[ 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, S.C.

Saturday p.m.

March 30, 1918

Dear Aunt Nell -

Haven't had a letter from you in quite some time, but the pkg. of papers came yesterday, reminding me that a letter was probably forthcoming soon - so, am going to beat you to it by writing at once! The Digest's were these very excellent issues - some of the best articles I've read in a long time even in them and the Republic!

You should see the weather here recently. Today it's just like a midsummer day up north! Gee! It's simply great! 

I expect to come home on furlough soon - some time in April. Will surely try to call on you either coming or going. The little girl is going home with me and I'd like her to come as far as NY with me on the way back. Will let you know more about my furlough later. I'm somewheres down the list yet so, of course, don't know anything about the exact date of my coming.

We haven't had a very hard time since we returned from the rifle range. Except for 72 hours in the trenches, a complete tour of Regimental guard and one of trench guard, we've had only two days of close-order company drill and about 5 days of battle maneuvers - real old fashioned sham battles, the rest of the time it's been cleaning up days, detail days (which affect the privates & corporals only) and innumerable lectures. Then yesterday, being Good Friday and our General being a Catholic - we had a Division holiday.

All bets are (?) on our moving. Every rumor points to our early departure. Some wilder ones have it that we'll leave the latter part of April - but every man of us agrees that we'll surely sail the end of May - and us who have good tips are betting anything, at any odds, that we'll be on French soil before June 15th. Even the officers are betting that! So our days in the old USA are practically numbered - and maybe we aren't glad!

We are going to have new rifles soon. We are to have the R.E. (Remodled Enfield) - such as the Remington people made for the British, since 1914 - only chambered for U.S. ammunition. It weighs several pounds more than our rifles and every man of us is sore as a pup over getting them. We expect to go to the range again to try them out - if there's time before we sail - otherwise, we'll learn to shoot them in France.

Remington Remodeled 1917 Enfield Rifle

Sunday p.m.

I had a lazy spell last evening, and so swore off writing for the day - and - as a consequence ended the day by playing "Rummy" the whole evening with Ray Jeal and Pete Smith; - in the meantime, your letter of the 27th came - so I'll answer that too.

So you have been enjoying your Easter Vacation. I sincerely hope your whole vacation was a very happy one. Ours was very commonplace. This morning I got up for reveille, as our Major called monthly muster roll this morning - and after a lousy breakfast of cereal, bum coffee and dried bread - went back to bed. I'd promised to attend service with John Crowley, but was too peeved, so slept until nearly noon. Got up and took a shower, shaved and for lunch - measly rotten stew, with no meat, even, in it - more left over bread, and tea with no sugar or milk! That was the actual meal. Tonight, I understand, we are to have a fairly decent meal, however.

No, I haven't read Tarkington's "Seventeen" but if you reviewed it - will try to get it at the camp library. I've recently read "The Hundredth Chance" which was fine - and "The Witching Hour" which I did not like so well. Have a copy of Robert Service's "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man". They're very good - much like Kipling's writings.

[Seventeen: A Tale of Youth and Summer Time and the Baxter Family Especially William is a humorous novel by Booth Tarkington that gently satirizes first love, in the person of a callow 17-year-old, William Sylvanus Baxter. The bestselling novel pub. in 1916.]

Yes, our company not only shot the best score of any company in the regiment - but the highest score of any of the 48 companies in the whole 27th Division! So, we'll get some sort of a prize, I presume. I've been picked for one of the battalion's snipers - which means that when ever snipers, or sharpshooters, are wanted over there, us battalion snipers will be given the job - and, no one has a better chance for "The Medal" than a lucky sniper.

Yes, we're very much disappointed here to think that what may be the greatest battle of the war is going on - and we're not even in it!

Yes, I can let you know within a few weeks of our departure - but - even now - we're sure that it will be ere the end of May.

I absolutely do like the new poems - and surely can approve of your task. I believe this war will be inspiration for a great deal of wonderful new verse.

You bet! I'm feeling fine! Sort of grouchy over the delay of my furlough - and that over trained feeling that we all have. Too much energy! Want to be on the move, or doing something all the time.

I must close now, as I've promised to help the Top out on figuring the pay-roll this p.m. I'm hoping to hear from you soon - will close as ever - 

With much love, / Clyde

More diary entries -

March 31, 1918, Sunday, Warm. Fair.

Muster this morning at reveille. Slept all a.m. Wrote letters to Sis, Aunt Nell, mother & L.C. and played rummy this p.m. Beat Jeal 3 games. Bed at 10:00. 

April 1, 1918, Monday, Warm. Fair.

Had stiff close order drill under Slats this a.m. and a 1 hour hike. Rearranged the Co. this p.m. - am in a green tent - #5 now. Only 6 of us Sergt's in it. Lots of room. No letters today. Rec'd medals.

April2, 1918, Tues., Fair. Warm.

St. Sergt. today. Pretty busy. Co. out for drills this a.m. - maneuvers this p.m. Took cold shower for first time. Wrote several letters. Played rummy with Jeal. Bed at taps.

April 3, 1918, Wed., Warm. Fair.

Fairly good drill this a.m. in P.O. (?) and bombing. Paid at 9 a.m. I rec'd $14.75 as usual. Loafed all p.m. & played cards with Jeal & Carty. Short shower in p.m. Taken sick at night. Bed early.

April 4, 1919, Thur., Fair. Warm. Shower in p.m.

Did not get up until 11:00. Have malaria fever - feel rotten. Am (?) qtrs. Slept most of day. Wrote Sis, CJB & Murph. Bed early. ANNA'S PHONE No. 444-W.

[Designation of malaria fever - higher fever of unknown origin, I'm sure]

April 5, 1918, Frid., Fair. Cool wind.

Slept until 9. No Bkfst. Feel pretty bum. Can't even smoke with any pleasure! Wrote few letters in p.m. Went to movies in Regt'l. Club in evening. Bed at taps.

April 6, 1918, Sat., Fair. Warm.

Up at reveille. Feel fine. Saw Capt. about furlough - OK! Went to town for Pullman ticket, etc. Back at one. Big parade in town. Got my furlough 5:50, rushed to town in car, had supper and made 6:45 for Wash. D.C. "Al" Swain & Spraker (?) on train - same car. Had upper berth. Bed about 9:30. Cooler.

Next up - Clyde on furlough.