The Great War Comes to Kansas

Epilogue

2009-03-20T14:21:00.007-05:00

Minnie and I were married on October 18, 1921.
This picture of us was taken years later and is one of my favorites.

We raised two fine boys, Bill (a Veterinarian) and Dick (a Physician).

Footenote:
These letters have been posted as they were written. If they offend anyone, it was not intended, and we trust that historians will value them all the more for their unvarnished historical accuracy. You may contact me at wjgriffing@comcast.net if you desire more information regarding these letters or the lives of Ward Griffing and Minnie Frey.

Ward Griffing Returns Home

2009-03-20T13:18:00.012-05:00

My twin brother Willis, my mother Hattie, & me, shortly after my discharge from the service.

After serving almost 6 months in the U.S. Infantry and writing nearly 80 postcards and letters, I am finally put on a train back home to Manhattan, Kansas, with my discharge papers in hand. The ride home was by way of Chicago where me and the boys were able to take in a Matinee at the Majestic Theater (now the Shubert Theater). It was the jakes, I tell you.

I enclose here the ticket stub my grandson found in the breast pocket of my tunic where I had stuffed it 90 years ago. The ticket stub read, "Retain this Check" -- so I did. I also enclose the program for that vaudeville performance that I took home to show my mother. She saved it along with the letters I sent her while I was in the service. You can click on the images to enlarge them.

The impressive playbill included:

KINOGRAMS -- "The Newest News" Weekly Shown Exclusively at this Theater
RENO -- Eccentric -- Pantomimic -- Comedian
FRED HOLMES & LULA WELLS -- Presenting their New Act "An Old Fashioned Bride"
JAMES C. MORTON -- The Famous Comedian
LEW DOCKSTADER -- The World's Famous Humerist
MLLE. NITA-JO -- French Singer in her first apearance in America
EDDIE LEONARD & CO. -- The Minstrels in "Dandy Dan's Return" & some new songs
WELLINGTON CROSS -- The American Musical Comedy Favorite
FOUR ANKERS -- Naval Gymnasts
ORPHEUM CIRCUIT TRAVEL WEEKLY -- featuring the Yermak, Russia's Largest Ice-Breaker

Lew Dockstader in blackface

Letter 139 ~ February 18, 1919

2009-03-20T13:07:00.006-05:00

(Click on images to enlarge them)

I write my mother Hattie for the last time from Nitro, West Virginia.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
[Tuesday] February 18, 1919

Dear Folks,

This morning we took a hike thru a part of the plant called Area “M” which we have just taken over to guard and where new posts are posted. They took us thru these to show us the posts. They are mounted posts. The rider is armed with a Colt 45 and rides 4 hours and is off eight. This part of the plant is to be used for the storage of a certain kind of acid, which is a very high explosive. New posts are being added nearly all the time as the U.S. Guards are being discharged. It takes over sixty privates to form a guard now so one man only misses one guard. When some of us are discharged, the rest may have to go on every time we mount guard. I am glad I am not one to be left.

It has been rather cold here lately and Sunday it snowed. I was on guard Saturday but I had the post that is in one of the office buildings guarding a safe so I wasn’t out in the cold at all. The fellows that had to ride for four hours got pretty cold, I tell you.

The “Y.W.C.A.” girls gave a valentine party last Thursday night. We had a pretty good time, but believe me, a fellow doing guard duty in this place earns and deserves all the fun he can find.

We had our physical examinations about a week ago, which they always give before discharging. One sergeant came down with appendicitis shortly after and two other fellows came down with the mumps so we are to be re-examined tomorrow. I guess they thot it wasn’t thorough enough. I would hate to have to go to the hospital for anything now that my discharge is so near.

The other day I turned in my equipment and extra clothing – all but my rifle and belt, so it looks as tho I would be getting out of here in the course of a week.

Well, there isn’t any news so I will say goodbye. I expect this is the last letter you will get from me. Love, -- Ward

Letter 138 ~ February 13, 1919

2009-03-20T13:01:00.003-05:00

I tell my mother Hattie that I expect to be handed my walking papers soon.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
February 13, 1919

Dear Folks,

It is raining this morning. We couldn’t go out to drill so I will write.

I will write about my discharge first as that is what is on my mind most of the time now and I suppose it is what interests you most too.

I signed my discharge last Monday evening and last night I signed my last payroll. My pay runs until the twentieth of this month and after that I suppose I am a civilian but I must wait here until my transportation papers come and my discharge goes around and comes back. I think I will be safe in saying that I will be home in two weeks. I expect to be examined today. It would be a sorry joke if they would find something the matter with me and I couldn’t get out after all. Some of the fellows are coming down with the mumps but as I have had them, I am not scared much.

One more hitch on guard is about all I will have to do. Then I can tell them to jump in the river.

Tomorrow is your birthday. I suppose you are planning to have the ladies for dinner as usual. I wish I was there to help you eat what was left over.

Last Sunday I went to church in the morning and was asked out to dinner – two girls and their mother. The father is dead. They have a son and brother over in France and so they treated me just like one of the family. Kentuckians, you know, and they sure showed the true southern hospitality. Mrs. Cox says, “Have some more biscuits son.” And I said, “Thanks, I believe I will, mother.” It tickled her to death. They had hot biscuits, roast beef, dressing, etc. etc. It beat hash, molasses, and bread like we had this morning.

The younger girl is about 19 or 20 and awfully nice. She and I went to the afternoon tea up the schoolhouse and we staid long enough for me to beat retreat. I took her home and she asked me when we had supper. Without thinking I told her that they had already had supper so she asked me in to supper. Well, I told her no – that I didn’t want to impose on good nature etc., etc. She says, “Well, if you don’t want to stay, alright.” So, of course, I couldn’t refuse that so had another nice time. We went to church and staid to the picture show afterwards. Ahem, guess I’ll borrow a Kodak and go out walking with her Saturday P.M.

It wouldn’t pay to send your Kodak, Willis, because I am coming home so soon.

It has been rather cold here lately too. I tell you, standing guard around four and five o’clock on a cold morning is a long ways from what I call fun but I’m nearly thru with it.

Well, I’ll see you soon. -- Ward

Letter 137 ~ February 13, 1919

2009-03-20T12:46:00.003-05:00

I let Minnie know I think about her all the time and that I believe my discharge is eminent.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
2/13/1919

Dear Minnie,

It is raining this morning so we didn’t go out to drill; hence the letter.

Have had two letters from you since I wrote last. The one containing an edict concerning the use of certain objectionable adjectives which of course I will in the future refrain from using or even mentioning again. Am sure no disrespect was meant & I am sorry that it was taken in that light. Also one stating the fact that your thots coincided with mine to a strange degree. You wondered why it was. Well, they say that sometimes two hearts beat as one. I suppose when that can happen those same two minds can think as one, can’t they?

When I am on guard is when I do most of my thinking about going home. I just came off again yesterday & if I could have set down on paper just all I had thot about during my eight hours on post, it would have been a piece of literature unsurpassed in happiness & joy, love & kisses….especially kisses.

Say kid, do you all reckon you have forgotten how to kiss like you used to? It has been something like three months now since I have practiced any but I believe I could do tolerable well at it even now. How about you? Say, which do you like best, two or three little short snappy kisses or one great big long one? I’ll bet you think I am crazy writing this kind of stuff but that is what I am thinking about.

I will try & write a little sense now, if such a thing is possible. I’ll bet I have been to church more since I have been in the army than you have. I went twice last Sunday & the Sunday before too.

After church last Sunday a lady asked me if I wouldn’t like to take dinner with them. Sure I would. So I staid to Sunday School & went home with her afterward. They sure treated me fine – the mother & two girls. The father is dead. They have a son & brother in France & so treated me just like one of the family. Kentuckians, you know. They certainly showed the true southern hospitality. Mrs. Cox called me son. “Have some more biscuit, son?” I said, “Certainly Mother.” It tickled her to death. Hot biscuits, dressing, roast beef, jelly, pickle, & all the rest. Oh yes, I had a good time.

The younger girl was awfully jolly, like you. She had just graduated from high school. Well, about four o’clock we went to the afternoon tea that they always have on Sunday afternoons at the school house. I beat retreat. I thot there wasn’t any use in breaking up a nice time like that just for a little thing like retreat. I took her home afterward & was about to leave when she asked when we had supper. Without thinking I told her that they had already had supper so she asked me to stay to supper. Well, I thot that was mighty nice but I didn’t want to impose on good nature, etc. etc. “Well if you don’t want to come alright.” Of course I couldn’t refuse then so I had supper. Then we went to church at the theatre & stayed for the [picture] show afterward. You don’t know how it seems to get to eat in a home where there are women who treat you so good after eating at the barracks so long. I tell you a fellow appreciates it.

Well kid, I signed my discharge last Monday evening. I signed my last payroll last night & must now wait until my discharge goes around again & my transportation papers come. Such things are slow but I am sure of it now at least. So I feel safe in saying that I will see you within two or three weeks. My papers will not come before the twentieth. If possible, I am going home by way of Niagra, Chicago, etc., but I may have to take the most direct route possible.

I expect that I won’t have to do more than one more guard. Thank goodness. When they call, “Turn out the guard,” I won’t have to jump & buckle on my cartridge belt & grab my rifle. I can tell them to jump in the lake. If you want to feel just real good once, all you have to do is put your name on an honorable discharge from the U.S.A. & you will say you never felt better in your life but once, & that was the first time you kissed your girl.

The last time I was on guard, some of the fellows wired the door knob with electricity from the electric lights. We had brot some pies & cakes out & put them in the next room. When I came off post, one of them said, “You had better go in & get your pie before the other fellows get it.” So I grabbed the knob to open the door and --- turned loose of it. Everyone who came in had to get a jolt off that knob, even the officer of the guard got his. Enuf is enuf – yours till you hear otherwise, -- Ward

Letter 136 ~ February 3, 1919

2009-03-20T12:27:00.005-05:00

I respond to a letter I received from my brother Willis -- mostly about farm matters.

Addressed to Mr. Willis G. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
February 3, 1919

Dear Bill [Willis],

I was mighty glad to get your letter, old top, and wish you would shoot me some more just like it once in a while. It hit me just at the right time. I hadn’t heard from home for three or four days and I was afraid something might be wrong.

