Fort Miley, Calif
Aug 13, 1917
Dear Folks,

      Your long look for letter reach me today sure tickled to get it. This leaves me feeling fine & dandy, hope it finds you folks the same.

      I sent you folks an Honorary Roll did you get it yet?

      You don't want to believe all you folks hear about our going across. No one knows here for sure & some of the kids believe everything they here. I don't think that we will be here at Miley much longer, but none of us knows where we will be sent to. But not straight to France anyway.

      So Mr. Hubble has come back. I suppose he'll live off off Mrs. Ballard for a while now. If I was her I wouldn't allow him arround.

      You bet I got you present and believe me it sure is handy & use it every day & my safety razor just fits in it. Looks awfully nifty too.

      I see by the paper that John Havekost was killed. That was too bad, he had ought to have joined & he would of still been alive & would of seen plenty of good sites too. But I think there is some of them guys too nice to join.

      The way the papers read Sat. nite, there is some chance for peace. My believe is that the war won't last very long. Of course you know we don't know but that is my opinion.

      Well I suppose thrashing is in full swing back there now. What is Ernie going to do – Stick or thrash out of the shock. Who all of the kids are stacking?

      I suppose you just everlastingly fly arround in the car. Believe me I don't blame you any. Just wait until I get back. Dad will have to keep it lock up or I will run it. Where do you keep it at?

      Say, them grandchildren of yours sure must be lunkers.

      I heard from Mike today. Same old kid, ain't he. What place does he intend to get for next year?

      Dad, I want you to give me a chance at the home place because when this war is over it will be the old farm for me. None of this city life for yours truly.

      So Ernie won some more dolls. He sure is the luckiest devil there is. You know I could win on a cinch. And no gambling for me as you know I can spend my money for other pleasures.

      Say, folks, I wish you would send me a couple of packages of Shag tobacco. I can't buy any out here at all. No Frisco for me after this thing is settled. It seems that it is behind in every way. But you know I wasn't arround much & there is a lot of great sites for me but it takes a millionaire to enjoy himself well out here.

      Well I go on guard again tomorrow & will try to catchem Kaiser Ha, Ha. There is a Russian here & he can talk very plain. But he sure is a good indian & he is always going to catchem Kaiser & cutem head off or something like that. A fellow sure can hear some comical saying in a camp like this.

      Ringling Bros Circus is to be here the 1st of Sept. & if I am here I intend to take it in.

      I was to a show called So Long Letty Sat afternoon. Sure was a good show, but pretty rand in some ways too. But that is what these natives like out here. But there is some nice shows too. There is some that I saw in Soo City the day that I left, so that's a sign they are behind.