - say, you'd give a month's pay to talk to the girl, to see her and hear her voice, just an hour! Lonesome, why my pal "Murph" who's married, and I, who might as well be as far as the effect on my actions here is concerned, (we're men enough to be loyal to the little women at home, anyhow) that we just sit around and look & talk miserable and try to console each other in our dreariness.

My next winter's plans, as I told you, are too far away to tell you yet, and during your visit at El Refugio [Clyde's cabin on Arnold's Lake] next summer will be plenty time enough, anyhow! Ha! Ha! (Mess call, so must quit.)

Sincerely / Clyde

Clyde

My observations -

Three thoughts come to mind. First, it's interesting that Clyde attributes a significant value on his love for the outdoors, his camping and outdoorsman experiences, and his robust health. Secondly, from conversations we had with family members, we know Clyde was camped in Peekskill, NY as his company was patrolling and guarding the aqueduct that carried water from the Shokan Reservoir in upstate NY to the New Croton Reservoir near Peekskill. This was the main source of water for New York City and had to be protected from saboteurs. Thirdly, it is while stationed at Peekskill that Clyde was introduced to Anna who lived in Peekskill with her parents and sisters, and would later become Clyde's wife after the war. From this letter we cannot ascertain if Clyde had yet met Anna, or, perhaps she's the girl he refers to.