AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 More diary entries - May 4, 1918, Sat., Very Warm. Camp Stuart Check up inspection. Checked everything. Took until noon. Loafed, read "Seventeen" and smoked all p.m. [Seventeen by Booth Tarkington, 1915] Slight disturbance over the mess this noon. Bed early. May 5, 1918, Sun., Very warm. Dusty. Camp Stuart. Fine day. Wrote Burr and Sis, also Joe Toombs this a.m. Loafed, slept & read White's book "The Riverman." [The Riverman by Stewart Edward White, 1908, historical fiction] Parade at retreat tonight. Turned in overcoats at 8 p.m. Bed at taps. Warm. May 6, 1918, Mon., Very Warm. Camp Stuart. Drilled in C.O. this a.m. The 2nd platoon under Turner & I carried away all honors for (?). Good luncheon. Letter from Anna - a cuckoo! Wrote her. Paid in p.m. $14.55 as usual. New equipment arrived. Bed at taps after (?) & doing up laundry. May 7, 1918, Tues., Very warm. Dusty. Camp Stuart. C.O. drill & ex. this a.m. I had Co. in setting up and then a half ...

 I wanted to summarize what our research has revealed so far with regard to the actual familial relationship between Clyde and Aunt Nell - Clyde's mother, Bessie (Spoor) Bliss (b. 3/7/1879) was the daughter of John and Della (Sergent) Spoor of Hartwick, N.Y. We believe Della was the daughter of LeRoy and Louisa Sergent of Laurens, N.Y. We believe Nellie Sergent (b. 1/9/1883) was the daughter of LeRoy and Mary (Adams) Sergent - LeRoy's second wife - of Laurens, N.Y. This would make Nellie the Grand Aunt of Bessie despite being born 4 years after Bessie. It would be interesting to uncover the family tree for LeRoy Rufus Sergent. More diary entries - Apr. 17, 1918, Wed., Fair. Warm. Up early. Went out for bayonet combat drill this a.m. Rec'd instructions in open & trench combat. Very strenuous. Rec'd our new 1917 Enfield model rifles, bayonets & scabbards today. Wrote letters. Bed early. Apr. 18, 1918, Thur., Very Hot . Had Co. drill & rifle drill this a.m. wit...

 More diary entries - Apr. 7, 1918, Sun., Fair. Up at 7:00. Slept OK. Train near Wash., D.C. 10:10 a.m. "Al", Spraker and I had bkfst. and made 11 a.m. train on Pennsy. Arrived in N.Y. about 5:40 p.m. Devil of a trip. Left N.Y. 6 and arrived in Peekskill 7:15. At Anna's for night. Cooler. And maybe my Anna wasn't a sight to gladden my heart! Oh! Boy!!! Apr. 8, 1918, Mon., Cloudy. Rain. Home Left Peekskill 7:40. Anna with me. Reached Albany at 11:20. Had luncheon there. Left Albany for Oneonta at 2:30, arrived about 6:00. Left on 6:40 trolly. Lunch in Oneonta. Reached home about 8:30. Visited rather late. Apr. 9, 1918, Tues., Snow. Home. Up early. Claude up for day. Had maple sugar & (?). Played cards, visited & smoked all day. Saw Leon & Les G. Snowed all day. Apr. 10, 1918, Wed. Cold. Cloudy. Home. Loafed around all morning. Anna, Doris, Delia and I all hiked over to El Refugio [Clyde's camp / cabin on Arnold's Lake] in p.m. Looked around, etc. Di...

