Howard Lyford

school. The lecture and school took place in the mess hall.

The officers told us at school this morning that they had noticed a big improvement in the non-commissioned officers in the way they gave there [their] commands and the discipline of the men. I know there has been a difference with me all around. I was a little backward at first and afraid of hurting somebody's feelings, but if you give them an inch they will take a mile. Some of the old men are sore as a boil because they didn't get made corporal and are trying to make it as hard for us as possible and which they did at first but believe me they are

[Imprint: AMERICAN FLAG NATIONAL WAR WORK COUNCIL ARMY AND NAVY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION WITH THE COLORS YMCA LOGO]]

toeing the mark now and they will continue to as long as they are under me. They are in the army now and not in the Acient [Ancient] order of Night Watchmen, and the sooner they find it out the better off they will be.

I went over see Howard Clark this afternoon for a little while. He expects to leave about the middle of December for some eastern city, with two other Co H men.

I think I will take a quite trip to San Diego tomorrow afternoon. I am

pretty near broke but Becker and I bought a ten ride ticket so I will just go in and bum around, and take in the movie. I loaned five dollars to a party I know is good, this month so with my extra pay and no bills I will have a good pay day. We will get paid around Thanksgiving.

I don't thin there is any chance of getting home Christmas.

Well Lela it is almost time for retreat so will say "olive oil." How is everybody. Say hello to the Clark family and to Ralph.

Love to all

Duke

I never received that paper.

This was written on a bale of hay which isnt a very good desk.

M Co 159th Infantry Camp Kearny Dec 3rd

Dearest Neiwah: -

This company is on guard today, and I was elected as one of the four corporals, I was lucky enough to land the special guard detail which guards the hay pile. I dont know how many (just busted my pencil) bales of hay there are in this stack but there is sufficient. The corporals with the main guard have to stay awake at during the time their relief is on guard, and wake up the new corporal and his relief when it is time. Then they have to walk all around camp and

post every relief which isn't at all pleasant about 2 am, in the morning. I am about a mile from the guard house and do not have to worry about an officer of the day coming around. My slumbers are not interrupted at night at all as the sentry on post wakes up his next relief. We have a regular little room made out of bales of hay so we slept nice and warm. All I have to do is make out a short report for the sergeant of the guard and see that every thing runs O.K. He was over about nine o'clock this morning for it, and told me he knew this was a cinch when he gave it to me. He happens to be a good friend of mine. The new guard on at five o'clock so I only have three more hours of vacation. The guard is on for twenty-four hours.

I took out $10,000 worth of insurance last week to go in effect February 12th. I am insured for $4,500 until then at the expense of the government. It will cost me $6.50 a month. If I get died the folks will get $57 a month for twenty years, and if I get permanently disabled I get $57 a month for the rest of my life. I thik it is a good proposition my self. If the war should end today I could carry it at the same premium for five years and then get it for 22% cheaper than a regular insurance will insure me for in any kind of policy I desire, without another examination. -- or I can cut in in half or make it