I will be drifting by that old serum plant one of these days and surprise yo’all. I expect to migrate with the blackbirds. We heard in a roundabout way from a fellow who flunkies around headquarters that out of the twenty-three applications for discharge, nine were disapproved of by the company commander, but that the Major [Major Walter C. Gullion] ok’d all of them. I suppose at Washington the C.O.’s approval is the one most needed so I think my chances are pretty good for acceptance. I ought to know in a week or two.

You did the right thing in not all four depending on 1 binder even if it is a new one. Now you can make your harvest plans without having to worry about where on earth can I get a binder and then pay forty-seven prices for someone to sit up there and drive while you watch him.

It is too bad there isn’t any stock on the place but you did just right under the circumstances. Maybe we can get hold of a bunch next fall with two silos full of feed and then watch us smoke.

We will certainly have to have more horse power of some kind and there is no doubt but what that is a good colt. I wish we could get hold of a good steady well-broken team of young horses but that is almost impossible.

I wish I could help you pull stumps. Do you suppose I will know the place if you pull all the hedges and orchards? Better leave a stump now and then so I will know where to stop. If it wasn’t for the stumps on the “farms” in this country, they would all slide off the side hill into the creek, so to keep the stumps there they make big rock piles around them. That farm of ours is a pipen now, believe me, and with the stumps and hedges out, it is hard to beat. Believe me, boy, when you and I get to pulling together on the same old double tree, it will be happy days and Uncle Sam can take his old reveille and retreat and chuck 'em in the lake.

If we knew we could have [Louis] Niehenke’s place for more than one year, it would be the proper thing to buy Paul’s machinery. Ask the old man about it and if he says buy, [then] buy it. It isn’t far from the first of March so he ought to come across with some kind of a decision. He talked last summer as tho if he didn’t sell by the first of March, he would write us a lease for five years. Feel him out and see if he won’t do it now. We would be jake if he would.

The other day I mailed you folks the roster of “E” company. I suppose it reached you all right. They are drilling us again now but we are kind of glad of it because there is nothing else to do. Try and find out if you can what they are doing with the 41st Infantry. We have heard that the 70th and 69th are nearly all discharged but the 41st is the one we are interested in because it was an old regiment like the 20th. If they discharge them, we ought to be discharged shortly [too].

All of us fellows got sore at what we found in the paper the other day. Colonel Jordan, Commanding Officer of the 20th [Infantry] with headquarters at Leavenworth had an article in the Kansas City Star saying that 9 out of 10 of the soldiers under his command didn’t want to get out – that they were having the time of their lives and couldn’t be driven out, and for people not to believe the wails of soldiers that were being kept in the army against their will. That was the rankest lie ever printed. Perhaps I should say “mistake” so I wouldn’t have any grounds to be tried for treason.

Well, here’s hoping I can see you all shortly. Yours regardless, -- Ward

Letter 135 ~ February 3, 1919

2009-03-20T12:18:00.004-05:00

I make a bet with Minnie that I'll get home from the army before she gets home from teaching school.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
2/3/1919

Dear Minnie,

I started this letter yesterday but didn’t get any farther than the date. As it is raining this morning, we will not go out to drill. We have started drilling again, so I will endeavor to finish it now.

Your last letter contained your picture. Am very sorry to say that the letters were not so good as it is. Your letter also contained lots of news that I hadn’t heard. It seems as tho every one is getting home except yours truly. I have hopes tho of getting home in a month. Twenty-thee applications for discharge were sent in but [only] nine of them were approved by the Captain [Captain Sterling C. Robertson]. However, the Major [Major Walter C. Gullion] approved everyone so without a doubt some of them will go through. Those with allotments can get out now without affidavits – a personal application is sufficient. We have heard too that all drafted men will soon be mustered out regardless of discharges. Of course that is hearsay but it only sounds reasonable & fair.

About two hours later... We had to go out & play games & box, etc. We wound up by throwing some of the little fellows up in a blanket. Fine exercise & more fun than drill.

I am very glad you are getting along so well with your boys. Your school is out in about six weeks, isn’t it? You mentioned in one of your letters the fact that you thot I must be having a good time. I wish every one who thinks army life is fun had to put up with some of that kind of fun for awhile. Not that I wish you any harm, however.

Have you succeeded in breaking Old Dobin to be used to skirts yet? They certainly use fine saddle horses around here. I wish I could get hold of one & ride around a little but I don’t suppose I could.

Say Minnie, how would you like to make a bet with me? I’ll bet you treats that I get home to stay sooner than you do & then I’ll bet the price of a [picture] show that I made a good bet. How about it? Can the folks tell you from Clara Scott yet? Or are you the biggest? I am not as fat as I was when I saw you last I don’t believe. I haven’t weighed but I don’t look so fat in the glass. I am glad of that even if I do need the weight.

Must close. Yours internally, -- Ward

Letter 134 ~ January 31, 1919

2009-03-20T10:23:00.007-05:00

Carol Cunningham and her grandmother, Hattie P. Griffing

I tell my mother Hattie and my brother Willis that I expect to be discharged from duty by March 1st.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
January 31, 1919

Dear Folks,

I just came off guard again this morning. A fellow gave me my mail. In it was the picture of you and Carol. I think it looks pretty good and I was very glad to get it.

We have just gotten thru with tooth inspection. It may have something to do with the physical examination, which is always given before discharges are issued. I suppose all teeth needing attention will have to be fixed before a man can get out. I hope they do tend to the teeth because I knocked some fillings out [on the train] coming down here ad have been wanting to have them fixed but there has been no dentist here.

Last Wednesday I was called into the orderly room along with about a dozen others to sign our application for discharge. All those like myself whose folks have sent affidavits were the ones called. It is encouraging to know that something is being done even if it is slow. Of course it may do no good but I really believe that I will be home by March 1.

Willis, have you made any arrangements about seed corn?

There isn’t much going on here now. The place will be shut up entirely pretty soon and then it will be a lonesome old hole.

I wish I was home now to help pull stumps but if I get out by March 1, we can do a lot of that kind of work. We hear that most of the boys have left [Camp] Funston. They won’t be treating us fair if we don’t get out pretty soon but so long as we are on duty we can’t tell what will happen.

Well, I think I will catch up some of the sleep I lost while on guard last night so I will close. Yours internally, -- Ward

Letter 133 ~ January 30, 1919

2009-03-20T10:02:00.006-05:00

A raised sentry post at the Nitro, W.V. powder plant

I write Minnie while on late night guard duty and tell her of an amusing incident.

Letter Heading: YMCA, Army & Navy Young Men’s Christian Association, “With the Colors”
Addressed to: Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Sentry Box #14, Area “N”
Nitro, West Virginia
January 30, 1919

Dear Minnie,

I am again on guard at Area “N” & as it is a four-hour post, I thot I would pass away the time writing letters. I can do this so long as the officer of the day or the officer of the guard doesn’t come around. I am in a sentry box about twelve or fifteen feet up in the air right over a high wire fence which surrounds this area. From here I can see along the fence & stop anyone who has no business in the magazine. I also have to make a patrol around some of the powder storage houses to see that there are no fires.

I saw a rather good picture last night, “The Hoosier School Master.” Perhaps you have read the book. I have. I go to the show nearly every night as that is about the only thing to do.

From my [sentry] box here I can look over to the Kanawha River where a steam boat passes once in awhile. Piled out on the ground inside the fence are tons & tons of cotton. It is used somehow in the manufacture of explosives.

An amusing incident happened at the barracks the other evening. Just over one of the pool tables is a knot hole in the floor & some of the fellows in the squad room upstairs kept dropping stuff down on the table & bothering the players. One of the players jumped up on the table & held his cue ready & when he saw an eye at the knot hole, he jammed it thru. It hit a man right square in the eye. One of the men upstairs was looking down & he saw the man with the cue but another pushed him away & said, “Let me see.” He saw alright. We felt sorry for him alright but we would have had to laughed if it had killed him. He went over to the infirmary & had it dressed. He said, “I wouldn’t have cared only it was my best eye.” One of his eyes is a little crossed. It will hurt him for some time but I don’t believe he will lose it. He is marked “quarters” & doesn’t have to stand guard. I have been in [the service] about five months now & have never been marked “quarters” nor even gone on sick report.

If I am in another month, I suppose I will be entitled to a stripe. If you get home and are ever over to our house, you can see the company roster which I sent to the folks.

The sentry on [Box] # 15 came down & we sneaked a little visit. Anyone to see or talk to helps to pass the time wonderfully when you are on guard. If you wish to find out how much fun guarding is, just borrow Mr. Parkerson’s shot gun, fasten a belt around your waist, go up to the schoolhouse at nine o’clock tonight & walk around it until one in the morning. It will be lots of fun & you will wish you were in the army & could stay in all summer.

The last time I saw you was that night when your folks were all over at our place for supper. That was over two months ago, wasn’t it. I wonder if it has seemed as long to you as it has to me. I wonder too if you have sat & yearned for the time when you & I could again love each other as we used to, until you couldn’t keep still & had to get up & do something.

Every night before I go to sleep, I lie there & think of how I am going to walk in on you sometime. It will be spring & you will be home from your school. You will be sitting all alone in the parlor with your back to the door. It will be just twilight & we can smell the apple blossoms & [hear] the frogs croaking down on the well. I will come up the road & nobody sees me. I sneak up on the porch & see you in there. I then softly open the door so you won’t hear me & then I go up behind your chair, & thennnnnn I, you, we, ahem, I suppose we shake hands & you say, ‘Oh! Why it is Mr. Griffing” & I say “Yes, Miss Frey. I just dropped in to see your father on my way back home.” You say, “Let me see, you have been in the army, haven’t you?” [And I say,] “Yes, I’m just getting home. That’s nice isn’t it?”

Do you suppose it will be anything like that? It would be lots of fun if you would write how you would like to have me come [home]. That’s of course if you have ever thot about such an occurrence.

I know I told the folks but I don’t believe I have ever told you about the bear I saw. A bunch of us fellows saw a black bear about half grown the other day.

Well, Minnie, I will close with a little seasoning *************** you know what I mean. Yours ever, Ward.

I love you little
I love you big
I love you like a little pig
-- Shakespere

When a fellow gets to quoting Shakespere, it is a sign that he is deeply in love with some fair damsel. I hope I make myself understood.

Footnotes:

The Hoosier School Master was a silent movie released in 1914 based on Edward Eggleston’s book by the same name.

