It’s hot and windy today.

For breakfast we had hot cakes and syrup, coffee, and an apple. For lunch we had roast beef, spuds, water, and pudding. For supper we had beef stew, rice, tea, and bread.

Up at usual time, regular routine. Was a pretty windy day in the corrals. Zeigler and I were assigned to help clean the riding barn this morning. We were told that that would be all we would have to do till noon. Then we were told about ten o’clock to come to the corrals when we were done. We finished about ten thirty. We went out about ten forty. I wish the sergeants would keep their word when they tell us something. I guess they have to do it tho. The higher officers are riding them all the time. It is getting harder right along. They made us take our clothes down from the walls of the barracks & make shelves to lay our clothes on.

The top said tonight that we had to soldier as much as we could even if we were a battalion.

I had a dear letter from Honey Girl today again. She is well & was at home. The letter was written Sunday night. She had been to the church meeting in the morning. She said they had had a good meeting. I sure wish I could have been with her. She wore her wedding gown. I can see her in it when I close my eyes. I answered her letter tonight & must now go to bed. It is about 10:30. I will take a bath and then go to bed.

The weather is very windy and dusty.

Breakfast was spuds, scrambled eggs, half a grapefruit, and coffee. At lunch we had wieners, spuds, peas, bread, water, and pudding. For supper we had mutton stew, tomatoes, water, and peach pie.

Up at the usual time, usual routine. Worked distributing hay this morning, and was on the cleaning force this evening. It has been an awfully dusty day with a strong south wind. The clouds rolled in this afternoon and a few drops of rain fell.

G. Demara told me this morning his sergeant had seen an order in the office to the effect that all the civilians would be fired by the first of September. They will be bringing in a bunch of negras to do what we do now, shovel manure. We will have to drill. It seems to be pretty well understood that there is to be some changes here soon.

Daniels was made a sergeant & so was Maritog and Long. They aren’t bad fellows. I’m glad they got their promotions. It may be they will make some more later on. One never knows just what is going to happen here. Am so tired that I will have to go to bed, I guess.

The weather was cool in the early morning, but hot in the evening.

I had cornflakes, spuds, an egg, and coffee for breakfast. For lunch we had chicken, spuds, bread, and ice cream & cake. I had supper in town. It was bread, butter, tea, and a bag of peanuts.

Up at the usual Sunday hour. I did not have to police up this morning, but got a calling down because of the condition of the barracks. It seems instead of oiling the floors as they have been doing, they are going to scrub them now. The captain came through the barracks Saturday and was very much displeased with the condition of them. He gave the room orderlies a bawling out about it. Then “The Top” gave us all a bawling out about it. It seems to be a regular occurrence here. Each man is bawling out the man under him and then that man passes it on to the next man, & so it goes.

Ralph, Bryant, and I had a Bible class this morning. I think we all enjoyed it. I also wrote a long letter to Mary Dear.

I wandered around town all P.M. looking at rooms to let. Then, went to a little church hall in South Waco. There, I had an opportunity to speak a word for the Lord. It was a Pentecostal meeting. I was certainly out of place. But I am glad that I was permitted to speak a word of testimony.

I came in ten minutes late this evening. Oliver asked when I got in.  I told him. I don’t know what we could have done to avoid it. Our car was delayed at the rail switches as we came out of town. Instead of a twenty-five minute trip, ours was a forty-five minute trip.

It was the first time I have ever been late.

The weather is windy and dusty, though not as hot as it has been.

Breakfast was spuds, a banana, and coffee. For lunch we had fish, dressing, bread, and water. At supper we had spuds with gravy, liver and onions, watermelon, and tea.

Usual time up today. I was on full duty today. I helped load horses this morning. I worked in the corrals this afternoon.

I did a washing tonight, and wrote a letter to Mary Dear. Edward enlisted in the Navy. Mary was at Will’s house canning corn.

I have nothing much to write tonight. I may write more in the morning.

Weather: There is a terrible wind blasting sand onto everything.

Breakfast is hotcakes and syrup, coffee, and an orange. For lunch we had corned beef & cabbage, spuds, bread and water. For supper I had a tomato, spuds, bread and water.

Regular routine getting up and ready. I was marked light duty again & I worked in the canteen. We were pretty busy all day. The canteen was open all afternoon until eight this evening, so I was tired tonight.

I had a dear long letter from Mary today, too. She is well. She had been to Waterloo with James and his family for Sunday church meeting. They were expecting Ed back from Mason City where he had been on vacation. He was expecting to join the Navy.

I am too tired to write any more of this day.

