Thursday 11 March, 1943

Well, I'm still alive and kicking. Boy what a time that was. We left the field about 7:30 AM. It was still dark and we marched in four columns for about an hour. During this time we crossed two cement highways, we'd stay on dirt roads as much as possible. After it got light we formed two single file lines, one on each side of the road. We had to keep a ten foot interval between each man in the column. We marched a total of 15 miles and it took four hours. During this time we had five breaks of about ten minutes each. An ambulance followed in the rear and one in the front. When someone would drop out he would rest in the car a while and then be dropped off in front of the column. The first three hours were pretty boring but the last hour sure was swell. We left the road and followed a river to the range. This entire route along the river was like a movie scene. There were these low sage trees about 15 feet high all along the river. There was also a lot of cactus. It grows in bunches and it sure was plentiful. We'd go up over hills and then down in gullies. The ground was red clay and the grass grew in clumps. When we'd go through thick growths of trees there would be vines of some king hanging from them and forming a screen or thick dense growth. We stayed in the two single columns and one followed the river while the other went over the ridges. I was in the line that went over the ridges and you could look down at the other column and it sure did look nice. After we got there we had to pitch our tents. Four poles were put together so the tent was closed at both ends instead of having one end open. Our rolls with the blankets and tent halves were carried out on trucks we just carried a field bag, gas mask, canteen and cartrage belt. After our tents were pitched we had chow. We went through the chow tent, just a top, no sides, and got our mess kits filled. We then had to sit on the ground and eat. The chow was brought out from camp on trucks in thermos cans or buckets. We then passed two garbage cans each filled with water. They were standing over a fire so they were boiling all the time. The first bucket had soapy water while the other was clean. There was also a brush at the soapy water. After chow we were given details. Some broke rocks with sledge hammers, dug latrines, and etc. I had to police the place with about 50 other guys. We'd pick up every twig, match stick, piece of paper, and leaf. We did that from about 2 until 5 o'clock. We then had chow and after chow we had instruction on guard duty. well, our tent drew the 3rd shift. From 12 until 2AM. The weather was nice but it sure was cold that first night. Well, I went to bed with all my clothes on except my coat. I was cold so I didn't sleep much before 12 o'clock. On guard I drew a listening post. I had to lay on my stomach and not move for two hours. My post was on top of a hill overlooking the camp and did the wind come over that hill. The stars were out so it wasn't so dark. I could see the lights from the hill. The lights from Sheppard Field, the only lights on the range were from the fire. Well, after I was relieved I sat next to the fire for an hour trying to get warm. I went to bed at 3 AM with my over coat on and everything. It was so cold I didn't get to sleep at all. I got up about 5:30 AM and sat next to the fire trying to get warm. We had chow and then had to get ready for inspection. We had to fold our blankets, overcoat, and rain coat just so and have both ends of our tent open. After inspection we were marched out to the range. We went to the far range and fired a Thompson submachine gun. We fired ten shots at single fire and 15 shots at automatic. Twenty five men shot at once and did it make a noise. Our target was a shape of a man, just the head and torso. I put 23 holes in it, pretty good eh. Guess I should be a trigger man. After we got through shooting it was time for chow. After chow we went back on the range but this time we got United States Army rifles model 1917. It really is just a cannon with its wheels off. We got to fire fifty shots with this too. Twenty shots prone, ten resting, ten kneeling, and ten standing. Well I started off on the wrong foot. I didn't get the sling adjusted properly about my left arm so I felt awkward. Boy was that gun mad, it kicked me all over the range. Every time I fired it my thumb would jump back and hit my nose while the gun would jab my shoulder. By the time I got to the sitting position I managed to jam the gun and by the time I got a new gun I missed seven shots. I finished all the rest but did I take the punishment. My shoulder was sore for a couple of hours afterwards. After we finished firing, by the way the noise these guns made sounded like a battle, we went back to the tents for more detail. I had to clean my rifle so I took it apart to see what made it run. After that I was drafted for K.P. I just had to fill the mess kits as the guys went by. I dished up the potato salad. After chow I worked on the wood pile making it neat and restacking it. Well, I started to bed about dusk but there was such a nice moon and south wind I stayed up a while. The wind was warm and the boys started to sing around the fire so I listened a while and then helped to load the rifles on the truck. I went to bed about 10 PM and slept until 6:00 AM. The ground was hard and my hip was sore in the morning. We broke camp before sunrise and were all ready to start when the sun rose. We came back with only four breaks but there were quite a few who rode often. Boy the last few miles sure were long. We got back in about three and a half hours. Just in time for chow. We were told we had the afternoon off and then they made us fall out at 2 o'clock for a shot, tetnus. At 3 o'clock we had mump inspection and then we had to stand in line for our pay. After that we had to stand retreat so we had the afternoon off. I went to bed about 5:30 and slept through chow up till 9 o'clock when I got up and made my bed and fell in it again. Boy was I tired. This morning we had a chance to rest because we had a lecture on chemical protective measures. This afternoon we had exercises and went over the obstacle course. We stood retreat in class B uniforms tonight.

Well, I guess you know I got the pen by now. I got two shoe shining kits from Aunt Elsie and some stationary. The shaving kit form Kenny, the shoes from you and also the newspaper. I also got seven letters. Everything was swell and I sold one shoe kit to a boy who needed one. I only got $1.50 for it but I didn't know what it coast. I'll send thank you letters as soon as I get time. This is my last large envelope. More better come by tomorrow. Well, it's time for light to go out so I'll close -

lodes of love,
Rae

P.S My cold is as well as can be expected and my face is as usual. My pants are 1 inch too long but everything else fits.