The process of producing black powder required cellulose which was obtained from washing, bleaching, and drying raw cotton linters and hull fibers. The town of “Nitro” actually took its name from the word “nitrocellulose” rather than “nitroglycerine” which is what many people assume even today.

Letter 132 ~ January 27, 1919

2009-03-20T08:22:00.009-05:00

C&O Depot, Eccles, West Virginia

I tell Minnie about playing in two basketball games against local kids from St. Albans and Eccles, West Virginia.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
January 27, 1919

Dear Minnie,

Thank goodness I have a little something to write about this time. I would write more often but I just hate to only tell about the weather & when I go on guard & how I wish I was home & how I want you, etc. etc.

I went on guard last Friday morning as usual & again my post was one of those 4-hour ones. I was on the first relief so went first & was relieved at one o’clock. The post is about two miles from the main guardhouse so our dinner consisted of sandwiches & coffee we boiled ourselves. Having been out to another of those Y.W.C.A. parties the night before, I was afraid I would go to sleep on post that night so I tried to get some sleep but it wasn’t long before I was awakened by the fellows tearing around & raising merry – you know.

About four o’clock the corporal of my relief came in & told me to put on my overcoat & bring my rifle. I didn’t know what was the matter because I didn’t go on again until nine o’clock. He & I went outside & there was another corporal & man to relieve us. The corporal said, “Knock a home run Griffing,” so then I knew that we were going in to play basketball. I tell you going on a basketball trip beats standing guard at night all hollow.

We walked in & had to hurry & get ready to catch the river ferry up to St. Albans across the river. We finally got there because as someone said, that boat could meet a snail but it surely couldn’t catch one.

We finally found the [St. Albans] school house, “ Yo’alls jest foller up yander & yo’alls will see it.” The court was awfully small – far smaller than the one we had been playing on so they had the advantage but we beat them. Actually that was the roughest & dirtiest & hardest fought game I believe I ever saw. Score 15 to 14. The score shows that to be a fact. After the game, we caught the ferry again & got into camp about 11:30. We didn’t eat any supper before the game so of course we went to bed supperless. I had just gotten to sleep about 12:30 when one of the players came & woke me up & said that we were to get up before six o’clock the next morning & go on another trip.

Well, we got up about five thirty & woke a fellow to drive us down to the ferry landing in the Ford truck. It was too early for breakfast, so we lightened our belts & smoked cigarettes. The Lieutenant’s wife went along with him this time. She is an awful nice little lady. We woke up the ferry man & crawled up to St. Albans again & took the Interurban to Charleston. We didn’t have time to eat at Charleston but had to take a train out of there for the place where we were to play – a mining town away off in the mountains about 75 miles named Eccles [Raleigh County, West Virginia].

Well, that train went a little faster than the ferry but its speed was well under 75 miles per hour. The trip was very interesting & pretty even if we were hungry, tired & sleepy. [There were] lots of tunnels, cliffs, trestles & deep valleys. The hills were covered with pine & great tall spruce & oak. Lots of places the grass was green & ferns & holly were thick. It was very pretty even now in winter; I would certainly like to see it in summer. If I don’t look out tho maybe I will see too much of it in summer.

While nature was beautiful you couldn’t say that for man. I wouldn’t live the way most of those folks do for anything in the world. Life there may not be as bad as it looked but the looks are far from imposing. I saw a cornfield that looked ready to slide off the mountain onto the track & I asked one of the boys how they farmed up there. He said, “Oh! They shoot the seed up there in the spring with a shotgun & then let the snow bring down the corn in the winter.”

We reached our destination about two o’clock & was taken to the hotel. “I reckon as how I ken put yo’alls up.” So we cleaned up & finally sat down to supper, breakfast & dinner all rolled together into a tough beefsteak. The town was in three or four parts – each part on the top of a [different] hill. The principle industries of the city were mining, loafing & railroading. It happened to be the junction of two [rail]roads – one down in the valley & the other way up the mountain. The coal mine, however, was the thing.

Eccles, West Virginia, circa 1920

We were shown the hall where we were to play & then hung around the barber shop below awaiting our turns & listening to the wonderful tales of gunplay & fistfights. To hear them talk you might think that they were hard boiled but they didn’t take the trouble to molest us soldiers at least.

We don’t usually eat before playing but we were still hungry & knew we couldn’t get anything after the game so we went back to the hotel & ate a light supper. Soldiers were quite an attraction in that town. The girls in the hotel got all ready & hung around trying to talk their heads off. They turned down the fellows who asked them to go with them & hung around watching us eat supper & when we got up they “wondered who all was going with them.” Well, we all didn’t ask them so I guess they must have gone alone.

Well, those miner lads certainly had the goods on us. They beat us 18 to 43, but they played a clean & sporty game – lots better than the St. Albans team. We couldn’t start the game until after the [picture] show so we could get a crowd, so it was about eleven when we finished. We were one tired bunch when we went to bed that night & we didn’t get up until about nine o’clock Sunday morning. We decided to go back on the other [rail]road as it left at 10:30. We ate breakfast & climbed up the mountain to the station.

The trip home was very slow but we enjoyed it. We stopped at every coal mine along the road & they were about five miles apart. It resembled an interurban more than anything else. Part of the way we followed a mountain river & I wish I could describe it but I can’t. Anyway, it was very pretty. We reached St. Albans about dusk & again enjoyed our speedy trip on the ferry. When I reached the barracks, I got some clean clothes, took a bath & went to bed & the next thing I knew I realized that I was still in the army because the old bugle was “I can’t get ‘em up, I can’t get ‘em up, etc.”

Friday night before I left I got a nice long letter from you. Say kid, that was a peach of a letter. Please repeat dose each day until patient shows signs of coming back. About coming back, some of the men with Class A allotments have received their discharges. We hear that they are discharging the 10th very fast up at [Camp] Funston but as we are on duty & I don’t see who would relieve us, we may be stuck here for some time yet.

This morning I received a box of candy & cake from the folks. They had a party & told me to imagine I was home when I ate the stuff. That was a little hard to do, sitting on a trunk with a bunch of fellows around seeing that you didn’t get more than your share. The piece I got was good anyway.

The weather is simply wonderful here now. All day yesterday we rode on the train with the windows open & our overcoats off.

Last week – I believe it was about Wednesday – one of our men got drunk while on guard. His post was in one of the office buildings & he got to halting everyone, men, women & child indiscriminately & making a nuisance of himself. Someone phoned to the captain & he at once relieved the man & sent him hiking over to report to the battalion commander. He is now laying in the guardhouse facing a very serious charge – disobedience to orders & drunkenness on post of guard in time of war. Some of these fellows – this one [facing charges] included – if they can’t get whiskey, they will buy lemon extract & mix it with grape juice. It makes them crazy & will finally kill them. The Captain said, “If you men want to die, let me take a firing squad out in the hills & shoot you. It will cause less trouble to you & everyone else, so for God’s sake, don’t drink any more lemon extract.”

Say, fatty, you won’t get scared at this man if he shows up will you? I wish I could tell you when my school will be out like you do me. Well, enough is enough. So goodbye. With love & hopes for a kiss from you by April 26. – Ward

Letter 131 ~ January 22, 1919

2009-03-20T08:13:00.003-05:00

I write my mother Hattie to let her know what we are doing in Nitro, West Virginia.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
January 22, 1919

Dear Folks,

I was glad to hear that [my brother] Willis got a chance to go to Kansas City. Maybe they will send him some more.

We are now having some of the best weather I ever saw. During the day it gets so warm that one is comfortable outdoors in his shirtsleeves. At night, it gets sharp and freezes a little, but the days are hard to beat except for the mud. I wish it was like this at home. How is it at home anyway? Is the snow still on enough to keep from pasturing?

Last Sunday I went to a tea party given by the Y.W.C.A. women and had a pretty nice time. I got to talking with a girl there that I had met before. I had noticed her going back and forth to work. We got so interested that I beat retreat and we sat and talked until after dark.

Monday night I was invited to a party at one of the bungalows after the picture show. Had a pretty nice time there too.

Now that the “Y” is closed, they have brot two of the pool tables up here and installed them in the barracks.

They are getting a little stricter with us now. We have to take a hike every morning now. We can’t leave the barracks until after 3:00 P.M. now.

I haven’t heard a thing about those papers that I took into the orderly room. We hear all kinds of rumors about getting discharges but I am afraid they will be slow coming because we are on duty. I imagine those at [Camp] Funston will be discharged before we will.

I was on guard Saturday and had one of the new posts. It is one where the guard has to stay on four hours without relief. Believe me, four hours in the middle of the night doing guard duty makes you think of home and mother. I don’t believe in dreams much, but I dreamed I was home the other night. Maybe it is a good sign.

Keep well and some fine morning I will be walking in on you. Goodbye, -- Ward

Letter 130 ~ January 21, 1919

2009-03-19T11:27:00.007-05:00

I write Minnie about social activities in Nitro, West Virginia.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
1/21/1919

Dear Kid,

We have been having some of the prettiest winter weather lately that anyone could wish for. The natives say however that it is not usually quite so warm this time of year. One can go around in the afternoon in perfect comfort in his shirt sleeves although we are not allowed to except around the barracks. If it wasn’t so muddy, I would ramble all over the hills here but the mud takes some of the joy out of walking.

Sunday afternoon I went to a tea party given by the Y.W.C.A. ladies at the school house. I have spoken of the school house before but I have never described it to you. It is quite a nice building for such a hurriedly and temporarily built place. It has a long hall in it where dances & parties are held. Last Sunday I went around a little & was surprised to see how well equipped it was. Modern laboratory fixtures throughout. They have courses in French, Spanish, Latin, domestic science, etc.

Well, I had quite a nice time at the party. I got to talking with a girl that I had met before. When I get home, don’t forget to have me tell you about her. I can’t do it in a letter very well but honestly, she is different from any other girl I ever met.

Sunday evening they had church services at the theatre followed by a picture show. The house was full but I don’t know which was the main attraction.

Monday night I was invited to a party at one of the bungalows. The folks there treated us fine & we had a nice time. You know I said that they closed the “Y.” They brot two of the pool tables over here to the barracks that had been in the “Y.” As that was one of the great attractions at the “Y”, its being closed won’t be quite so bad. We fellows who practice basketball tho have access to the “Y” gymnasium.

When I was on guard last Saturday, I had one of the new posts. It was guarding a gate into the area where the powder is stored. One has to stay on this post four hours without relief. Four hours from 9 to 1 in the night sure seems most awful long. I have spent four or five hours from about eight until over two in the morning somewhere out in Kansas & it seemed very short but circumstances alter cases.

