More diary entries -

September 21, 1918, Sat.

Up 5:45. Cold night. Clear, cool day. Had rifle & bunk inspection in a.m. - C.O. drill, games, bombing & saluting lecture. A small detail in p.m. Sewed on Candidate stripes, diagonal black ribbon - wrote a few letters, cleaned up, etc. Sewed, wrote & went to movies in evening & studied.

September 22, 1918, Sun. Cold day - cloudy - some rain.

Wrote letters, cleaned all equipment, fixed my Chauchat, studied, talked with several graduates of last class, must go like hell if I get through, I can see that. All a gamble! Studied in evening - bed early.

September 23, 1918, Monday. Rain. Very cool.

Had C.O. drill, a hike, a lecture on bombs & an autorifle class in a.m. Had an exercise, a wig-way and a lecture on musketry. Good meals. Lots of mud everwheres. Study 7 - 9 p.m. Bed at taps. No mail since leaving Co. Have written Dad to cable $400.00.

September 24, 1918, Tues.

Had C.O. drill, lectures on grenades this a.m. Auto rifle, drill, grenades, commands & games in p.m. I'm rt. guide today. Class 7 - 9 in evening. Bed at taps.

September 25, 1918, Wed.

C.O. Drill, exercises, bombs, signals, musketry, grenade throwing & arms today. Study 7 - 9 p.m. Wrote a couple letters. Very cold nights.

September 26, 1918, Thurs. Fine day - ideal autumn.

Had C.O. drill, bayonet & physical lecture & Chauchat in p.m. Good meals. In p.m. Bombing, Coly pistol, V.B.'s (exam) and musketry. Study 7 - 9 p.m. Mail from 107th. None for me!

September 27, 1919, Frid. Partly cloudy

Had C.O., physical, British bayonet, bombing, A.R., Colt, and musketry today. Study 7 - 9 p.m. No mail yet. Cleaned up for insp. Wrote a few letters. Have best Plat. in Co. Bed at taps.

September 28, 1918, Sat.

Had rifle & personal inspection by C.O. - Lt. Major & Lt. Col. this a.m. Our platoon did very well - few dirty shoes. Good lunch. Wrote to Anna in p.m. - also mother. Bunch kept in on demerits. Went to town with MacDonald & Tobin, had shave, haircut, shampoo & massage, and a bath. Back for supper. Wrote notes & went to movies in evening.

September 29, 1918, Sun. Cloudy in a.m. Fair later.

Wrote note book up, wrote Aunt Nell [letter follows], home and Yares. Fair meals. Busy all day, writing in YMCA. Wrote in evening, and studied up my notes for next week.

Letter to Aunt Nell -

September 29, 1918

Dear Aunt Nell -

Here's Sunday again - and except for the time I've taken for a bath & meals, I've been very busy all day long - working on my note book. It's some job - keeping an up - to - date book - and, a fellow want's his book to be as good as he can make it, as we are to be judged, to quite an extent, on our books. Mine, I am glad to say, is neat enough and better expressed than I thought I could express the various subjects entered therein - but - as all those years of desk work ruined what ability with the pen I ever had - but - I'll take a chance on it.

We've had a very busy - yes - intense week. And the coming week is even more so. We touch every subject - and - dive right into the most minute details - and learn it thoroughly. We not only learn these things - but - chief of all - are learning how to instruct in them when we become officers, if we are lucky and do make good.

We are divided into Platoons with one officer as instructor in each platoon. His job is to supervise and direct our work - and those of us who are specialists in different things instruct the rest of the platoon. As I've had Automatic Rifles very thoroughly - that's my work here - and - I help in Signaling, as I know the code perfectly - and probably will have some use of my Intelligence work knowledge (Scouting, Observation, Sniping, Maps, etc.) before I've finished the course - and - being an expert in small arms firing of old days, will probably get some more work when we take up range work. As much as I am bored with instructing men of my equal rank - I'd much rather do it than sit by and listen to someone else talk on a subject I know by heart.

Discipline here is iron bound. A Candidate who appears with one button unbuttoned get a few demerits and loses his Saturday afternoon off. So far, I've been very fortunate - as I've no demerits against me.

As near as I can figure this course, it's a case of keeping on one's toes and proving that one can keep on their toes and do anything that's humanly possible. If others can do a thing - why not we candidates - so, we go through this sort of acid test to prove our worth. Many of us here have held down officer's jobs, commanded and lead men, up against the Boche - I, for instance trained & disciplined my platoon for the last 6 months that I had it - with no officer and finally led them into the trenches - twice - repulsed one raid, took out a fighting patrol - organized my own terrain and dictated my fire delivery entirely alone - then the last night, led my men out through a barrage of High explosives & gas and took them to rest camp - six miles - without a casualty - and my men had been fed, pup tents were up and ever mother's son of them was asleep before the other 3 platoons of my company, under officers, arrived. My own Co. C.O. told me he wished he could make me an officer immediately to stay with him and - I think he meant it. But - if this will count here - if I can show them that I am capable up there among flying death - why - with luck - I should come through O.K. Anyhow - I'll write you how I'm getting on once in a while - and in 3 or 4 weeks, when the course is over - will let you know how I came out.

By this time, I presume you are busy in school again and - well - probably your letters won't come as often. Haven't heard from you in about 3 weeks, Now!

Will close for this time, as ever

With much love, / Clyde

My address

Sgt. C.G. Bliss 3rd Bn.

Army Candidates School

A.P.O. 714 A.E.F.

France

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