[National War Work Council
Army and Navy
Young Men’s Christian Associations
“With the Colors”]
9/30/1917
Dear Mother:
Well, I am not home yet but think that I will probably be home some time this week. I
did not receive my discharge until this morning and now I have to wait for the order. The
machinery of this government seems to work slow sometimes. I was talking to one of the army
physicians a few days ago and he told me that all the arrangements had been made for getting
men here but that they forgot to make any arrangements to send them back. He said that they
were waiting for orders from Washington and had no authority to send any men home until they
received them. They have received them since that time. I had a third examination on my feet
before the Quarter-master Surgeon last Monday week ago. He ordered me sent home. My feet
suit me all right and serve their purpose even if they do not suit them. I imagine I could foot it
with most of them at that.
We have been doing some good hard drilling since I came here. It has certainly done me
a lot of good. I never felt better in my life. I realize that I have not been hungry in two years.
You perhaps doubt that, having seen me eat a few times. But I eat three or four times as much as
when I came here, and I want three meals every day. I wish you could see how we eat. I think I
can hold two dishes and dip out of a third. All the others try to do the same. There is not much
attention paid to manners in the army.
We signed the pay-roll today. Do you realize that the government will pay me a dollar a
day for the time I have been here.
How is Mary?
Must stop or I will miss my supper.
Your son,
Guy
nd
Co. I-2 Depot Regt.,
Camp Sherman,
Chillicothe
Ohio