The rumor is getting about now that it we’ll have to begin drilling again. I sure hope we don’t because now that the war is over, we can’t get the life into it that we did before.

I don’t know whether it is a good sign or not but I dreamed that I was home last night. Do dreams ever come true? Well, Minnie, I hope you are well & still getting fat. As ever, -- Ward

Footnotes:

In the book, Nitro, the WWI Boom Town, it is reported that “all protestant denominations were included by the ‘Liberty Church’ which held morning services at the schoolhouse and evening meetings at the theatre.”

Letter 129 ~ January 17, 1919

2009-03-19T11:13:00.003-05:00

I write Minnie about guard duty and other camp activities at Nitro, West Virginia. I do my best to make Minnie jealous.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
[Friday] 1/17/1919

Dear Minnie,

Well, I am writing to you because it is time for a letter & not because I have any news to tell. It is the same old story. There are not nearly so many people here now owing to the fact they have closed the Y.M.C.A. We could occupy our time over there while it was open. Some of the pool tables were free to soldiers in the afternoon & also the bowling alley, but now we can’t. The movie theater opened to us soldiers last night so there will be one place to go. The Hercules Powder Company gave their farewell dance last Monday night & I don’t know whether there will be any more or not but I think there will.

Four of the boys out of this company have gotten their discharges but they have been a very long time getting them. [My brother] Willis sent me some papers & some affidavits from some of the men who knew me stating that I was needed at home but I don’t think they will do a bit of good. There has been no order to discharge 50% of the 10th [Division]. The men with allotments will be discharged shortly tho as they have already been filled into the orderly room & asked if they wanted an immediate separation from the service. Of course every one declined the chance. We have some new posts now so our turn to mount guard comes more often than formerly.

Yesterday & the day before we had to carry gravel & sand from a pile behind the barracks around in front & spread it out all over the area between the barracks & the walk. I got out of it both afternoons, however, because of practicing basketball.

One of our posts is guarding a safe in one of the office buildings. The room is full of girls & of all the kidding you ever heard in your life, that beats it. A fellow on guard is not supposed to talk except in the line of duty but there is one place where duty & desire conflict & duty is usually the loser. I was on guard at the door of the ordinance building last time with orders to allow no one to pass without a badge or a pass. Two girls who work in there came up & wanted by but swore by all that was holy that they didn’t have any passes. I knew they did so I stood with my rifle across the door & wouldn’t let them in. Well, they kept fooling around trying to slip by till I finally let one thru & then they showed their passes. They were the craziest girls I ever saw. Most of the girls here would rather go with the soldiers than the civilians.

It must be lonely up there where you are but if you get out in March you should consider yourself lucky. I don’t know when I will get out & you do.

Saturday morning.

I had to stop for dinner & couldn’t get at my letter until this morning. We had to fix walks in front yesterday P.M. I have to go on guard again this morning so goodbye for now. As ever, -- Ward

Letter 128 ~ January 15, 1919

2009-03-19T10:56:00.003-05:00

I write my mother Hattie and brother Willis to update them with my efforts to obtain a discharge.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
January 15, 1919

Dear Folks,

It is a good thing you folks gave that party because maybe you started something and others will entertain now. I wish I had been there. I feel awfully left out when I hear about the parties going on at home and I am not even invited. I’ll bet they had a fine time.

I was sorry to hear about Miss Springs. She sure was a fine girl. I suppose I will hear that Minnie has it next.

That man who called up was named [Alfred A.] Holinquest. I bunked with him at the Depot Brigade. He is a pretty nice fellow although he is an awkward country fellow. He took care of my stuff for me when I was out at Smoky [Hill] Flats and we whacked up on all our candy and stuff. He was transferred to the 70th Infantry a short time before I was transferred.

I don’t know whether those papers will do any good or not. I am afraid not because when I took them into the top sergeant, he said, “Why do you get this G__ d____ stuff from your local board. It will queer you sooner than anything.” He said he would show them to the captain and so I am expecting to be called in most anytime and I don’t know what to expect. All the boys with allotments are going to get out tho. They were summoned to the orderly room night before last and asked if they wished an immediate separation from the service. Of course none of them did. Like fun.

Well, today the Hercules Powder Company turns the plant over to the Ordinance Department and we have to mount a double guard and take the place of the guards (hired by the Hercules P.C.) who are being discharged. This makes us go on every four days. That is practically all we do. Except for the time when we are on guard it is easy.

It is nasty weather again. I guess it just can’t stay good weather here but those clear days were sure pretty. The movie theater opens up tomorrow night so things won’t be quite so dead around here maybe.

How is the car running now? Or is the weather too bad for it? How is Dorr’s leg? Did his trip cure him or not?

We are close to the depot and every train I see pulling out of here I wish I was on with a red stripe on my sleeve. My train will come through one of these days tho and believe me, it won’t leave me standing on the platform. With love, -- Ward

Footnotes:

Alfred A. Holinquest was born 3 July 1898 and resided with his mother at 500 Josephine Street in Dallas, TX prior to his being inducted into the service. His draft registration records indicate that he was tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and light hair.

A red stripe on the sleeve generally means a soldier was wounded in action. This may have been the case here too, though perhaps servicemen who were being discharged at the time were also issued red stripes signifying their tour of duty had ended. Ward's tunic bears a red stripe on his left sleeve. If anyone learns more about the use of this insignia during WWI, please let me know.

Letter 127 ~ January 13, 1919

2009-03-19T10:39:00.003-05:00

I write my mother to let her know how I'm doing in Nitro, West Virginia. Not wanting to worry her, I fail to mention playing hob in Charleston the previous weekend.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
January 13, 1919

Dear Folks,

I just returned off guard this morning. This one was only my second guard. I missed a turn when I was away. After the 16th, we will have to stand guard about twice as often because the plant is going to be turned over to the ordinance department and the U.S. Guards are to be discharged. That will make one man stand guard 1 day out of four. There is no drilling so the work is not hard, but it is very monotonous and tiresome.

I wish you folks were having the kind of weather we are now. It certainly is great. It is warm and the sun is nice and bright. It reminds me of spring weather in Kansas. It is nasty underfoot, however.

The Y.W.C.A. secretaries gave a party and invited thirty boys from each company. I got to go and we had a pretty good time. There were just exactly enough girls to go around so that made it nice. We played games and did stunts and had some drills and marches.

We were paid last Friday. There isn’t any news because there isn’t much doing. I haven’t heard from you folks for a few days but I trust you are all well. With love, -- Ward

Letter 126 ~ January 12, 1919

2009-03-19T09:54:00.009-05:00

Washington Street, Charleston, W. Virginia in the 1920's

I tell Minnie about receiving my pay and making a trip into Charleston with my buddies to spend our money and raise a ruckus.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
Sunday, [January 12, 1919]

Dear Kid –

Well, Minnie, you can tell the folks that you got a letter from Ward while he was in the guard house because that is where I am now. I am on guard & am now stationed at the guard house. This is only my second guard since I have been here. I missed my turn while I was on my trip.

We have been having some nice weather lately but today is especially nice. It reminds me of coming spring at home. It is warm, the sun is very bright, the sky perfectly clear & blue, but it is nasty underfoot. Minnie, it is just the kind of weather that I like to walk over the hills with you. It seems as tho such beautiful weather is wasted unless I do, but perhaps if the fortunes of war favor me I can walk over the dear old Kansas hills with you next spring or at least early summer. Just to think – back to Kansas again.

Minnie, I am sorry you didn’t have faith in me to think I wouldn’t care to come back. You know it is the knowledge that their sweethearts have faith in them & believe in them that often times keeps the boys from going to the bow-wows. And if they find out that no one believes in them or cares for them, it is very hard for them to stand up under the temptations which come their way. Since I have been in the army, I have seen & learned lots of things that would cause lots of boys to take a slide but I have always thought of you & mother & have still got my head above water.

We were paid Friday & as our Company’s basketball team had a game with Charleston, anyone who was not on duty could get a pass to Charleston until Sunday or Monday. Of course nearly everyone wanted a chance to spend all his money as quickly as he could so several of us went down to see the game & take in the city too. I went with a fellow called Nick Sousen. He & I left on the 2:30 P. M. train. We walked up town, had some barber work done, shopped a little, & then went to a picture show. After that, we walked around town a little & then got supper. It seemed good to order what you wanted to eat once more. We went to the game at 8:00 and saw our team get whalloped. Charleston went over, under, around & thru our team – score 17 to 40. We had lots of fun at the game tho. There were about a dozen of us 20th men sitting together & we weren’t afraid to say most anything we could think of but that didn’t help win.

After the game, Nick & I fell in with a company of other E Company men. They were happy-go-lucky, don’t-give-a-damn sort, so we sure had a time. We didn’t want to go to a good hotel & spend our month’s wages all in one night, so we set out to hunt a rooming house. We found a place down town where we could all four sleep in the same room. It wasn’t a very nice place but we didn’t care a bit. We thot it was fun. Well, it wasn’t very late so we went out & ate another supper & fooled around on the streets some more. When we went up to our room, we took some peanuts & candy….

Monday morning [January 13, 1919]

I couldn’t finish my letter last night because I had to go on post & after that I had to get what sleep I could or I might go to sleep the next time I went on.

Well, we threw peanuts all around & the floor was covered with shells. A peanut lit on one of the beds & one of the fellows jumped after it & broke the bed down. We made so much racket that the proprietor came in & told us to make less noise [because] there was a couple in the next room trying to sleep. Well, we fixed up the bed as good as we could & went to bed. As soon as those other two fellows got on that broken bed, down it went again & made an awful racket. We could hear the other folks sputtering but we were out for a good time & didn’t care. They finally took the springs & mattress off the bed & laid them on the floor & settled down.

We slept as late as we wanted to for once. After we got up, the old lady came in & raved about the broken bed & the peanut shucks, etc. She said, “You’alls will have to pay for this or I will call a police man.” As we were in uniforms, we weren’t afraid of any policeman & they couldn’t send our names into the company because we registered under different names so we just walked out. We went to a café & ate a great big pile of griddle cakes apiece & then started out & walked all over the city. After dinner, we went to a [picture] show & caught the afternoon train back to Nitro.

The other day our Captain announced that after the 16th, this plant would be turned over to the Ordinance Department & that the guards employed here would be discharged. So we will have double the amount of guarding to do after that – one guard every four days. That won’t be very bad tho because there is no drill whatever. I would just as soon drill part of the day because when a fellow is idle, he hunts mischief because it is so monotonous.

I am sending you something. I don’t know what they call it but I can tell from the looks of it what they do with it. I haven’t been around folks enough lately to notice whether it is used or not but the girl said it was alright. I am afraid it is not very nice but I got the best I could find in Charleston's three department stores.

It is another fine day today. I hope it keeps up this kind of weather & then I won’t mind staying here so much because it is probably bad in Kansas.

Last Thursday night the Y. W. C. A. secretaries invited thirty boys from each company to attend a party at the school house. I went. We had quite a nice time. There were as many girls as boys & so of course that made it lots nicer. We played games & did some fancy marching & drills.

Well, I have said about enough for once. I believe I will try and get a little sleep now because I didn’t get much while on guard. Yours as ever, -- Ward

Footnotes:

After researching the WWI Draft Registration cards, I could find no one by the name of Nick Sousen (as Ward spelled it in his letter). Ward appears to only have been a casual acquaintance and may not have known how to spell Nick’s last name. The closest name I can find in the registration cards is that of Nick Sauzan who was born in 1885 and hailed from Chicago’s north side.

Letter 125 ~ January 8, 1919

2009-03-18T15:26:00.004-05:00

I tell Minnie I received a promotion while on furlough. I describe my return trip to Nitro, West Virginia, from the east coast and poke fun of the camp cooking.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
1/8/1919

Dear Kid,

I got back from my trip Monday P.M. & was very glad to get my mail. You should have seen the amount of mail that had accumulated while I was away -- three packages & about a dozen or more letters. It was over three weeks since I had heard from you & [your sister] Bertha couldn’t tell me much so I didn’t know whether you were still on earth or not.

Minnie, you must be a mind reader. How in the world did you know that the very thing I needed was a pen? I expect you were weary of my pencil scribble. That sure was fine candy & it melted away like ice in a skillet.

I am sorry you didn’t get my mail but as you say, my letters to you and to the folks are nearly the same so if you saw their letters perhaps it was alright. Your telling me about that party at Munger’s made me feel left out for a fact. We used to have such good times before this war. When I get out next summer – as I hope and pray that I will – we won’t lose any time in having a little fun, will we kid?

I was very glad to get Ercil [Hoke]’s letter & am glad to hear of his promotion. He will make a good corporal I am sure. Those boys will be coming back before long & I for one will take off my hat to them. I have talked with overseas men who have come back & I tell you those fellows have been through war & you know what war is.

It is too bad your school can’t be kept running but it is much better to shut it up then to get the flu. I am evidently missing lots of winter weather by not being home. It snowed here but only about an inch or two. It is pretty sloppy but not very cold.

Both companies assembled at 8:00 o’clock today to honor Ex-President [Theodore] Roosevelt. Wouldn’t that beat you, his dying that way? It certainly surprised me.

I was made a first class private while I was on my furlough. That means $3 more pay per month. It is easy money because my chores are just the same but I am supposed to show a little more intelligence & willingness than a buck private. I was surprised to get it, having been put into a company of trained men & said as much to one of the fellows. I said I didn’t suppose the captain even knew my name. He said don’t you fool yourself, the captain knows every man in this company & he has been watching you & you didn’t know it, of course. That is as good as I can expect because as it is, that is better than lots of the men who were here all last summer.

The night I wrote you that letter from New York [City], I started back to Washington & got there the next morning. I had promised to let Billy [Harlan] show me through the zoo before I left so [my sister] Gussie, Billy & I went to the zoo. It is in Rock Creek Park & is a very good collection of animals & birds. As near as possible everything is in its natural setting & as the park is very beautiful, it was quite interesting.

That [same] night I left for Nitro & got in the next afternoon. On the train was a man who had been overseas & had been gassed & suffered from shell shock also. A corporal of the Medical Corps was taking him home from the hospital at Plattsburg, New York. He was very talkative & one could tell from the way he talked that he wasn’t quite right. One time we met a train & I saw him jump clear out of his seat, so nervous you know. Well, we met other trains & he finally broke down & had a fit – cried like a baby & shook all over. They laid him down & finally worked him out of it, but my how I pitied him. He certainly gave the best he had for us. His case is mild, however, compared to many others.

While I was away, the grub got so bad that some of the fellows posted some cartoons & signs on the door of the mess hall knocking the cooks & mess sargent & the quality of the grub. One of them showed a skinny mouse chasing a weenie & the mouse said, “Oh Lord, still no change.” Another showed two of the cooks. One is a little dried-up fellow & the other is fat of course. They are exaggerated. One said, “Well, we fooled them again didn’t we?” The other said, “Ha Ha.” They were shown sitting in the kitchen after mess. The mess sargent was wild & he showed them to the captain. The captain said if the fellow who put them up wouldn’t come into the orderly room in a half hour, he would have the whole company fall out with full packs & double time for awhile. Of course no one knew a single thing about how those awfully insulting signs got up there. Why, who would be so mean as to say a word about the beautiful grub & nice cooks. They had to double time good & plenty alright but everyone thot it was such a good joke that they didn’t mind it a bit. The grub has been a little better since. However, there is still room for improvement. I think we will eat off dishes again pretty soon because there was a big pile of them in the kitchen this evening.

Mama said that you were getting fat & that it was improving your looks. Gee, I sure would like to see you. I can never imagine how you would look if you should really get fat. The fact is, I don’t believe you ever will. Your school work must be agreeing with you or perhaps it is because you don’t sit up till morning as often as you used to. Believe me, when I get a chance, I am going to make you sit up once more. I mean, of course, if you don’t mind.

You said you wanted me to tell every little thing about the camp. Well, the most expressive words to describe every little thing & every big thing is to say mud, rain & clouds. That is varied by now. I’m not going to describe this old place. I will tell you about it when I see you. We can’t go to the theatre here or visit at the bungalows on account of scarlet fever.

Well, I’ve raved long enough so good night. If I was on your porch at this time, I would take calisthenics exercises in this manner. Raise arms forward at count of one. Squeeze at count of two. Smack the lips at count of three. Resume position of attention at four.

Footnotes:

Ercil Addison Hoke was the 20 year-old son of farmer John Lewis Hoke and Mary Clarissa Perry of Hays Township, Dickinson County, Kansas. He was a student at KSAC at the time of the 1915 State Census. He was born 22 April 1898. He died in Issaquah, King County, Washington in June 1968.

On January 6, 1919, at the age of 60, Teddy Roosevelt died in his sleep of a coronary embolism at Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, and was buried in Young's Memorial Cemetery.

Letter 124 ~ January 7, 1919

2009-03-18T14:23:00.011-05:00

The Brooklyn Bridge and the Woolworth Building in 1920.

I write my mother Hattie and brother Willis a long letter, telling them all about my trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
January 7, 1919

Dear Folks,

Well, I got home yesterday afternoon and had a fine time on my trip. You didn’t know I was in Manhattan Friday and Saturday did you? Well, I was. It was the borough of Manhattan, however, and was somewhat larger than Manhattan, Kansas. [My sister] Gussie and [her husband] Harry [Harlan] both said I would wish afterward that I had gone if I didn’t so I left Washington for New York [City] Thursday night and spent Friday and Saturday there, getting back to Washington Sunday morning and leaving Washington for Nitro Sunday night, getting back here yesterday evening.

I had not intended going to Washington until after payday and I hadn’t gotten my clothes from home, but December 27 I got a wire from Harry saying to come up the 28th or 29th if possible because he was off until the first and he would send me all the funds necessary for the trip, so of course, I accepted. I showed the wire to the top sergeant and he said I could get a pass so I wired to Harry to wire me a ticket from Charleston to Washington and then started getting ready. I took a bath and changed my clothes and washed out a shirt and borrowed a handbag from one of the fellows and was all ready to go on the 5:20 to Charleston. When I got my pass I was surprised to find that he had made it out for ten days because the usual time is 7 or 8. I expect Harry’s telegram helped. Well, I got the money at Charleston all right that night and was off. Harry met me at the train Sunday morning and we went out to their home.

They have a very nice house both outside and inside. It is very nicely furnished and is very comfortable. [My nephews] Billy and Jack are certainly fine little fellows, hardly ever cry, mind very well, but still are very lively and mischievous. Billy talks a lot and says some very sensible things for a kid of his age. Jack talks a little but not much. They keep a dozen purebred S.C. white Leghorn pullets and get over 4-dozen eggs a week. Billy certainly enjoys getting the eggs and feeding the chickens. Gussie is certainly a fine cook and some of the things she fixed up were simply grand after eating nothing but army fare for so long.

Harry, being off, was able to show me around the city. Washington [D.C.] certainly is a beautiful place—so many fine residences, no factories, and many beautiful government buildings. They keep the streets so clean and have lots of trees. One day Harry took me to lunch at the Cosmos Club. I suppose Gussie has told you about the club. It is the most exclusive and hardest to get into of any in the District. The President and Cabinet members, Ambassadors, etc. belong. They have very beautiful clubrooms and are very hospitable. There I met Dr. [C.E.] Leighty and a Mr. [D.F.] Chalmers. They are both very nice and we four played billiards at the club for awhile.

One evening, Mrs. Bill had us in for dinner and there I met Mr. and Mrs. Vinall. Willis, you know that man we wrote to about seed at Wichita.

When Harry had to go to work, I was well enough acquainted with the city to go around myself. I went up on top of the Washington Monument. Visited the Capitol and sat and listened awhile in each house of Congress as they both happened to be in session.

Some of the buildings are closed because of the war and I couldn’t see everything. The new Museum where the most interesting exhibits are shown was closed but I saw the old one and it is good altho not up to the other. The Pan-American building was interesting and so was the Library of Congress. The White House will not be opened again until peace is signed.

One night Gussie and I went to a movie. It was in a new theater that had just opened and so the theater was interesting as well as the picture, which was very good. The theater was very beautiful and the lower floor will seat 2,000 people and there is not a single post or step in the house.

New Year’s Day I knew Charlie [Scholer] would be home so I called up and found out how to get out there and went out for dinner. Had a very fine visit. It was the first time I had seen Charlie since I went to Topeka with the Freys. Bertha and the baby had lately gotten over the flu but looked well then.

