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Show SMITH HAS SOMERECORE This is a complete story of M. O. Smith, of A L A & S L Railroad Trainman, who enlisted in the United Uni-ted States Naval Reserve force in May, 1918 The story is interesting interest-ing because it covers ground from the time of enlistment through th various methods which Uncle Sar 'requires of his boys. Mr. Smith in recent conversation with the writer, since his discharge, told -the following story: It was in the month of May, 1918, that I felt that my country needed my services. I layed off, went to Salt Lake and there enrolled in the U. S. N. R. F. on June 9th, 1918. In 'about two weeks I received my orders or-ders and transportation to report to the commanding officer at the Section Sec-tion Naval Base in San Diego, Cal. I arrived there on time and was assigned as-signed a billet in the detention camp. I was given bedding, clothing and a sea bag and told that I had to do three weeks there while I was vacln-ated vacln-ated and had three typhoid inoculations. inocula-tions. I did my three weeks alright and and between "knock off" and "turn to" I washed white uniforms and studied the rudiments of Naval life infantry drill and signals. At the end of the three weeks, I took an examination on Blue Jacket's Man-ual, Man-ual, commonly known or called the Sailors Bible, as it contains answers for all the fool questions a new sailor sai-lor is mind to ask. I was recommended recom-mended to the officers school there and my billet was changed accordingly. accord-ingly. Was at that officers school for about six weeks when they gave about forty of us a competitive competi-tive examination to pick fifteen for the Naval Auxiliary school at Chicago. Chi-cago. I was one of the fifteen lucky ones and was sent to Chicago immediately. im-mediately. I passed through Milford Mil-ford on my way and had a chance to say good bye to some of the boys Arrived in Chicago, the day the post office was blown up and was one of the seventy assigned to guard duty at the War exposition then at Grant park. Just got started In classes nicely at the Municipal pier, when the flu epidemic broke out. Glasses were suspended for about three weeks and we were subjected to violent exercise in the way of marching and rowing. I went to 'the hospital with the flu about the third day the place was quarantined, quarantin-ed, with a fever of 103 and some tenths. Was in sick bay, as it is called, in the navy, for five days and then given a light duty ship for 3 days and a four-day sick leave to go visit some friends of mine while I recuperated). Reported back to the pier and resumed classes for a 'month and was sent to Cleveland, Ohio, to be assigned to a Great Lakes Lak-es Bulk freighter for actual experience exper-ience in seamonship. Was put on the R. L. Agassiz ot the Hanna, Line, with another Navy 'sailor. Here we rated as wheelsmen 'or quartermasters as they are called cal-led in the Navy. Our duties were to steer and stand look-out and in port to assist in bat-toning bat-toning down hatches and unbatton-ing unbatton-ing them which was some job Itself, as the boat was 32, 12 by 40 feet also al-so had to write a note book on the different phases of steamship and keep a log of our personal activities activi-ties while aboard. The captain treated us fine and answered our questions willingly. The armistice was signed while we were aboard. The crew had a general rejoicing Indeed. In-deed. Was taken off the boat at Buffalo when they laid her up at the close of navigation and reported back to Cleveland. Took seven examinations examina-tions and was recommended for a my application for release was ae-tDd ae-tDd upon favorably and I was re-lonsr.l re-lonsr.l from active service duty the 10th of December. 191S. and was furnished transportation to Salt T.nke I had just two months more to do at the Naval Auxiliary school at Pel- ham Bnv Park New York, to get a r commission, hut I had begun to be-Slieve be-Slieve that I preferred shore life and J since peace -was In sight, and they -: . , really didn't need me, I decided to come back and railroad, for a time at least. The navy is not a bad place for a fellow at all, but after a man is used to shore life, it Is hard for him to change. He is really never satisfied. sat-isfied. I hold myself in readiness to serve my country at a moment's notice, no-tice, should they ever need my services. ser-vices. I feel that my past experience experi-ence has been worth a gceat de-to de-to me and I appreciate very much what was done for me and the many acts of kindness shown to me while I was undergoing my training. |