 [ 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 a...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Mar. 13, 1918, Wed., Fair Had some maneuver work in a.m. - 2 nights out. Paid in p.m. I rec'd $14.75. Co. went on guard. I went to town, to show, bath, barber, supper. Back in at 8. Bed at taps. Bought new watch. Sent pictures of range, medals, etc. home by P.R. (?) March 14, 1918, Thur., Fair. Co. on guard and regt'l detail. Sent out laundry. Bought stamps and paper. Wrote few letters in a.m. & p.m. Read "The Hundredth Chance." Bed early. Very warm. [The Hundredth Chance by Ethel M. Dell. Published 1917 - sort of a British romance of sorts] Mar. 15, 1918, Frid., Cold. Windy. Had a big sham battle this a.m. Whole brigade's involved. Used blank ammunition. Capt. Coleman promised me a furlough. Wrote Dad & Anna about it. Auto rifle school p.m. Went to movies of instruction. Bed at taps. Mar. 16, 1918, Saturday. Fair. Reg. insp. this a.m. ...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Page from Clyde's diary with ballistics information for the U.S. rifle. Mar. 1, 1918, Friday, Warm. Fair. Hiked in a.m. Finished a.m. with musketry, also part of p.m. Had 2 1/2 hours of bayonet. Pretty stiff day. Went to artillery lecture in eve. Bed late. Mar. 2, 1918, Sat., Fair. Reg. insp. in a.m. Packed extra luggage & loaded baggage during day. Made our packs and entirely prepared during evening. Fine day. Cool night. Mar. 3, 1918, Sun., Warm. Fair. Up at 3:50 a.m. Early mess. Started for Fairforest about 5:50 a.m. [Fairforest is a Census-designated place located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.] Carried 1 meal. On train 7:15. Arrived at Campobello 9:45. [During World War I portions of Campobello (in Spartanburg County) around Caldwell and Depot Streets were designated as a staging area for the U.S. Army and a tent city for the troops soon appeare...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Jan. 17, 1918, Thur., Fair, Cool wind Had hike, bayonet drill and Co. in C.O. [close order] Drill this a.m. Had lecture on musketry and auto rifle school this p.m. Bombing school also in progress. Very windy out. Jan. 18, 1918, Frid., Cool. Cold wind. Fair. Had hike and C.O. Drill this a.m. Drill long and very snappy. Fellows out for detail & bombing school this p.m. Went to auto rifle school. Got ready for inspection this evening. Wrote Yates & Claude. Bed early. Very cold night. Jan. 19, 1918, Sat., Cool. Partly cloudy. Reg. inspection this a.m. which went fine - the 4th platoon carrying off honors of the day! O.K. Then I went to barber shop - then prepared for guard duty. Had charge of post 9, including all quartermaster depot. Went on at 4 p.m. with 42 men, 6 corps. & 1 Junior Sgt. - Turner. Jan. 20, 1918, Sun., Cloudy in a.m. Snow. Fair p.m. Slept f...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Starting with diary entries - Dec. 29, 1917, Sat., Cold. Snowed some. Had regular inspection this a.m. Went off OK. Finished 9:30. Did nothing but write letters all day. Bed 7:30. Very cold. Snow. Dec. 30, 1917, Sun., Very cold. Snow on ground. Up for reveille. Back to bed after breakfast. Slept until noon. Wrote letters in afternoon to Sis, G. Spoor, and Aunt Nell. Terribly cold. Read. Bed early. Cold. Letter to Aunt Nell - Spartanburg, So. Carolina December 30, 1917 Sunday afternoon   Dear Aunt Nell : - Just a few lines to acknowledge the receipt of that Santa Claus box yesterday - each and every article of which I most surely appreciated a lot and to thank you a thousand times. The trendy hat is a dream. All my fellow sergeants are almost green with envy over my possession of it! It's great! and Joe Toombs read "Carry On" last night and thinks it's great! I went to ...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Diary entries - Dec. 22, 1917, Sat., Fair. Reg. insp. this a.m. Went off OK. Bill Turner & I went to town after lunch. Back at 9:30 p.m. Dined at the Wadsworth - shopped - saw 2 shows, had bath, got my photos, etc. Rec'd pkg. from Anna and box from home today. Cold night. Stuff in box from about 15 different folks. Some wonderful box. Boys! Dec. 23, 1917, Sun., Fair. St. Sgt. today. Very easy day. Loafed around in the tent all day - wrapped up pkgs. of photos for mailing. Wrote letters & cards to acknowledge Xmas gifts. Bed at 11:00. Cold night. Dec. 24, 1917, Mon., Cool. Fair. Drilled this a.m., close order, extended order & wig wag. Mailed photos after lunch. We did not drill this p.m. Rec'd briar pipe in case from Allen Hoke. Wrote a few letters, smoked & talked. Damned lonesome eve. Everybody pretty blue. Bed early. Dec. 25, 1917, Tues., Christmas Day / My 1s...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Nov. 28, 1917, Wed., Cold. Cloudy. Windy. We drilled - had talk on going into our trench sector & hiked in overcoats this a.m. Very windy - air full of dust. Went to barber shop this p.m. Loafed & read. School in p.m. and evening. Letters from Howard Field & Frank Yates. Ans'd. Bed early. Nov. 29, 1917, Thur., Thanksgiving Day. Rainy. Cold. Went over and made complete study of trench system, going all through the sector we are to occupy tomorrow night. Had sweet corn bread, jam, & coffee for lunch. Big feed at night. Slept all afternoon and wrote Spike and grandma. Had turkey, gravey, cranberry sauce, plum pudding, cocoa, bread & butter, mince pie, mashed potatoes & (?). Talked in evening & smoked. Bed early. Nov. 30, 1917, Frid., Cold. Cloudy. Some rain. Had monthly muster this a.m. and signed payrolls. School at 1:30. Prepared to go...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Start with more diary entries - Nov. 13, 1917, Tues., Cloudy. Wind cold as hell. Drilled this morning and afternoon. Was very cold - had lots of extended order [drill]. The wind blowed hard all day. Day seemed awfully long. 3 excellent meals today! Great! Wrote letters tonight. Bed early. Nov. 14, 1917, Wed., Fair. Windy. Cold as Hell. Drilled this forenoon under our new lieutenant - Stout - very snappy. Changed tents - we are now in tent 24. Was in 18. Have a new board floor. Worked all the afternoon. Cold night. Bed early. Nov. 15, 1917, Thur., Fair. Sunny. Cool breeze. Good drill this a.m. Had lectures, etc. this p.m. Put up the walls to our tent. Had 3rd inoculation this p.m. Wrote several letters. Bed early. Nov. 16, 1917, Frid., Cold morning. Warmed up. Fair. Good stiff drills, etc. all day. Got called for our slowness in getting out. Sgts. are to have extra drill tomorrow p.m. I ...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Oct. 31, 1917, Wed., Fair. Cool. Arm very sore - feel punk. Did not drill. Muster at 11:45. Bum lunch. Wrote letters in p.m. Read in the evening. Bed at 9:00. Nov. 1, 1917, Thurs., Cold. Clear. Cold morning. Drill & lecture this a.m. Staid around for the Governor this p.m. Very easy day. Wrote letters. Bed early. Nov. 2, 1917, Frid., Cold. Cloudy. Practiced for review - then marched to field and about 11:30 passed Gov. Whitman. Our lines were excellent. Whole Div. was there. Had signal practice this p.m. Guin was over for evening. Bed late. Nov. 3, 1917, Sat., Cool. Fair. Inspection this a.m. I got H--- for dusty rifle & had to have it reinspected. Wrote letters & read this p.m. Wrote Sis. Bed early. Nov. 4, 1917, Sun., Fair - quite warm. Went over to 10th to see Guin, with Harold Smith this a.m. Slept after lunch until 4. Guin & a Sgt. were over. Go...