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

Letter to Aunt Nell -

Camp Wadsworth Spartanburg, SC

October 28, 1917. Sunday

Dear Aunt Nell : -

Well - it's Sunday - and what a day! Truly - a day like this would be the acme of Indian Summer dreams in old York State. Such - in fact, have been our days for the past three or four days - typical cold, freezing nights - and warm, sunny days with a mildly cool, bracing air astir. And today has been a most profitable one. This morning I wrote a few letters, attended 10 o'clock church, then hiked over to the 10th Inf. camp and called on Ernest Augur - who, poor chap is soldiering under most miserable circumstances yet - and back for luncheon. Immediately after lunch, Joe Tombs and John Crowley, fellow sergeants of mine assembled for our hour of discussion and debate on the results of the past weeks drill - and study & research in the new things incorporated in the program for the coming week. Then I adjusted my spectacles and until five o'clock time flew as I pored over Literary Digest and the New Republic until my eyes ached - consequently - up to the present "Joe", who is wonderfully well read, and I have discussed matters covering the war, and all big world affairs.

To Joe and I, who read far more than the other Sergeants, you are a fairy to us in sending us all the magazines! Lord, how we devour them - page for page - word for word! And the more we read, the more we grasp the thoughts of all the bigger doings in the world, the big problems and events, the more can we put zest in our everyday work - as the complete change & mental relaxation we thereby get makes our work all the more pleasant - and you can't imagine how much we really appreciate all that reading matter!

Last night we had quite a lecture - and who do you think gave it? Wm Jennings Bryan! Sure as you are alive! He and the governor of the state [Richard Irvine Manning III, Democrat] were in the big Y.M.C.A. tent and it was a good talk - but - it was Wm Jennings - so - I wasn't in exactly the right spirit to enjoy him fully - but - the old cuss can talk! 

[Note - from Wikipedia - After the Democrats won the presidency in the 1912 election, Woodrow Wilson rewarded Bryan's support with the important cabinet position of Secretary of State. Bryan helped Wilson pass several progressive reforms through Congress. In 1915 he thought Wilson was too harsh on Germany and resigned after Wilson sent Germany a note of protest in response to the sinking of Lusitania by a German U-boat. After leaving office, Bryan retained some of his influence within the Democratic Party, but he increasingly devoted himself to prohibition, religious matters and anti-evolution activism. He opposed Darwinism on religious and humanitarian grounds, most famously in the 1925 Scopes Trial. Since his death in 1925, Bryan has elicited mixed reactions from various commentators, but historians agree he was one of the most influential figures of the Progressive Era.]

The past week has been  a very interesting one! We have French & English Veterans, and are learning something new all the time. Last week included the Following topics - "Poison Gasses," "Gas Bombs," "Use of the Gas Mask'" "First Aid in No-man's Land," "English Bayonet Methods," "Hand Grenades and Bombs, their mfg'r and use", and "Trench Fighting." Also lots of close order drill - for perfect discipline - and a parade - passing before Generals Phillips and Lester in review - and believe me - this new 107th Inf. - when assembled on one field - is some aggregation - 3700 strong!

There isn't any worthwhile news - only rumors - and the general idea is that we will go back to Mineola and go aboard ship secretly from there! So, we may see old New York again! Here's hoping!

Oh! yes! we now have large Tungsten electric lights with big green shades in every tent! Pretty nice, what?

Well - I must close, as it's nearly nine - and I like to get under the covers early, so will close, hoping to hear from you soon, as always  

Yours sincerely / Clyde

Co. M. 107th U.S. Inf.

Diary entries -

Oct. 29, 1917, Mon., Chilly. Rain. Windy. Cloudy.

We were up in the dark this a.m. Marched out on the field, after the Co. was re-squadded, and the whole division was formed up preparatory to a practice review, then marched in review in practice in practice for Thursday's possible review by Gov. Whitman [Charles Seymour Whitman was Governor of New York from 1915-1919]. In the afternoon we were reassigned to tents. Rained. Lights went out in evening. Rained like H--- more or less all night. Bed 9:30. 4 Sgts., 4 Cpls. in tent.

