Category Archives: My Grandfather’s Diary

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Sunday July 21, 1918

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The weather today was fair. It was cool this morning.

For breakfast I had an orange, hot cakes, spuds, and coffee. For lunch they served chicken, spuds and gravy, cake for dessert. The lemonade was sour. I ate supper downtown. I had a bowl of soup and apple pie with ice cream.

I was lazy this morning and didn’t get up until 6:20. I had a bath and cleaned my teeth. I shaved after breakfast. After reading my Bible and praying for a while I went over to the top sergeant’s office and asked for a chance to do something besides the bull gang. I asked him for the job in the saddlery shop under Sergeant Sladek. He gave me all the encouragement he could and promised to try and get me in.

After inspection Ralph and I had a nice conversation. I let him read CWR’s answer to those who oppose conscription or war on the grounds that it isn’t scriptural. Ralph doesn’t agree with some of the things CWR brings out. I didn’t argue with him as I want him to see it only if God will have him see it.

After noon mess I went downtown to look around a little. I had a letter from Honey Girl in the A.M & I answered it at the town Y this P.M. I walked down and I got back about 10. I was tired but did not sleep very well.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfathers Words: Saturday July 20, 1918

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Though cool in the early morning, the weather most of the day was hot.

For breakfast I ate three plums, and fried spuds, coffee, and bread. Lunch was roast pork, spuds and gravy, bread and water. For supper we had liver & onions, prunes, cocoa, and bread.

I didn’t get up for a bath this morning as I had taken one late last night. I was busy this morning. I was at reveille and answered sick call as I was instructed to do yesterday. The Saturday sergeant said he would get me into his office to help him. I will be very glad if he does. It surely seems as if God is helping me, by giving me favor in the sight of those in command.

I had a letter yesterday from Mary dearest but I couldn’t read it until this morning. I had another letter from Mary dearest and one from Oliver this morning. I wrote to both of them in return. My eyes hurt some yet, but not too bad.

I am hoping Sargent Sladeh puts me through for his helper in the harness & saddlery shop. The Lieutenant told him to get a helper & he said he would try & get me in.

I thought this morning I would try to go to town this evening, but my eyes are bothering me some.  Instead, I wrote to Honey-Girl quite particularly in regard to coming down here. She and Aunt Frances are halfway planning on taking rooms together somewhere in Waco this fall. If the Lord wills, she may come by herself. What to do about Aunt Francis I don’t know.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Thursday July 18, 1918 and Friday July 19, 1918

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Thursday

The weather was cool this morning and then again in toward evening, but hot in the middle of the afternoon.

For breakfast we had beef heart in sauce, fried spuds, and a banana. Lunch was sliced boiled ham and cabbage and pickles. For supper we had fried spuds, peas, bread and water, and watermelon.

It was the usual routine today: Up at 6:15, I had to hustle to get bathed and dressed for reveille. Had to repeat at the hospital this A.M. & was not attended to, had to return in the P.M. & then I must go again tomorrow. My eyes had been bothering me a great deal lately. They are smarting and feel as if there is sand in them. They are gummed up with matter in the mornings. At times my vision goes blank for a moment.

Friday

Weather is hot.

I hardly remember what I ate today. I was up at the usual time, bathed and dressed in time for reveille. After breakfast, I went to the hospital again. Yesterday, they used Homatropine in my eyes (made from atropine, which is extracted from belladonna, and used to dilate the eyes), and I couldn’t see to write. Today, I am wearing dark glasses until tomorrow. They have ordered me new glasses. I will report Monday to get them.

Just met with Sargent Knudson. He asked me what I was doing. I told him laying around until my eyes were better. He asked if I was reporting on sick call. I said no. He said I had better or I would get in trouble if anyone reported me.

—Writing this all on Saturday—

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Wednesday July 17, 1918

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It was cool this morning until the sun was high in the sky.

For breakfast I ate a banana, Krumbles, coffee, milk, and fried spuds. Dinner was chicken and noodles, spuds, bread, and water. For supper I had ox heart in a pepper sauce, spuds, bread and water.

This morning I had to rush because I slept late again. I think it was because the weather was cool. I barely had time to get washed up and slipped into my union-alls before reveille. I worked in the warehouse this morning. I counted halters and packed them away, then counted a bunch of old shovels and things.

I had a letter from Honey Girl at noon and another one tonight. She is getting along as well as could be expected. As for myself, I had a complaint about my eyes and throat this morning and went to the infirmary. The doctor send me to the base eye clinic. I could only get an appointment for nine tomorrow. So I’ll have to go in again in the morning.

