In camp 2 P.M.
Aug 18, 1917

Dear Folks,

      Well as I have a couple of hours to myself, I will try & write a few lines.

      We had Inspection again today & I certainly had to hump arround as I was on Kitchen Police too. I went to the mess hall at 5:30 after breakfast, wash all the dishes & pans, rather helped then had to come back & get ready to stand Inspection. Had to get my gun all cleaned up & my shoes shined so you see I didn't dare lose any time.

      Well how is everybody back home. We are all fine & dandy, but Wed. they gave us an inoculation for Lock Jaw & it made our arms pretty sore. And Thurs. I felt pretty tough over it, but was alright yesterday. We will get another one ten days from Wed. which is twice as strong & ten days from then another which is three times as strong. So you see they sure do make a fellow immunized.

      How are they getting along thrashing. Help sure must cost a lot this fall. I would like awfully well to be there & take in some of them high ways. And furthermore I don't think it will be long before we are back as this war won't last terrible much longer.

      Did you get the Honorary Roll I sent? Our Company Commander has started a French school which costs us a dollar a month for 8 lessons. & believe me I am taking it. Already took one lesson & have a book & have learned a little so far. So if nothing happens I'll be a regular foreigner when I get back.

      I intend to go over across the bay Sunday to Neptune beach. The boys say it's a great place & I am going to take a bath among the big waves.

      I will write again Monday & describe my tent.

      I wish you were here to eat dinner with us tomorrow. We are going to have pineapple pie, mush melons & lot of good stuff to eat. But some days we don't get enough to feed a Jap but it doesn't happen much of the time.

      Did you get my old letters & things? What did you think of that picture? Isn't she cute? Ha, Ha.

      Say Mom I want you to read them letters if you want to as there are some pretty good ones. I wrote Pearl a long time ago but no ans as yet. And Aunt Sarah has not wrote. Golda said Auntie was going to write but not yet she hasn't.

      Did you have a very pretty lawn this year? There sure is some pretty ones out here as the next day after we come off guard we have to water & take care of the Officer's lawns & they sure have some pretty flowers. If I can get any cactus plants I'll send them home, but arround here a person can't get them.

      Who was excepted? Moses M. write yesterday & he said Bill passed but I didn't know wether he had to go or not. I hope Joe & Earnest don't have to go, as one is enough from a family I think.

      What did old Korf have to say about his boy being drafted? I suppose he raised particular H---. I sure would like to see them Dutch have to go. It would do them good.

      You had ought to see me make up my bed for inspection. I first took everything off, put a clean matress cover, then a clean sheet, & folded up my blankets and put them & my overcoat at the head of the bed. We pick up all the paper off the ground &