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Show Letters From Bingham Soldiers v A letter from . Clyde Countryman, ' who is a cadet at the New Mexico Military Mil-itary Institute, 'Roswell, to the editor1 of the Press-Bulletin: "Few people, except those who have been In the service, realize just what military life is. In this life you have some one over you who Is responsible for what you do. Every hour of your day is planned out, and you are directed di-rected what to do and and how to do it. "Obedience Is the first thing they teach you. One must carry out an order or-der the way In which It is meant. Everything has its place and If it is not there then the fun begins. Demerits De-merits are given without mercy for the first few weeks. If you turn your head, look at the ground, move your hand or say anything when you are balled out, have a pocket unbuttoned, unbut-toned, your shoes not shiued, your hair not combed, your hat not on Etraight, your room not properly in order, your collar not. pinned, if you talk in ranks, smile in ranks, push or shove another, or any little thing like that means a fev; tours or from two to five demerits. "Our quarters are arranged In a certain manner, and our beds in a certain way, and when at Inspection If they are not that way it means some more demerits or tours. Ten de merits are a total which goes down on your official record. A tour means walking around a certain place for one hour" with a heavy army rifle held at port or right shoulder arms. "They do not allow any cigarette Hmoklng here, but anyone over 18 may smoke cigars or a pipe. The drills are very hard. The first thing when called to drill we line up two , deep in company formation. Then usually takes a bath at least, four times, and may be five times a wee' "There is. a great scarcity of glrlr here. As a result there are no n!c family dinners on Sunday, and a fel low cannot get many dances when attends a dance. Of course, the old maids come, but It is In Utah where live the most beautiful girls in the i world. I have seen lots of the coun try. Most of it is beautiful, but for pretty women I will vote for Utah every time. And for the Individual town I can say that Bingham is ' the best." . Letter from Leroy Bowman, somewhere some-where in France, to his sister, Mrs. Julia Damenstine: "At last that which I have been wanting, been looking for since my arrival over here came the other night. That supreme te3t of working work-ing under fire for the first time. At times it was hard and I was worried to know just how 1 wanted to stand up under it at first. If I so much as had a thought of faltering for a sec ond, it was but for a second, for I was determined to uphold the famil. name for bravery. i "Well we have had some wonde' fully exciting times of late. Night bnt Hps after night battle and each on adds more to the monotony of lif out here. First it's the big guns, ther the little pitter patter of the machine guns and then a dandy little scrar up In the air. Gee, how I wish it wer possible to tell you where I am a and how our boys are golntf throng that bimch of would be soldiers. They are licked, and they know It, too, b'' they seem not to have enough sense to give up until it is too late. "As I write now from a secluded the corporals report all men who are absent to the first sergeant, who then reports It to the captain, who In turn reports it to the officer of the day. Then the comandlng officer directs di-rects squads right, which means that the men turn In squads of four to the right and march ahead. "These drills are not hard In themselves, them-selves, but the trouble Is in doing them in the proper manner. We all know how, but we can't always do them right. ' We get up at six in the morning and go to bed at 9:30 at night. At 9:30 lights are out, and everyone who makes a noise after that time Is penalized and given a ; few tours. "The food here is good, well cooked, and there is plenty, for all. The person per-son who likes beans would be very happy for we have them twice each day. Oatmeal, milk, combrend and meat make up the breakfast. Potatoes, beans, meat, bread, butter and desserts des-serts for dinner. Tomatoes, meat, brerd, beans for supper. Every day the same with a very few changes. "One dollar and fifty cents a week 's the spending allowance. It sure is hard to spend that much In one whole week, but wo all manage to keep flat the second day uTter we get the one fifty, "We havi to be very careful about our personal appearance. If a fellow does not take a bath three times a week they take him to the sink and use a broom on him, After that he part of the woods, sitting on a no with another for my desk. 1 hear the sound of the big guns not far from us, and though tired nnd worn out from being out all night the thought of those boys still at it. makes me long to go back again tonight. But the big boy will not let me go until my turn comes again. So I must s't back and wait for that time to show up. "Wish I could spend Christmas with you all, and as things look now It Is not going to be very long before we are all back with each other ontt more. Write me just as often as yoc possibly can, for anv news front horn' helps lots Just now." Letter from John Plgounes (Karan-Ikolls) (Karan-Ikolls) from the American front In France to Chris ILolzos: I have arjrd safely in France and am getting along well In the arm. We had an exciting time In crossing over the ocean as the boat on whie; I came was twice attacked by tin U-boats, but we got the best of them The first time the submarine rose w in th water and the third shot from our ship sank It. il-ater on we ennic across another and destroyed It in the same manner. "I was sick for a while after coin Ing over here, but we have the best doctors in the world, nnd 1 was soon v. ell. I like It fine over here, and v e have Rot the Germans on the run." '. .,.JJ |