Howard Lyford

(2)

I am enclosing some pictures of the bunch, that I took. I claim they are some looking crowd, and believe me I certainly want to stay with them.

head for when we leave here, or rather when our said vacation is over. It will be far from a vacation when we get in a training camp. That means eight hours drilling, with about two nights a week camp leave. Thirty dollars will last longer though. I am used to being broke now and the girls think there is some thing wrong if we are not financially embarassed a week after pay day. Of course we manage to keep enought out to go to the show

and indulge in a coca cola evey night. The show is fifteen cents here too, so I think we do pretty well at that. Last pay day we went to Salt Lake and had a big feed, and went to the show. I mean a few of the best of us. Of course there are a lot of the fellows that are broke in one day after the "ghost walks" - mostly from playing cards. It's against the rules and regulations to gamble, but they do it on the quiet. If they get caught they generally get about ten days in quarters.

Well, I have just finished dinner and feel somewhat better. There is an indoor baseball game (played outside) at one-thirty, so I will write until then. The captain chooses one side and the first lieutenant the other. We have some fun, as we have a good diamond to play on, and are all in the same class.

My wrist watch went on the hummer today, and I feel lost without it. It is the one Ed Morgan gave me, and it has kept some time up until today.

In the letter I received from you yesterday you said Albin McMahon was exempted until the first of the year. I see the Standard of Monday says he is

captain of contigent that left Martinez Sunday, and gives him a big send-off.

Say Neewah if you can get any information as to where Co. H is, and what they expect to do write and tell me. Mrs. Clark aught to know. I am going to stay with Co D. it's home to my way.

Do you know any of the fellows in company A? If you should happen to know corporal, or he might be a sergearnt now, Sellig tell him I said to say hello to him, and tell him we are having a cinch.

Well Newah darling it isn't time for that said ball game yet, but I have told you all I know, so will say olive oil. How is mama and papa and everybody. Tell Ruth I will send her letters to Mtz. [Martinez] until futher notice.

Love to all

"Duke"

Sept. 27th

M Co. 159 Infty Camp Kearny

Dearest Lela! -

This is Saturday and we had inspection this morning, the first real inspection I have ever gone through. The inspecting officer is the Major of our battalion. I got bawled out for having some oil in the inside of my gun, but he said my barrel was in fine condition. I don't think there was a man who didn't get called for some little thing,

and a good many for a number of big things, and personal appearance. I have nothing to do now until Monday morning at five-forty-five. That sounds early doesn't it? After sixteen weeks of training here I will be able to whip anybody in Martinez. It is real work, but I like it, and wouldn't have missed it for anything

Here is some idea of our days labor. First call 5:45, reveille 6:00, mess 6:15, fatigue 6:45, drill 7:00, recall from drill 11:45. Mess 12, drill 1:00 recall from drill 4:30 retreat 5:00 and lights out at 9:30. We get Wednesday afternoon off too. The only camp leave we can get is on Wed. afternoon and Sat and Sunday afternoon.

I sure am glad I am not with H Co any more, as they were filled up with drafted men from Camp Funston, Kansas. They are mostly Indians and Mexicans. We got one hundred today including Indians but we got some white men too, although I can't speak too high for any of them so far as looks is concerned. That makes about 8,000 drafted men to arrive in this camp