A letter home from the Army

jerry · 09-01-2002, 08:46 PM

A Letter From The Army
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Ma and Pa:

Am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the
Army beats working for Old Man Minch a mile. Tell them to join
up quick before maybe all the places are filled. I was restless
at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m.,
but am getting so I like to sleep late.

Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your
cot and shine some things -- no hogs to slop, feed to pitch,
mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.
You got to shave, but it is not bad in warm water.

Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs,
bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, beef, ham
steak, fried eggplant, pie and regular food. But tell Walt and
Elmer you can always sit between two city boys that live on
coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you
get fed.

It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route
marches," which, the Sgt. says, are long walks to harden us. If
he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route
march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the
city guys all get sore feet and we ride back in trucks. The
country is nice, but awful flat. The Sgt. is like a
schoolteacher. He nags some. The Capt. is like the school
board. Cols. and Gens. just ride around and frown. They don't
bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting
medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bull's-eye is near
as big as a chipmunk and don't move. And it ain't shooting at
you, like the Higsett boys at home. All you got to do is lie
there all comfortable and hit it, you don't even load your own
cartridges. They come in boxes.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other
fellows get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving son, Zeb

P.S. Speaking of shooting, enclosed is $200 for barn roof and
ma's teeth. The city boys shoot craps, but not very good.

Oxford · 09-01-2002, 09:19 PM

Sounds like military life was easier than down on the farm. (ha)

oneastrix · 09-01-2002, 10:01 PM

I hear they can't even lay hands on you in basic training any more. Is that true compared to the military of the 60's and before?

jerry · 09-02-2002, 04:02 AM

Not sure, don't take whats on TV for a grain of salt. AF basic was easy. They just liked to screw with your mind. My brother was Army 7~8 yrs ago he said it wasn't uncommon for someone to take a ride down the stairs or get butt stroked with an M-16.

09-01-2002, 08:46 PM	#1
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,199 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	A letter home from the Army A Letter From The Army ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Ma and Pa: Am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Army beats working for Old Man Minch a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe all the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things -- no hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing. You got to shave, but it is not bad in warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, beef, ham steak, fried eggplant, pie and regular food. But tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit between two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches," which, the Sgt. says, are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys all get sore feet and we ride back in trucks. The country is nice, but awful flat. The Sgt. is like a schoolteacher. He nags some. The Capt. is like the school board. Cols. and Gens. just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none. This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bull's-eye is near as big as a chipmunk and don't move. And it ain't shooting at you, like the Higsett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it, you don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes. Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellows get onto this setup and come stampeding in. Your loving son, Zeb P.S. Speaking of shooting, enclosed is $200 for barn roof and ma's teeth. The city boys shoot craps, but not very good.

09-01-2002, 09:19 PM	#2
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,101 Blog Entries: 4	Sounds like military life was easier than down on the farm. (ha) __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

09-01-2002, 10:01 PM	#3
oneastrix Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	I hear they can't even lay hands on you in basic training any more. Is that true compared to the military of the 60's and before? __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

09-02-2002, 04:02 AM	#4
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,199 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Not sure, don't take whats on TV for a grain of salt. AF basic was easy. They just liked to screw with your mind. My brother was Army 7~8 yrs ago he said it wasn't uncommon for someone to take a ride down the stairs or get butt stroked with an M-16. __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed