tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post4585749868815085699..comments2011-10-17T09:53:03.501-05:00Comments on The Great War Comes to Kansas: Letter 55 ~ October 13, 1918Ward Clarke Griffinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-80276176533124493142011-10-17T09:53:03.501-05:002011-10-17T09:53:03.501-05:00Hello Joe. This is Bill Griffing, the blog owner. ...Hello Joe. This is Bill Griffing, the blog owner. I created this blog a while ago and published it in the first person. Ward (1897-1970) was my grandfather. Bill (1922-2011) was my father. Ward attended KSAC in 1918-20 when he wasn't in the army but did not finish his degree. My dad was a KSU grad ('44 Veterinary, '63 PhD). I graduated at KSU in '75. I would enjoy chatting with you by e-mail or phone but you did not provide me with a valid e-mail address. My e-mail is wjgriffing@comcast.net or my cell # is 630-857-8997 if you want to call me. Looking forward to hearing from you.Ward Clarke Griffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-34859516430000674712011-10-17T07:14:16.224-05:002011-10-17T07:14:16.224-05:00Ward, thanks for responding. I am Joe Clarke, son...Ward, thanks for responding. I am Joe Clarke, son of Johnny Clarke (probably), mentioned in your blog. My Dad graduated from Kansas State in 1918 and went directly into the army along with brothers Charles and Tom. He served only about 6 months as the war ended. His parents lived in Manhattan ,Ks. I don't blog but would like you to contact me at . Joe ClarkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-45344950987653344752011-10-16T18:11:47.998-05:002011-10-16T18:11:47.998-05:00Hello Joe. Do you have a question or comment?Hello Joe. Do you have a question or comment?Ward Clarke Griffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-10032258785139160742011-10-16T18:02:24.155-05:002011-10-16T18:02:24.155-05:00This is Joe Clarke, I wanted to see if there was s...This is Joe Clarke, I wanted to see if there was still any communication going on with this blog site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-2166473792519021842009-02-12T20:33:00.000-06:002009-02-12T20:33:00.000-06:00I'll go with the Springfield. I own a Springfield ...I'll go with the Springfield. I own a Springfield '03 which I inherited from my maternal grandfather, who was a national rifle champion and Captain of the U.S. Navy Rifle Team for several years in the late 1930's. As a lad of 12 years old I learned to shoot large bore rifle on the Springfield. I also shot the Enfield and M-1, but much prefer the feel and accuracy of the Springfield.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-84598859588927132172009-02-12T16:48:00.000-06:002009-02-12T16:48:00.000-06:00At first I found it curious that Ward was being is...At first I found it curious that Ward was being issued an Enfield rifle. But I checked with Wikipedia and sure enough, the Army adopted U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 which was the Enfield design. <BR/><BR/>While the U.S. was still technically a neutral, the British contracted with Remington and Winchester to produce rifles using the .303 caliber. When the U.S. entered the war it needed rifles and rather than retool the plants, they just modified the Enfield chamber to accept the 30.06 cartridge. Hence the M1917.<BR/><BR/>U.S. Enfield production exceeded Springfield with more Enfields serving the AEF than Springfields. Sergeant Alvin York used an Enfield (but Gary Cooper used a Springfield). The things you learn on the Internet.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-20747841294777057832009-02-12T11:25:00.000-06:002009-02-12T11:25:00.000-06:00I believe the Frey family had a "party line" phone...I believe the Frey family had a "party line" phone at their farm, but connections were often difficult to put through from central switchboard because of the traffic on the lines? -- wgWard Clarke Griffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542127097868858234.post-7189154294729876112009-02-12T11:06:00.000-06:002009-02-12T11:06:00.000-06:00Although the regimental commander will have no tim...Although the regimental commander will have no time to put his plan into practice, he probably hopes to get his model company up and running, then cadre out the graduates to the rest of the regiment as trainers. That was the Army way. In those days a regiment had ten or twelve companies. <BR/><BR/>It would appear that Minnie does not have a telephone. I guess Ward calls someone in town and they somehow summon Minnie to the phone.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.com