We had the G. M. Colonel here this evening to see about a lot of condemned clothes, shoes, and things. Corporal King & Somerville and myself turned out about twenty bags of old clothes, shoes, socks, gloves, underwear, etc.

There are a great number of men leaving this camp heading east. The entire seventh division is going, I guess. There are rumors flying around the remount about all these men being examined for overseas duty. I guess it is really a rumor though. They also say that Major Phillips goes this week for France. I don’t know, it may be true. If it were not for being so far away from Mary I would like to go too, it seems.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Tuesday July 16, 1918

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Weather is hot, but cooled as the evening drew near.

Breakfast: liver and onions, fried spuds, plums, and coffee.

Dinner: Fresh roast beef, mashed spuds with gravy, cabbage, bread and pudding

Supper: pork chops, peas, pie, and cocoa to drink.

Scan0012Up at 6:15 and had to hustle to get bathed and  dressed for reveille at 6:20. I made it. The usual morning routine. I pushed the water cart at breakfast. I found a letter from Mary Dear when I got in at noon. She is getting along so well. I am so glad. I can thank God that He cares for her and is bringing her back to health and strength again. My dear little wife. How I miss her down here.

I was detailed to the warehouse this afternoon. This is how it happened: I went to the office to see Sargent Knuthen about getting a transfer to the shop at one O’clock. Then I went out to No. 6 corral to work. I hadn’t been there long when Sargent Murphy came out hunting for Milligan to detail him to the warehouse. I told him Milligan was on the hay force. At least, that’s what I thought. Then Carlyle, the civilian boss, came up. He said the civilian laborers said Milligan was on the hay stack. The Sargent told him what he wanted him for. I spoke up and asked him to put me on. Carlyle told him he could recommend me more than any man in the corral. The Sargent thought a moment and then told me to report to the warehouse.

This evening there wasn’t much to do so I took it easy. I have written to Sweetheart tonight and will soon go to bed. I want to walk to town tomorrow evening to look for rooms for Mary Girl.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Sunday and Monday, July 14, 15, 1918

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Sunday

The weather was very hot through the afternoon and into the evening.

For breakfast I had two peaches, cornflakes, coffee, and bread. At lunch I enjoyed a spring chicken, spuds with gravy, ice cream, cake and cocoa. For supper we had a salad, water, and bread.

Up at 6:30 bathed and dressed in time for reveille at 6:45. After mess we were to have barracks inspections at 8:45. We were ordered to have all G.I. clothes out on bunks. It was supposed to be a checking inspection, too, but they did not check – just went through the barracks & looked them over.

Ralph had to feed today, so after noon mess I hiked over to the Cameron park. It is about two and a half miles from the remount east, past the base hospital. It is rather nice over there. There is a cool spring running water. That was the first natural cold drink I’ve had in Texas. I walked around over there quite a while then lay in the grass & read a while. I wrote part of a letter to Honey Girl. Continue reading My Grandfather’s Words: Sunday and Monday, July 14, 15, 1918 →

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Friday and Saturday, July 12, 13, 1918

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Editors Note: I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch for a few weeks. I’ve posted two entries from my grandfather’s journal to make up for it.

Friday

Weather was hot both this A.M and this P.M. I thought with the dark clouds there would be rain, but it was a dust storm.

Breakfast was liver & onions, bread, fried spuds. Lunch was cold roast beef, sliced potatoes with gravy, bread, water, and applesauce. For supper we ate bread, water, potatoes, meat, and gravy. I bought two sticks of candy.

Up at 6:10. Bathed and dressed by 6:20 reveille. The usual A.M. routine. Some of the men were told off last night to help load horses this morning. They had to rise at 4:20. They loaded out 260 head. Don’t know where they went. The top Sargent went along. I was informed by on the the Vet Corps men some time ago that there were about 11,000 horses and cows here. Several have been sent out since, & I suppose that there are around 900 or 1,000 here now. One of the horses was killed this evening. The men were driving a bunch into the 9th corral. This one slipped and fell and broke a leg. They had to put it down.

I don’t know much other news to set down tonight. I had a letter from Mary Dear written on Tuesday just before she had the operation. I had another letter from James written the day after the operation. Honey had tried to start the second letter but was too weak, so James finished it for her. She was at O’Neils. James had taken her there from the doctor’s office. She was in as satisfactory a condition as could be hoped for at that time. My dear girl. God keep her & take care of her for Jesus’s sake. Amen.

Saturday

Weather: A warm light rain this A.M.

Breakfast was hot cakes with syrup, coffee, a banana & cornflakes. For lunch we had bread, beans, cocoa, & tapioca pudding. For supper we had bread, water, spagetti with mean and apple cobbler.

