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

Dec. 7, 1917, Frid., Partly cloudy.

Heavy frost last night. Ground very white this a.m. Close order drill all day. Went very well. Was all alone with platoon today. Selee, St. Sgt. & Mac sick. Very interesting school in wave formation tonight. Prepared for inspection & wrote Anna this evening. Bed 10.

Dec. 8, 1917, Sat., Cold. Rainy. Cloudy. Windy.

Rained this morning. Did not have reveille, nor regular inspection. Just tent inspection. Loafed around. Went over & visited old 1st in afternoon. Rec'd $16.80 from Piers. Bed early.

Dec. 9, 1917, Sunday, Terribly cold. Coldest yet.

Froze stiff last night. Water works out of business. Ruller & I went for a walk this a.m. I called on Ernest Auger in forenoon, too. Coldest weather seen in S.C. yet. Went to lunch - had cold salmon, cold cabbage & bread. Rotten as hell! Cook out of sorts, over theft of wood, etc. so take it out on us. Ha!Ha! Ernest Auger over to call in evening.

Dec. 10, 1917, Mon., Colder than yesterday. Strong wind.

Hiked 2 hours this a.m. without arms. Damnably cold! They had 1 hour Co. Drill in close order for Major Sherman. Damn him for it! Nearly froze our ears and hands out there. Had a 2 1/2 hr. Battalion hike in p.m. Four of us went on a wood raid in evening.

Dec. 11, 1917, Tues., Very Cold. First snow.

Had drill this a.m. Mostly setting up exercises and games. Had Co. drill for Fed. officers to inspect us. Then at 4:00 went out and had Regt'l Parade - viewed by Gen. Ryan. Commenced to snow about 5 p.m. Several inches by dark. Wrote Anna. Bed early.

Dec.12, 1917, Wed., Snow. Fairly cold.

Am street sergeant today. Co. did not drill today as there are about 4 inches of snow on ground. Busy all day with many details. Snow did not melt much today. Cold night again. Bed late.

Letter to Aunt Nell -

December 12th, 1917

Dear Aunt Nell : -

Your letter of the 8th just came - and as I'm street sergeant today will answer between calls. By the way, I might explain that the street Sgt's. duties are many. He is called by the cook at 6:00 a.m. He awakens the corporals of every tent and the reveille officer so that all will be out at 6:25 for reveille. Then he has charge of the mess hall at all meals, everything must be spotless in the mess hall - or the St. Sgt. has to find out who is to blame and make a yell. This takes two hours over each meal. He is responsible for order in the mess hall - and order in the Co. St. The Co. St. must be clean, the tents must be clean, cots must be dressed, latrines & showers perfectly clean & sanitary, and men out in time for all calls. Then he has to see that we get our proper fuel supply, that meals are on time, that no fires occur, that lights are out at taps - etc. etc. - all day. If any extra work is to be done - he has to get the men at it. Therefore - on some days, it's "on the jump" [Moving, happening, or occurring at a very fast or hurried pace] all day. Each Sergeant gets it every 12 days - as there are 12 of us.

Last night about 5:00 p.m. it commenced to snow and this morning when we got up there was 4 inches of snow on the ground! Can you imagine that - in South Carolina! Sunny South - H---!

So you were surprised to get two letters from me? Huh! Didn't I promise? I generally hedge around - but - if I promise anything - I play square! Now - did I ever fall down on any honest to goodness promises? Ha!Ha!

What do you think of those trenches? Can you imagine living in them in the winter time? They are surely tough, though! And cold - oh! man!

No - Joe Toombs likes it pretty well, and is going to stay with us. Most of the men applying for transfers out of the company are privates - and a few corporals; - no sergeants.

No - the fellow you mean in that diagram is Sergt. "Al: Swain! He remained with the old 1st Infantry. I see him quite often, however.

We don't know - now - when we will go to the rifle range. It is well nigh impossible to go with snow on the ground - and imagine laying on the ground to shoot! Impossible - the men would freeze & become soaking wet.

No - there are no birds at all here - or at the most - only an occasional south bound bird - and - anyhow - I've had little time to look about for them. There are partridges, woodcock and rabbits here though. Am going out for rabbits next Sunday. Get that - Sunday! Ha!Ha!

No - we didn't do a thing Thanksgiving! Just read, slept, studied and smoked all day - and wrote a few letters. Went over the trench system in the forenoon to map it - however. It was a cloudy, rainy day - and the most lonesome, dreary day I've spent since leaving N.Y. State.

Glad you enjoyed my trench map - and - and if you have any questions in mind - shout. I think I know the system pretty well and would be glad to enlighten you!

Oh! Yes! Our tents are admirably warm in ordinary cold weather! It's just when the mercury drops near the zero mark that we are cold. But ordinarily one can sit in the farthest corner of the tent with a light sweater on and read or write - and as for sleeping - our fire's generally out by taps and we open the tent door. It's cold medicine & requires lots of blankets - but - as for health - there are no colds in any tent that has fresh air at night. I like it!

Yes - I have two olive drab woolen blankets - one very heavy & one light - one heavy grey woolen blanket and a thick quilt or comforter.

Your letter was a "cuckoo" and I surely enjoyed every line of it immensely - and - by George! here's a big hope mine can prove somewheres near as interesting to you - though I am sure mine are generally pretty dull - and grammatically - I presume you use them as terrible examples before your English classes! What? Ha!Ha!

Mail seems to be awfully slow! I've only had two letters from Anna this week and here it is Wednesday night!

Well - I must close as I've got to fill out my report blank of the company street report and it's a half hours job - then - bed!

Be sure and write soon again.

As always, / With love, / Clyde

Observations - We learned a little more about Clyde's duties.

Up next - As Christmas approaches we find Clyde somewhat longing for home. We also learn more about his training for gas warfare.