I got back to Washington in time for Gussie’s dinner at about 6:30. They had a man and his wife from downtown and also their neighbor Mr. Stone. That Mr. Stone is the man who developed the gas defensive for the army and also invented a new gas which, if the war had lasted long enough to have [used] it, would have annihilated the Germans because they had no defense against it. He is a big man but is awfully nice to meet and is not a bit stuck up. He couldn’t start his car one morning and so I went down and cranked it for him.

Thursday night after midnight I started for New York [City] and got there Friday morning. Went to the [Herald Square] hotel, got a room, and then started out to see the city. I took a subway down to the battery. From there you look out over the harbor and see the Statue of Liberty and boats coming up and going. They have an aquarium down there where all kinds of live fish and water inhabitants are kept. It was very interesting. From the battery I walked up Wall Street. This is one of the streets which reminds one of a canyon. I then walked along the East side, saw the East River wharves, Brooklyn Bridge, the fish market, and some of the tenement district. It was very dirty and uninviting all along there.

Then I went uptown and saw Central Park. Here is where the famous Polo grounds are, Willis. Near the park is the Metropolitan Museum of Arts. This is one of the finest collections of works of art in the world—paintings, statuary, jewels, collections of armor and old firearms, and swords and Egyptian relics. They had some mummies there. Across the park is the Museum of Natural History [where there are] collections of stuffed animals, birds, one of the finest bird exhibits in the world, minerals, old relics of all kinds, etc. etc.

In the afternoon, I went out in a boat and boarded the dreadnaught Utah. The great Atlantic Fleet you know has come back and is anchored up the Hudson River just west of the city. The jockies showed me all around the vessel, opened up some of the big guns and showed how to load and handle them. Let me look thru a spyglass, etc. They sure can tell tales about the other side of the pond. They are a mighty fine bunch of fellows.

I had supper at a canteen for soldiers and sailors down near the pier. Almost any chauffeur will give a man in uniform a ride for nothing so that evening I rode around town with them and on the sight-seeing buses until show time & then I went to the Hippodrome. This house has the largest stage in the world & they sure put on a spectacle. The place is so large that they use very little talking but use an immense number of people and very gorgeous costumes. In one of the scenes they had a circus parade with horses, camels, and elephants. The troupe of elephants played ball as you have seen them do at a circus.

Saturday morning I went up on top of the Woolworth Building, the tallest building in the world. I got a book of views up there and was going to send them home, but I left them at the hotel. One can certainly see a lot from there. That afternoon, I went to the Winter Garden. This is another theater that is distinctly New York. The performance there was very good too.

New York is very easy to get around in. One is not so apt to get lost in it as in a large city much smaller. They certainly treat a man in uniform fine there – lots better than in the West or the South. The Red Cross and “YM” have information booths, canteens, and places to sleep and certainly do work for the men that is fine and altogether unselfish.

I got back to Washington [D.C.] Sunday morning and Gussie, Billy and I went to the Zoo. I started back to Nitro last night and my visit was ended. My, but I hated to get back here except that I was anxious to hear from all you folks. You should have seen the amount of mail I got when I got here – about 12 or 15 letters and 3 packages. I got that money you sent all right, Willis. I am afraid you need it more than I do. Harry loaned me $35 and I sent $30 of it so when I get my pay, I can settle with him and then send back some to you if you need it. I am sure you will so I will send it anyway. I hate to be under any obligation to Harry and Gussie because they sure showed me a good time and it certainly costs them a lot to live there with the children. I got the clothes but I have already taken my trip so I won’t wear them much now.

I believe you might as well go see Yenewine right away about my discharge because things work so slow in the army. Someone said tho that he read that we could not be held over six weeks longer. If that is true, you wouldn’t need to do it but find out anyway. I am anxious to get out or rather a whole lot more so than you are to have me, I’ll bet. Yenewine ought to be able to tell you what to do. I sure was glad to hear about the young folks of College Hill. It almost sounded like the times before the war. I wish I could have been at that party at Munger’s. I am very sorry to hear about the stormy weather and I hope it opens up good in the spring.

If Claude [Cunningham] gets married, it will be hard on you and Carroll but I don’t believe we can hardly blame him because he has been awfully lonely these years.

Next month I will get $3.00 more pay because I was made first class private while I was gone. That is about as good as I can expect because you see the non-coms have all had at least 18 months training and many of them more. And of course none of them are getting killed. Those $3.00 are about the softest money in the army because a first class private doesn’t have to do any more than a buck private but is supposed to show a little more intelligence and willingness. In the absence of the corporal, the first class private has charge of the squad.

Maybe this letter will make up for my not writing before but I really didn’t have a good chance on my trip to write a real letter so I didn’t write any. I am writing this with a Xmas present. Minnie sent me a clipping of Ercil’s letter. I see he was made a corporal. He will make a good one alright, I am sure.

I have talked with wounded men from overseas and I tell you, those fellows went thru hell and then some. I will always respect the Hoke boys for their share in it. My trick in the service is small compared to theirs.

Where has Arthur been stationed? You know the Willis family is the only one in our club who didn’t have a representative in the service. I wouldn’t feel very proud over that if I were them. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Homer hadn’t tried to keep out. Of course Everett was in the S.A.T.C tho. Maybe that counts. Keep well. There seems to be lots of flu on the outside, but I don’t believe there is much in the army. There isn’t any here. Well, here is hoping I get out in a month or two.

Goodbye. Lots of Love, -- Ward

Footnotes:

Ercil Hoke was the 20 year-old son of farmer John Lewis Hoke and Mary Clarissa Perry of Hays Township, Dickinson County, Kansas. He was a student at KSAC at the time of the 1915 State Census.

The following description of the Cosmos Club was lifted from the Club's website: The Cosmos Club is a private social club, incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1878 by men distinguished in science, literature and the arts. In June, 1988 the Club voted to welcome women as members. Since its founding, the Club has elected as members individuals in virtually every profession that has anything to do with scholarship, creative genius or intellectual distinction. Among its members, over the years, have been three Presidents, two Vice Presidents, a dozen Supreme Court justices, 32 Nobel Prize winners, 56 Pulitzer Prize winners and 45 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Cosmos Club as it looked about 1920 when it was still located on Lafayette Park.

Dr. [C.E.] Leighty and Mr. [D.F.] Chalmers both worked for the Department of Agriculture, as did Ward's brother-in-law, Harry Harlan.

The identity of Mr. Stone has not been established. Perhaps he worked at nearby American University with Dr. Winford Lee Lewis who headed up a division in the Chemical Warfare Service. Under his direction, the gas "Lewisite" was developed which was never used during WWI.

The Aquarium, the Hippodrome, the Winter Garden, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1920.

The big guns on the USS Utah in 1919.

Letter 123 ~ January 4, 1919

2009-03-18T13:54:00.011-05:00

The Great Atlantic Fleet anchored in the Hudson River in January 1919
(The USS Utah is on the far left)

I write Minnie from the Herald Square Hotel in New York City. I describe visiting the USS Utah anchored in the Hudson River.

Addressed to: Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS
Letterhead: Herald Square Hotel, 114-120 West 34th Street, Just West of Broadway, New York

1/4/1919

Dearest Kid,

Well I am in Manhattan tonight....the borough of Manhattan, however. How I wish that tomorrow night I might be in another Manhattan – one I love lots better than this, although I like it fine here. For in the other Manhattan there is a dear little girl waiting for me, but here – although there are many, many girls, there is not one like her.

I am very anxious to know how you are, Minnie. You know I have not heard from you for nearly three weeks & you know that is not good for a fellow in my fix. I visited Charles & [your sister] Bertha on New Year’s Day. Bertha said you were able to be home for Xmas. I am so glad for you that you could as I suppose it would be rather dull where you are staying [in Sherman Township].

Kid, I have been having a wonderful time. I came up here Thursday night or rather Friday morning, & have been seeing things I have always wanted to see & of course I have seen some things I haven’t wanted to see, over on the East side for instance.

As you know, our fleet has returned from Europe & is now anchored in the Hudson [River]. Well yesterday P.M. I got on a boat & was taken out to one of the battle cruisers, the [USS] Utah. I stayed there quite awhile & hobnobbed with the sailors. They showed me around & told me tales of the other side of the pond. They are mighty fine fellows I tell you.

I have been off duty so long now that I hate to get back except that when I get back I will get some word from you for which I am very anxious. Minnie, by being here in this great city one can see & feel how hypocritical & false society is. The only place to live is away from it all, far from the crowds & roaring streets & out where one is his own master, free to love & work & be happy. How glad I am that I have such a home as I have to go back to even if it is devoid of luxuries. Several men I have talked with here say they envy me in being on a farm. Gee! I wish I was there now.

I have been very much surprised the way New York treats us soldiers & sailors. I don’t believe there is a more hospitable city in the U.S. I have found that my uniform gets me anywhere & Kid, I am beginning to feel more proud of it each day. Down at Washington D. C., no one notices a soldier while here we are treated with simple kindness & much freedom.

I am going to see Alice Brady at the Playhouse [Theater] tonight & it is time to be going so good night dear. With lots of love, -- Pvt. Ward [Griffing] U.S.A.

Footnotes:

The battleship USS Utah was completed in 1911 but saw its first real duty during WWI when it escorted troop and munitions transport ships to Europe. After the armistice was signed, the USS Utah returned to New York City and remained anchored in the North (Hudson) River until 30 January 1919, during which time the crew hosted many visitors. In her latter years, the USS Utah was turned into a gunnery training ship and she was moored at Pearl Harbor on the fateful day of the Japanese attack that vaulted the U.S. into WWII. The USS Utah was one of several battleships destroyed that day.

Alice Brady was a very popular silent screen actress in 1919.

The USS Utah in 1919.

A view of NYC taken by Ward's Cousin, Lew Griffing, in 1918 when he shipped out to Europe.

Alice Brady

Letter 122 ~ December 30, 1918

2009-03-18T13:14:00.015-05:00

Jack and Bill Harlan at the Chevy Chase home near Washington D.C.
(Photo taken a couple of years after Ward's visit)

I write Minnie from Washington D.C. while on a 10-day furlough to visit my sister Gussie.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Washington, D.C.
12/30/1918

Dear Kid,

As you see by the heading, I have changed my abode but I can’t call this a permanent one as I would like very much to. Perhaps to make this a more readable letter & as properly connected as any school ma’am could wish, I should tell about what has occurred since I wrote you last before I tell you of the time I am having here.