Oct. 30, 1917, Tues., Strong wing, some rain - cold.

Co. on guard, so nothing but detail work. Final tent & (?) up. Wrote in forenoon. Slept all the afternoon. Was given para-typhoid inoculation just before retreat. Signed payroll after supper. Cold night. Wrote in evening. Bed early.

Letter to Aunt Nell -

Camp Wadsworth, US Inf.

October 30, 1917

Dear Aunt Nell : -

Your letter of the 28th came a few moments ago - and - as a token of my appreciation - will answer this very instant! This has been the most miserable week so far - no mail, rain and cold as the devil!

Oh! No! I am feeling so very energetic that 8 hours drill a day is not enough to keep me tired out - so - I hike around on half holidays & evenings calling on the hundred - old friends scattered around the camp. It might interest you to know that I have old friends in all the following commands: - Co. M, Co. I, Co. G, Supply Co., Hqrs. Co., Band and Co. L of the 107th. Inf., also, the Field Bakery, 3rd Field Artillery, 22nd Engineers, First Cavalry and the 10th Inf., 2nd Inf., 3rd Inf. and old 1st Inf. - So you see why my making visits on various soldier friends entails quite a bit of hiking!

Now - they are taking half of our pay away! So - to dodge sinking half of mine in a savings acct. - I've made an allotment of about 2/3'rds of it to my banker - so - when I quit this game - all I'll have coming is one month's pay! I have signed up for, and taken out a life insurance policy fo $10,000 - the limit. It only costs me eighty - odd dollars a year for the ten thousand dollar policy - so it's a good investment - as - if I get killed there's a fine sum for the folks - and after the war, I can change it into a 20 year policy - that - will net me - at the end of 20 years - $10,000 at a cost of six or eight at the most - some deal!

You should see my left arm! Was just given an inoculation for para-typhoid - a separate dose from regular typhoid - and my arm is so sore & stiff I can hardly move it!

The letter from the English officer was keenly appreciated by my fellow Sergeants - who cheered the statement that we would finish the Germans by August - and - we could fight so hard if we were sure of getting there by then - Oh! Boy!

Thursday or Friday of this week - probably Friday - we will be reviewed - by Gov. Whitman [Governor of New York] - it is rumored. We know there is going to be a division review as it has been officially announced - and - we rehearsed it yesterday - the whole Div. being assembled - on some dozens of acres - and talk of impressive sights - it was the greatest mass of men, horses, big guns, wagons & auto trucks I ever saw, - 35 or 40 thousand men extending in every direction. And in the practice review - Co. M of the 107th had the finest lines of all Infantry Regiments! Not so bad - what?

Anna - my girl - has been very negligent in writing me - as in the past six days - I have received just one letter. I was in a very explosive state of mind - threatening to break all bonds and give her one good call but - today her letter said she had sprained her wrist! She is learning to shoot a shotgun - little devil - only weighs 106 lbs! - and shooting a 20 gauge shot gun! Some Girl - what? A game little sport - as you can see!

Today has been a pretty soft one. Our company is doing it's 24 hour tour of interior guard, and the rest of the privates doing detail work with the corporals supervising so - us Sergeants had it pretty soft. This morning I wrote letters, wrote in my journal and made out my platoon roster. This afternoon I came in from lunch about 12:30 - had a smoke and went to sleep - awoke at 4:30 - some day! Should be ashamed - so I intended to study patrolling & mapping.

There's no special news - only rumors about our coming to Mineola soon - to be transported from there - so I'll close, hoping to hear from you soon,

With love, / Clyde

Co. M 107th U.S. Inf.

Observations - Clyde demonstrates the optimism of youth.

Up next - Clyde mentions what he's been reading, reflects on the 1917 elections, gets real about the consequences of war, and reflects on providing for his family in the event of his dying in war.