I was up at usual time, bathed and dressed as per my usual routine. Worked in A & B & 6th corral today. We quit about 4 P.M. I had a hair cut. After mess, Ralph & I went to town. Hiked in and bame back on the car. I was looking for a furnished rooms. I was trying to get the lay of this end of town. Had a letter from Honey Girl written the next A.M. after she had her operation. She sat up in bed & wrote & and was feeling fairly good but weak. Aunt Frances was going to fix her something to drink, some kind of broth. I expect that would strengthen her.scan0039camp-macarthur.preview

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Thursday July 11, 1918

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Weather: hot in A.M, but a north wind cooled the evening.

For breakfast we had coffee, oatmeal, canned milk, bread, fried spuds. Lunch was jam, bread, water, and beef soup. Supper was watermelon, cake, cold salad with one small tomato, water, bread and rice.

Up at 6 A.M. bathed and dressed at 6:15 with the usual routine, revielle all call, police up, and breakfast. Sergeant Hasht told me to go get a team this A.M. Choose a team and then report at the warehouse. I did and helped unload a car of bran and then helped unload a car of hay. We took it out to No. 7 corral. 80 bales. A pretty strenuous day in all. I was not as tired as I was last evening though. I think pushing that water cart is about as hard as any job on the cleaning and feeding force.

I am getting acclimated a little so I don’t feel the work on the cleaning force is as hard as it used to be any how. At first when they put me on the cleaning force, and I was shoveling manure, I did overdo it, especially in the heat. I now take it a little bit easier.

I just ate the tomato. I had eaten so much watermelon for supper I could not eat the tomato so I put it in my pocket. It’s now 8:30 and am eating it now.

I had my daily letter from Honey Girl today & I wrote her this evening. She will be getting a bit over the operation by now, God willing. It is over two days now & tho her throat will be sore for a while yet she will be getting used to it now.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Wednesday July 10, 1918

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The weather is hot and cloudy this evening.

For breakfast we all received three hotcakes, spuds, coffee, bread and one orange. For lunch we had spuds, roast pork with apple sauce, bread, pudding, and water. For dinner we had rice boiled with beef, bread, juice, and water.

I was up this A. M. at 6:00. I took a cold shower and dressed by 6:15. Reveille, policing up and breakfast over, has a little A.M. reading. The biography and essays of Benjamin Franklin. He was rather a wild one when young though industrious & frugal.

I had a letter from Honey Girl this noon. She did not have the operation on her throat until Tuesday. That was yesterday. I understand now why I felt so nervous yesterday and this A. M. My dear wife, if anything were to happened to her I would not want to live. She is the dearest in all the world to me.

We worked today in No. 8 & 9. I hoped to get finished & started on another one tomorrow. I think we are getting behind on the corral cleaning. We have been short of wagons & men & of course are not making much progress. Most of the outfit is unloading hay & storing it in the sheds. They are scraping out the old hay from the sheds and storing the new.

149151468_xsI ate the last of Mary’s 4th of July cake night before last. It was good. Last night & tonight I had a glass of mild at the restaurant. It is good. It is worth the nickel. Milk in town is 20 cents a quart & not at all plentiful for that price.

There has been times when I would pay a dollar for a quart of cold milk since I’ve been here.

My Grandfather's Diary

My Grandfather’s Words: Tuesday July 9, 1918

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Weather today was cool in the A.M. yet hot in the P.M.

For breakfast we ate fried spuds, bacon, cornflakes, coffee, bread and jam. For lunch we ate string beans, mashed spuds, meat & spaghetti, and doughnuts for dessert. For supper we had meat cooked with hot sauce, spuds, bread, water, and pudding.

Up at 6:10 bathed and dressed by 6:20 reveille and police work, breakfast & to work in the corral, lunch & back till 3, then worked in until P.M. It was so much cooler this morning but the heat rose in the afternoon. It was pretty hot.

I didn’t hear from Mary today. She was to have had her tonsils out Sat at 1:30 & yesterday’s letter was written then. It must have went all right with her or else I would have had a wire. I wish I could have been there, but God willed otherwise & I can try to put more trust in Him. She will be pretty sick for a while, but God grand she is all right now. I had ought not to worry, but I do. I guess it is because she is my dear wife, all I hold dearest in the world is just her. My Mary.

Today, D. Hartman who came here when I did is to go to the hospital tomorrow. He has a touch of T.B. This dust in the remount would develop that in most anyone, I guess. He is from a rather strong creed – the Church of the Disciples & is from Detroit, Michigan. I have talked with him on scriptural things. I am afraid he is not saved.