[ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING]

Diary entries -

Aug. 19, 1917, Sunday, warm. The day we hit New York.

We arrived in upper Bronx, near King's Bridge about 8:00 this morning. Switched around quite a bit, got off the train and marched to Van Cortland Park, marked out and pitched camp. No breakfast. The Red Cross gave us sandwiches & milk for dinner. Met Co. G. Set up tents, cots, etc., etc. Regular mess. I wrote letters & went to bed early. Very tired.

[Additional info extracted from Wikipedia - Van Cortlandt Park is a 1,146-acre park located in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, it is managed with assistance from the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. The park, the city's third largest, was named for the Van Cortlandt family, which was prominent in the area during the Dutch and English colonial periods.

Its natural features include Tibbetts Brook; Van Cortlandt Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Bronx; old-growth forests; and outcrops of Fordham gneiss and Inwood marble. Contained within the park is the Van Cortlandt House Museum, the oldest surviving building in the Bronx, and the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, the oldest public golf course in the country.

The land that Van Cortlandt Park now occupies was purchased by Jacobus Van Cortlandt from John Barrett around 1691. His son Frederick built the Van Cortlandt House on the property but died before its completion. Later, the land was used during the Revolutionary War when the Stockbridge militia was destroyed by the Queen's Rangers. In 1888, the family property was sold to the City of New York and made into a public parkland. The Van Cortlandt House, which would later be designated as a historic landmark, was converted into a public museum, and new paths were created across the property to make it more passable.]

Aug. 20, 1917, Monday, Very warm.

Up at 5:30. Charge of quarters today. Took sick report, fatigue, went for mail, changed around. The Sgts. are now in a tent by themselves. Made new latrine. Some boys went downtown. I visited with Hopkins. Bed early.

Aug. 21, 1917, Tues., Warm, cloudy.

Got ready for parade this morning - rode down to 14th St at Univ. Sq. and marched over to 5th Ave. After the Belgian comm. passed us, in review, we marched up 5th Ave. to 72nd St in 5 (?) platoon fronts. Then back on the Broadway sub. arriving at 3:00. Had dinner & cleaned up. Bed early.

Aug. 22, 1917, Wed., Fairly cool

Drilled this morning. Waited for pay this afternoon - I rec'd $18.33 - Squared all my debts and collected all dues. We didn't drill this p.m.

Aug. 23, 1917, Thurs., Warm -Cloudy

Drilled this forenoon. Prepared for general inspection this afternoon. Rained a little. Sent 1st news today. Rec'd no letters. Went to Yonkers for supper with Sgt. Grose. After supper we went to Proctor's Theatre. Saw good pictures for 1 hour, then about 1 1/2 hours of excellent vaudeville. Returned in time for taps. Rained in night.

Aug. 24, 1917, Friday, Warm, cloudy

Ex. in Co. St. this a.m. Waited all morning for the inspection officers. After dinner we stood inspection. Rain cut us short. Bum supper so "Al", Williams, Toombs, and I went to Yonkers. Went to Proctors again. Nice supper, etc.

Aug. 25, 1917, Saturday, Warm

Had inspection by Major Sherman this a.m. Non-com also given lecture. Expect Sis [Anna] tomorrow. "Joe", "Toddy", "Grose", "King Brady" and I went down to 145th St. on the sub. Then over to Riverdale Drive - down the drive to 81st St. then around town across 9th Ave. to Columbus Ave. down to 77th St. So. then back to Broadway and up on surface cars [trains] - getting in camp about 3 mins. before retreat. Saw Grant's Tomb, etc. Staid in evening and wrote letters.

Aug. 26, 1917, Sunday, Warm

Out of camp about 11:00 Anna came down Friday. Met her at camp entrance. She saw all details of camp, saw evening parade. We had luncheon and supper in Yonkers - great eats. Spent evening in park at Yonkers. She returned on 10:15.

Aug. 27, 1917, Monday, Warm

Drilled in morning, good and stiff under Major Sherman. The old cuss gave us Sgt's. hell. Drilled 2 hours also in afternoon. Drew more clothes, etc. "Al" and I went to Yonkers in evening. We saw a pretty good show.

Letter to Aunt Nell -

Aug. 28, 1917, Van Cortland Park / City

Dear Aunt Nell-

Are you in town yet?

I phoned a message to you a week ago today - saying I was in the city and haven't heard for sure where you are.

Can you get up to camp Wednesday night? You get off the Broadway car at 242nd sub. terminal and stop in front of the 1st Sgt. & it's very easy to find Co. M's street.

Enclosed you will find pass that will be valuable to you if you want to see the parade Thursday.

Will write you later -

With love / Clyde

P.S. Will be in camp every night this week

Parade pass sent to Aunt Nell

More diary entries -

Aug. 28, 1917, Tues., Warm

Drilled good & stiff this morning, Had nerve (?) exam this morning. Drilled 2 hrs. also this a.m. in platoon front parade practice. I had 2nd platoon. Went to P.O. & tailors after mess. Wrote letters in evening. Very dry & warm. Had a chat with Charles Carrigan, one of my old men in Co. G.

Aug. 29, 1917, Wed., Hot

Drilled both a.m. & p.m. good and hard. Had turkey dinner given us - complete by Lamb's Club this evening. Then went to bed early. Rec'd heartshield (?) & writing paper from Ethel Whitaker also 6 letters today.

Aug. 30, 1917, Thursday, Warm, Some Rain

Up at 5:15. Breakfast at 5:45 - assembled at 7:45. Went down to 110 th St. on Sub. Then cross town to 5th Ave, The big parade started about 11:20 - down 5th Ave. from 112th St. Then down to 1st St. - over to the Bowery - up to Union Sq. (up 3rd. Ave) (14th St.) and back to sub. to camp. "Al" and I went to Yonkers. Saw Anna while in parade.

(Additional entry by Clyde on Memoranda page in diary) 

Data on Parade [the parade Clyde sent the pass for]

August 30, 1919

Approximately 25,000 men in line. About 2,000,000 saw the parade.

Parade consisted of -

Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan & staff [add'l info - John Francis O'Ryan (August 21, 1874 - January 29, 1961) was a Manhattan, New York City attorney, politician, government official and military officer. He served as commander of the 27th Division during World War I.]

9th Coast Artillery

69th Inf., 10th Inf., 14th Inf., 15th Inf.

2nd Brig. - 1st., 23rd & 71st Inf.

3rd Brig. - 2nd & 3rd Inf.

1st Brig. - 7th & 14th Inf. 

8th, 9th, & 13th Coast Defense

1st Cavalry Squadron A, Signal Corps, Ammo trains

Old NY Guard Regt's- [as follows]

Inf. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th (colored), 23rd, 14th, 47th, 69th, 74th, 65th (broke up in 1916), & 71st.

Artillery - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Field Art.

Engineers - 22nd Engineers

122 mins. to cover distance of march

Observations - Clyde and the NY 1st Inf. seem to be getting closer real Army training. Anna is consistently in his thoughts and she has been visiting him. Of note also (from the list of parading units) is the 15th Regiment was comprised of the African-American soldiers in the NY 1st Inf. They became  known as "The Harlem Hellfighters."

Up next for 5/15 posting - More diary entries while encamped in Van Cortlandt Park.