Dear Folks,

      I received your letter 3rd & sure was glad to get it & also the money too and believe me it came in handy too. As we didn't get paid till today the old $30 sure look great to me.

      Well what fun time did you folks have back there. We had an awfully good time. I wasn't in the parade because I was too short & they only took 16 recruits. But I didn't envy them. Too much walking for me.

      We had quite a field meet at Golden Gate Park, but none of the Coleridge Kids took part. They gave the enlisted men a free basket lunch afterwards & sure treated us fine. And last nite they gave us a big free Military dance at the San Fransisco Auditorium, & some place believe me. Covered a good block.

      The fire works was sure fine, but never the less I had an awful longing to be back there for last nite, because the times out here are not the genuine ones like I need to have back there. The next 4th I'll spend will be right in old Coleridge.

      Well how is everybody back there? We are all fine & dandy. Mr. & Mrs. Willey were up to camp a little while this afternoon, but I didn't get to speak to them. But intend to go down & see them some of these nites.

      That sure was some storm you had back there. I sure am out of the lightning district, but when these guns go off it makes a fellow think of them old thunder. They fired the gun off 48 times at 12 o'clock yesterday, so you see we have some racket once in a while.

      Maybe you think we didn't have some dinner yesterday, chicken, mashed potatoes, 2 kinds of cake, ice cream & it sure was fine. Where did you folks spend the 4th & what kind of dinner did you have?

      Dad sure is there on collecting for the Red Cross. But I think of old Sherer being so d--- tight, I sure would like to tell him what I think of him & I sure will when I get back. Did he ever pay Dad for thay hay? If I was Dad I sure would make him come thru.

      Be sure & give the boys, Ernie, and Mike a good hand shake for me because I sure do miss you all. I am not home sick & never will be but I have to think that Army life isn't nothing compared to a real homelike I used to have back there.

      The way all these old fellows have it doped out that this old war won't last longer than 6 mon, and they have it down pretty good too. But I don't think I'll ever have to leave this Fort as we have about the right number to man the guns. And they say we'll have the chance to make 1st class gunmen in Oct. I am sure going to do my best at it too. We leave for the rifle range next wk, don't know how long we be there. It is only about ¾ mile across the Bay.

      Mother don't you worry about me not being able to read your writing. If I didn't hear from you I wouldn't care to hear from anyone. Your letters mean the world to me & believe me I sure give them a good going over, too.

      It was too bad that you folks didn't get to go back & see Aunt Agnes. The trip sure would of done you folks worlds of good.

      Oh Dad, I sure would like to be there & run the rigs. Believe me I sure would do right about it too. I sure would roll in the old bail. But you'll have to let me out of it till next fall. If the people out here saw that rigs, they would not know what they were for. This country is far behind that country, to my notion.

      Well folks, this letter is rather long. Will close. Hoping to hear soon. Be sure & take good care of yourselves, And God bless you both & all.

Your son,
Kinley