Nothing very exciting has occurred at my happy home in Nitro, more than would naturally take place at a guard barracks. As I expected would be the case, I went on guard Xmas morning. Before we went on guard however each of us received from the “YW” ladies a tiny box of chocolates, package of cigarettes (The Red Cross will teach me to smoke pretty soon), an apple & an orange. I thot that was very good of them to remember us fellows. The night before, Xmas eve, some of us went to a tree they had at the school house & they gave us each a box of crackajack just the same as the other children.

Well, of course my Xmas dinner was a frost. My post to guard was two or three miles out in the brush. They took us out there in a wagon. We stayed all night. They brot us our dinner & supper. The dinner was good enough considering the way it was served to us.... Mince pie, lemon pie, cake, bread & butter, fruit salad, cranberries, pickles, canned peaches, & roast pork. For supper however we had bread & butter, & bologna & tea. Take it all the way thru it was rather a lonesome Christmas but I ought not to complain because it was lots & lots better than many of the boys had ‘over there.’ It was a lonesome old place where we had to guard. It is called the “proving grounds” because there they make tests of various kinds with cannon, ammunition, etc. There were tons & tons of shells there & lots of powder. You see, [you can tell all our friends] I was where the shells were the thickest. Ahem.

Outside of the guarding we do very little hard work & so take it as a whole, it might be worse. There are enough in the outfit so that one man doesn’t have to stand guard more often than once in eight days. One day after Xmas we marched out east of Nitro & I supposed we were going to drill but before long they marched us back. It was just for exercise. We have every afternoon off & I can get a pass to Charleston any afternoon for the asking but of course that doesn’t do any good to the men who are busted….for a city gives up its pleasures only for a price.

Saturday morning after inspection we were loafing around the barracks. It was nasty & cold out & a few of us were sitting around one of those little gas heaters that they use to heat the barracks. They are real nice, have an open front & come as near being a grate fire as a soldier can expect. One of the bunch came upstairs & said there was a notice posted on the bulletin board that there was a telegram for Griffing & I told him he was a liar & forgot all about it. I thot he was joshing as we always are. I happened downstairs a little later tho & sure enough there was a telegram for me.

Well, I wondered who was sick, dead, or dying because in our family a telegram usually meant bad news. I went into the orderly room & got it & it was from [my brother-in-law] Harry [Harlan]. He said to come up [to Washington D.C.] the 28th or 29th because he was on leave until the first [of January]. He would lend me all necessary funds or wire me transportation. Well, of course it didn’t take me long to decide to go as long as he would lend me the money. Otherwise I was going to wait until payday & then go up. I showed the telegram to the First Sergeant & he said I could get the pass so I wired to Harry to wire me a ticket to Charleston. Well, I washed me out a shirt & had it pressed & borrowed a grip from one of the fellows & put my junk in it & was ready to go.

I had to wait until 5:20 to go to Charleston & then take the 7:00 thru from there to Washington. In the afternoon I got two wires from Harry saying that he had wired a ticket & had wired money to the Western Union of Charleston so I was all fixed. After I had paid my fare from Nitro to Charleston, I had just two dollars left – pretty risky for a 400 mile trip, but I got the money all O.K. at Charleston & got started. The train was late however & ran slow all the way.

Harry [Harlan] met me & took me out to Chevy Chase where they live. This house is a dream & the two little boys are something to be proud of. I wish you could see them. [My sister] Gussie & I took a walk yesterday afternoon & I tell you, a person will have to look quite awhile to find a prettier & cleaner city than Washington & nicer homes. Last night I was invited to a belated Xmas dinner at one of Harry’s & Gussie’s best friends & had a nice time. Today, Harry & I went downtown & saw lots of the sights of the city. Many of the more interesting places are closed because of the war. We had a fine ride in a big auto thru Rock Creek Park this afternoon. It is very beautiful now & in summer it must be grand. If you can visit Washington, don’t fail to see it. As I have a ten day pass I will see Charlie & [your sister] Bertha, & I want to go down to Mount Vernon & around as much as I can. I was lucky in getting as long a pass as I did, I think. The telegram helped. It sure is nice to be in a home once more & not have to worry about reveille & retreat, etc.

Harry Harlan in 1924

Dear, I am getting awfully anxious to hear from you. It has been over two weeks now & I won’t get any mail until I get back [to Nitro] either. I hope you are well & that your work is progressing as you want it to. I received a letter from mother the day I left Nitro & she said that it snowed & drifted badly so I expect that you had a lonely Xmas also. I am sorry & would like to put my arms around you and, and – you know.

Well dear, send me lots of love next time you write because I haven’t had any for some time you know. Good night & a great big, sweet, soft, long kiss. -- Ward

Footnotes:

A “grip” was another name for suitcase.

Bill (born 1914) and Jack (born 1917) Harlan were the children of Gussie Griffing and Harry Harlan.

In his book, Looking Back at my Life, Bill Harlan said his parents best friends in Washington D. C. were Mr. & Mrs. Wilbur Ward Bill. Mr. Bill was quite a colorful character and would have been a delightful dinner host.

A promotional photograph by Oldsmobile. Rock Creek Park in 1920.

Letter 121 ~ December 26, 1918

2009-03-18T13:05:00.007-05:00

I write my mother Hattie to tell her how I spent Christmas Day.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
December 26, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, Christmas is over and it is safe to say I never spent a less enjoyable one in my life. I went on guard at 10 o’clock A.M. and got off this forenoon. I found out that it doesn’t always rain here – sometimes it snows. Yesterday afternoon it started snowing and snowed off and on all night with the wind blowing from the N.W. It got pretty cold on the two night watches. We had to go way off up a ravine and guard what they call the “proving grounds.” It is where they make tests with cannon using the different ammunition. There was a lot of shells and powder stored there. They brought our dinner and supper out to us but we didn’t get breakfast until we got off this forenoon. The dinner wasn’t so bad considering the way we had to get it, but it wasn’t like sitting down to a Xmas dinner at home.

Now I won’t have to guard again for eight days. If I had enough money to pay my way there and back, I could get a 7-day pass and go to see [my sister] Gussie [in Washington D.C.] but I will have to wait until I go off guard sometime after payday.

They are treating us pretty good here and if everyone will behave himself they will continue to do so. But if someone gets smart, he will queer the whole business and our liberties will be taken away. Anyone who is off duty can get a pass to Charleston any afternoon. The train leaves out 2:30 and gets back at about 11:45. We can come in at anytime of night here and no one cares but at [Camp] Funston we had to be in at 10.

Christmas morning some Y.W. ladies gave each one of us a tiny box of chocolates and a package of cigarettes. Some of us went to a Xmas doing at the schoolhouse Xmas eve and we each got a box of crackerjack.

The “Y” made us a present of a Victrola and some records and they said they would lend us about 100 books and a piano.

I haven’t gotten any mail from you in quite a while and I am beginning to wonder how everything is getting along. What did you folks do for Christmas?

We haven’t drilled since we have been here, I expect for the simple reason that there isn’t a piece of ground large enough that isn’t nearly upside down. We have a little of the manual of arms in the forenoon and usually some little job like making cinder walks, etc., and then aside from policing up, that is all we do. But even if it is easy, it will get awful tiresome because the weather is so bad. We stay inside nearly all the time.

I believe I said that about 50,000 people worked here. Well, that was a mistake. When the plant was running, 25,000 was the most ever employed, but now there aren’t more than about 5 or 6 thousand. The plant, when everything is finished, is liable to be taken over by some corporation for manufacturing purposes and then, of course, they will not need any guards here any longer.

I don’t know whether I told you or not, but before we left [Camp] Funston, we were issued another suit of clothes. Some of them were better than the others, but most of them were the same. I got a pretty fair pair of pants to go with the blouse I drew first.

Let me know how everything is doing. With lots of love, -- Ward

The "Proving Grounds" where black powder was tested by firing it with a cannon was located in Rock Branch Hollow north of Nitro. The road that winds up this hollow is now named "Limeberger Creek."

Letter 120 ~ December 24, 1918

2009-03-05T14:26:00.010-06:00

I write Minnie on Christmas Eve about holiday festivities in Nitro, West Virginia where I am stationed to perform guard duties at the government's explosives and munitions plant.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, KS

Nitro, West Virginia
12/24/1918

Dear Little Girl,

I wonder if you are going home [to Manhattan, Kansas] tonight for Xmas. I hope you do. It won’t seem like Xmas if you don’t. If the weather there is like it is here, you will stay all night in the school house for fear of getting stuck in the mud when you go Parkerson’s. Such rainy weather is sort of depressing but we are becoming accustomed to it now.

We are getting nicely settled now & are taking up the routine of guard duty. I haven’t been on [duty] yet so I am pretty sure of getting [it] on Xmas day. There are enough men in the two camps to make eight guards, so one man needs to go on only once in eight days.

The Major [Major Walter C. Gullion] offered all those who wanted them 7 day passes to go home for Xmas, but it is so near the end of the month that everyone is busted & besides hardly anyone could get home & back in seven days. If I wasn’t so near busted, I would go to Washington [D.C.] but I will have to wait until after payday. When I go off duty the first time after payday, I am going to ask for a week’s pass & I think I can get it. We can get passes to Charleston most any afternoon. The train leaves at 2:00 and gets back at about 11:45. We can get in at any time of night here & no one cares. We would be out of luck if we tried that at [Camp] Funston.

Minnie, I have been planning all along to have my picture taken & send it to you for Xmas. There were plenty of places at [Camp] Funston but there is not a one here. So I will try & get to Charleston as soon as I can and get it taken there. It is a poor excuse of a gift but I trust you understand the embarrassing financial circumstances of a buck private.

I will begin to think that I haven’t any little girl (or mother either) if I don’t begin to receive a letter or two pretty soon. If I don’t get one on Xmas I will be like the little boy [who said], “I know they ain’t no Santa Claus.”

They furnish the guard with rubber boots & flash lights & as most of the posts are somewhat sheltered, guard duty here is not half bad.

The “Y” made us a present of a Victrola today. We played some of those old pieces & I came almost to the edge of being homesick but thot better of it & decided I would put that off for awhile longer. They have put up a cedar tree in the company area & I suppose there will be some kind of entertainment tonight. Do you remember last Xmas night, & the one before, & the one before that? I do. Our cooks & the baker will do themselves proud tomorrow & I suppose we will have Xmas dinner with all the fixings, but of course it will not be like home or anyways near it. If I could only get up to W[ashington] D.C. [to visit my sister], I wouldn’t mind being away from home for Xmas but I don’t imagine these barracks will be “ringing with mirth & glee & happy voices around the Xmas tree.”