The weather in the morning was cloudy and cool, but by mid-afternoon it was hot. Wind picked up and brought dust with it.

Breakfast was one half a cantaloup, eggs, spuds, and coffee. For lunch we had spareribs and sauerkraut, spuds, and water. Supper was hash, bread, water, and peaches.

Up at the usual time with the usual routine. I was given light duty again today. Cleaned up around the canteen and then helped sell stuff. (The camp store would have sold toiletries, and other necessities, but also ice and extra treats to eat such as ice cream, or candy.) We were open all afternoon, but closed at eight tonight. Business was pretty good.

I had a good letter from Mary dear this morning.  She is still at Jim’s and will stay yet a while. She mailed the letter Sunday. It reached me yesterday after three days on the road. One wonders sometimes, why it takes so long for a letter to get here. There is not much to write today. I was too busy in the canteen to think very much.

Weather: HOT

We had hotcakes and syrup, coffee, and white grapes for breakfast. For lunch there was roast beef, spuds, gravy, and water. For supper we had lima beans, lemonade, and bread.

Up at the usual time and am on sick report. I stand retreat and reveille just the same. I haven’t been down to the doctor’s yet. Don’t know what he will mark me this morning.

Went down to the doctor’s. He marked me light duty. I helped out in the canteen most of the time today. It is not hard, but one must hustle part of the time. They rush you for a few minutes just after eleven o’clock & then again at five in the evening. I rather like it in there tho. However, the hours in the evening are bad – 4:30 until 9. So one could not go to town very well.

I had a letter from Mary Girl again today. Dearest is well, but says Aunt Frances is not so well. She hasn’t been able to get out for the church meetings for a week or two. Mary says that it may be that she must take care of Aunt Frances yet. That may be what the Lord would have her do. I don’t know. The Lord knows best. We have been praying that He may show us the way so clearly that we can not be mistaken.

I wish I could make an allotment to Aunt Frances, too. If she gets worse I am going to see what I can do. I am responsible to take care of her, or at least I feel that I am. So God willing I will try and fulfill my obligation.

The weather was cooler this morning, but hot and windy by mid-day.

Breakfast was an orange, two eggs, coffee, & fried spuds. For lunch we had spuds, pork & beans, and water. Supper was beef stew with rice, bread, and lemonade.

Up at usual time. Slept pretty good last night. I dreamed of Mary Girl. I had such a dear letter from her yesterday. Answered it & it will be posted this A.M. She wrote me of G. Wetzlichs sister and sweetheart coming down here to see him. I wish I had known they were here. I would have tried to see them. Honey Girl may come down here yet. She is not clear just what is best & I am not either. We are asking the Lord to make it plain to us.

I was to have seen a certain doctor yesterday regarding work for her in the nursing line. I have written today to Mother, Ben, Mr. Dean, and to Honey Girl.

I had another dear letter from her this afternoon. She is still at Dunkerton and is enjoying the quiet out there. In the letter she had included a flower, and best of all, a photo of her that is so real. Apparently, James snapped her when she was reading a letter from me. She seems rather absorbed in it, so she was not aware when the Kodak was snapped. It caught her so naturally reading as if so interested. Of course the letter is from me & I know it is interesting to her, my dear wife.

The Germans are still retreating, according to the Waco paper. I am glad. I pray it is His will that the war ends very soon.

I had a cake & a jar of jelly from Aunt Frances today, too. It is very good. Ralph received a cake from his girl today, too. He gave me a slice. I am still on sick report, though my ribs are not quite so sore.

The weather promises to be hot again today.

Breakfast was corn flakes, milk, coffee, and spuds. At lunch we had roast pork, spuds, water, bread, and prunes. For supper we had lima beans, spuds, spaghetti with sauce, and bread.

Usual time of arising, am going on sick report this A.M. My side is sore. Went to the doctor and he marked me barracks for the day.

I had a fine dear letter from Honey Girl today. She is yet undecided what to do & the way is not clear to me yet either. She has not started to work up there yet, so she is just uncertain what the Lord’s will is for us. Sometimes it looks as if it would be better to wait awhile. If the war gives any indication of being over this fall & it does, something will be more certain. I think though, that I might be released before long to go back home. But one doesn’t know. I will just keep on asking God to guide us. He will I am sure of that.

I just lay around today – did not do a useful thing. Have not even read a portion of the Word yet. I just feel mean. There seems to be nothing here to do except stagnate. I read a book of Kipling’s called Plain Tales From the Hills. It isn’t very good, not good enough to waste a second reading on. For the most part it is just a series of tales about foolishness & folly in India.