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L024a
American Flag (on left side) Upside down red Triangle (on right side)
WAR WORK COUNCIL
ARMY AND NAVY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS "With the Colors"
Los Angeles July 31 1918
Dear Ma
Did not write sooner and thank you for the fruit as I was waiting for the letter. It arrived in O.K. condition and did not take long to put it away.
I thought I would get home for a few days this Friday but they only shifted five crews out of six and they go from San Francisco to the Philippines. So they sent our crew of eight men and about 150 other sailers from different companies Monday to Los Angeles. We are stationed at Exposition Park. The war department is showing an exhibit on war trophies they have captured. There are so many of them it nearly takes up a square mile. This park is were all the millionaires live and right in the middle there is an National Guard Armory theres were we stay. The army is feeding me now it is not near as good as the navy gives you. They have a big sign up for the people to read the way they eat over there
L024b
American Flag (on left side) Upside down red Triangle (on right side)
WAR WORK COUNCIL
ARMY AND NAVY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS "With the Colors"
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In the navy you sit down at a table and you have real plates cups and good eats. But in the army you get tin eating gear and eat any place you can find to put your stuff down. Then you have to wash your own utensils fold them up and bring them with you every time you eat.
We get more liberty here than on the ship we are on 24 hour then have 24 hour liberty. I had liberty yesterday so I went into town to get my pipe fixed to day I am on duty from 4 to 8 to night and 4 to 8 to morrow morning Then I get off from 12 to morrow till 12 the next day. You did not say what that card was from the treasury dept. If it was the allotment notice write the next time and tell me how much they sent. We will be here for two week but send mail to same address as they send to the ship every day for it and if there is any mail we get it.
L024c
American Flag (on left side) Upside down red Triangle (on right side)
WAR WORK COUNCIL
ARMY AND NAVY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS "With the Colors"
- 3 -
It is hot as the devil down here. Some of the boys have just come in and said they found a place in the park were men in uniform can go swiming so I think I will go soon as I finish writing this letter.
Do not send any more money as you need it at home more than I do. The way I explained about the pay was right all that was coming to me for the first month was three dollars. There is not much more to tell hoping evey one is well and to here from you soon.
Ray
L027a
Los Angeles Aug 6, 18
Dear Mama Received your letter yesterday at 4 p.m. and feel disappointed that I was not there for that dinner to. The mess we eat now is the same as they feed the soldiers and is not near as good as we used to get. You say it have been warm up there well it is like a bake oven here. We have two companys that guard from 12 oclock one day till 12 the next day. It is so warm soon as one shift is off duty they hit the
L027b
- 2 shower every hour or so. Then they try to sleep for an hour or so as we walk up and down all night. It is a joke some fellows get so tired that they stretch all over soon as they are finished. One fellow is trying to sleep now and there is a sailor tickling him behind the ear with grass. He is so sleepy he jumps up and kills a fly and says I got him and trys to go to sleep again, then the other sailor starts over again. You asked is I ever see Von Mark? No he is not down here with us. I have written to Mr Darius and Harry. Received the tabacco from Aunt Kelta and wrote back