Dear, I send you lots of love & best wishes for a very merry Xmas & a happy New Year. And with it, I trust that we may be together before many months & enjoy the peace that has finally come to this earth. Goodbye, -- Ward

Letter 119 ~ December 21, 1918

2009-03-05T14:10:00.009-06:00

A view of Explosives Plant "C" and Area "A" at Nitro, W. Va. in November 1918

I write my mother and brother Willis some details about our trip to Nitro, West Virginia. Much of it is the same material I wrote to Minnie on the same day but there is enough variation that I think I'll include it here in its entirety.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
[Saturday evening] December 21, 1918

Dear Folks,

It is raining now. It has been cloudy all day and raining part of this afternoon and evening. This is the kind of weather we will have most of the winter – slush and mud. If it is a little depressing outside, it is fairly nice inside compared to [Camp] Funston. We drew sheets and pillow slips today so we think we are getting pretty stylish. The inside walls of these barracks are covered with this beaver boarding and are painted white. The woodwork is stained brown and the outside is painted like our barn so it is a lot nicer place than Funston in that respect. We are still eating out of our mess kits but I think we will have dishes when we get better settled.

Our company went on guard today. We go on one day and [Company] F goes on the next. It only takes about fifty men all together for a guard so I don’t believe a fellow will have to go on oftener than once a week. We probably won’t have much to do besides guard because I doubt if we can find a level piece of ground big enough to drill on. The country around here is awfully rough. They say the hills are the foothills of the Alleghenies but they are much in the way of mountains. They are covered with oak and pine.

Nitro is about 14 or 15 miles north of Charleston. It is a large plant and employs around 50,000 people – both women and men. Lots of them are quitting now and part of the plant has shut down. The employees live in little cottages. There are rows and rows of them, stained brown and all alike.

There are a lot of U.S. Guards who guard the interior part of the plant. They are sort of a semi-military organization but do not belong to the army. I expect we will tangle up with them before we get out of here because they are pretty blamed stuck up and believe me, these regular army men don’t like to take anything off anybody.

Say, Willis, we can be satisfied with the place where we are farming because it compares mighty good with some of the places where people are trying to farm down here and on the road down here. Some places it looks as tho they would have to prop a stalk of corn up with a rock to keep it from sliding down hill. There would be a little patch of ground on a side hill with a rail fence around it and a few shocks of fodder in it. I suppose it must have been tended with a hoe and cut by hand. I saw some pretty nice farms but I saw lots of land that wasn’t fit for anything – rough and hilly, or swampy. We came thru the worst part of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana tho. The northern part is better.

I am glad I got to come on this trip because I think I can get loose in the spring. Aside from the drunks and lack of good grub, the trip was fine and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

We got into Kansas City after dark and as there were no cops around where we stopped, some of the fellows bought booze thru the car window. They weren’t allowed off the train. Well, from then on till we got off here there was one sloppy train. We stopped quite awhile at St. Louis and one of the sergeants slipped off and brought back a whole suitcase full [of liquor]. Even the officers got drunk and got to acting gay. One of them started to do the manual of arms with a shovel and he grabbed a broom and said he had to police up. One fellow got the idea in his head that he ought to clean out the car so he socked one fellow over the eye and drove him away from him. They finally got him to sleep and he slept till about noon the next day. We didn’t get much sleep the first night because of the fellows slopping around. One fellow across the aisle got sick and threw up out the window but others weren’t so lucky and spilled theirs all over the cars. It kept the porters hopping, I tell you.

The only thing hot we had on the road was coffee. The bread ran out Wednesday and the rest of the time we had to eat hardtack. It about knocked all the fillings out of my teeth. Canned tomatoes, corned beef, cheese, beans and canned apple sauce was about all we had.

I bought me a coat hanger and a shoe polishing outfit. We have to look neat here, and besides, a fellow wants to anyway because there is a feminine parade in front of our barracks everyday. A fellow can get a girl by just saying hello to them down here.

Well, it is nearly Xmas and I haven’t thot much about it. I did think I would have my picture taken and send to you folks for a Xmas present but I don’t believe there is a place to have that done here. And besides, I am nearly busted again, so if I can’t find anything here I will wait until I can get to Charleston after payday. I hope you folks have a merry Xmas and you might eat a piece of candy for me.

I got a card from [sister] Gussie saying they wanted me to come up [to Washington D.C. to visit], but even if I could get a pass long enough to get up there for Xmas, I wouldn’t have the money so I will wait until I get this month’s pay.

I hope everything is getting along alright and the weather is favorable for pasturing. Write often, even if there isn’t much news because I can’t get home on weekends anymore. Our mail got here as soon as we did but the only thing I got was that from Gussie.

Well, good night, -- Ward

[P.S.] I asked a conductor on the train how far it was to Washington and he said it was about 400 miles -- leave Charleston in the evening of one day and get there the next P.M. I would need four or five days. If anyone should ask you what I could use for a Xmas present, a good fountain pen would come in handy.

Letter 118 ~ December 21, 1918

2009-03-05T13:41:00.010-06:00

The “small street” near Ward’s barracks at Nitro, West Virginia, where it is “muddy all the time.” This photograph was taken 8 days prior to Ward’s arrival in Nitro.

I let Minnie know we arrived safely in Nitro, West Virginia. I describe the trip and our new post in a lengthy letter.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
Saturday A.M. 12/21/1918

Dear Kid,

Well, we arrived here a little before noon yesterday & are getting nicely settled now. I am certainly well pleased with our new quarters but I will have to see the sun once before I say I like the country. It rains a whole lot here & as the soil is red clay it takes a long time to dry & so it is muddy nearly all the time. I always dislike cloudy weather.

We have larger barracks & two whole barracks to each company while at [Camp] Funston we had only 1 ½. The barracks are painted on the outside & the woodwork is stained inside. The walls are covered with white beaver boarding which makes it look a whole lot nicer than at [Camp] Funston. We have a recreation room right here in the barracks where we can gather to read, write or play games like checkers, cards, etc. Instead of the straw bed sacks that we had at [Camp] Funston, we have nice soft mattresses, feather pillows, sheets & pillow cases. My bed was so soft last night that it took me quite a little bit to get used to it but I was so sleepy from loss of sleep on the trip that I slept like a log when I once got started. I suppose we will eat off of dishes when we get settled but we aren’t now.

We went on guard this morning with 36 men besides the non-coms. If that is all they need all the time, it looks as tho we would have it rather easy here because 36 doesn’t come very often in 500, but we may have to use more later, I don’t know. They got in a wagon & were hauled away off in the brush somewhere so it looks as tho we only guarded the outskirts of the plant & the U.S. Guards guard the interior. Those U.S. Guards are a sort of semi-military organization but don’t belong to the army at all. I shouldn’t wonder but what us soldiers and the guards will have a row before we get out of here because they don’t look good to me.

Nitro is about 14 or 15 miles west of Charleston. It is a very large plant & somewhere around 50,000 people are employed here. The most of them live in little cottages near the plant. There are rows & rows of them all alike & stained brown. It looks as tho half the people employed here were women. Anyway, lots of girls are going past the barracks nearly all the time. There is a small street near the barracks on which is a market, grocery store, barber shop, restaurant & a few other shops. Not much of a place & no places of amusement although I think there is some kind of a moving picture show about a mile down the road east. They have dances about every other night at a school house somewhere near but I wasn’t enough interested to look it up. Guard duty here may get tiresome after awhile but it looks pretty nice now after the drill we had at [Camp] Funston. I think there will be enough excitement with the roughnecks to keep us from going stale.

The country around here is awfully rough. They say we are among the foothills of the Alleghenies but these hills here wouldn’t do for mountains at all. I think I will climb around a little tomorrow. All the hills are timbered & are not used for anything so far as I can see.

Our mail got down here about the same time we did & I supposed I would get two or three letters because I haven’t had any for nearly a week, but I didn’t get anything but a Christmas card from [my sister] Gussie which she sent direct to Nitro. She asked me up [to visit them in Washington D. C.] & as soon as I can get paid again I am going to ask for a pass. I don’t know whether I can get a long enough one or not but it looks as tho I could. A conductor on the train said it was about four hundred miles & that if I left Charleston in the evening of one day, I would get there the next P.M. A weekend pass would do no good.

Believe me, the fellows sure had a time coming down here. We stopped long enough in Kansas City for those who wanted it to get some booze. We weren’t allowed to get off the train but some civilians sold it to them thru the windows. It was dark and they could get away with it but if they should get caught selling liquor to soldiers it would mean the long road for them. Well, some of those old army men (& new ones too) were drunk nearly all the way down. I never saw anything like it before. About 1/3 of the men in the car I was in were drinking the first night & wouldn’t let anybody get much sleep. One got the idea in his head that it was his duty to clean out the car so he started in to do it. He hit one fellow over the eye & nearly knocked him over. They finally got him to sleep the next day. One fellow in the berth across the aisle got as sick as a pig & emptied all of his out the window. Then he settled down & went to sleep. The fellow I was sleeping with drank but he didn’t get dead drunk. He smelled like a brewery.

We stopped quite awhile at St. Louis & one of the sargents slipped off & brought in a whole valise full. From then on that train sure was nicely slopped up. The officers got drunk & got to acting like kids. One of the Lieutenants grabbed a shovel at St. Louis & started to do the manual of arms with it. Then he walked down the aisle with a broom saying he was going to police up. I am glad W. Va. is dry or there sure would be trouble in camp. They will get booze all right but they will have to pay so much for it that it will be in small quantities.

Aside from the drunkenness on the trip & the lack of grub, it was a fine trip & I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It sure was fine the way the people treated us. At Topeka. St. Louis & Louisville, Red Cross ladies passed around cigarettes, hot coffee, sandwiches, cookies & candy & also post cards. The people all along the road would wave at us & greet us as tho we were heroes.

They didn’t cook anything on the trip. The only thing we had hot was coffee. After Wednesday, we didn’t even have bread but had to live on hardtack. If anybody gives me anymore hardtack, I am going to knock him down with it. Corn beef & beans & canned tomatoes & cheese & such things as that is what we had.

Say girlie, do write often because I can’t get home now & I want to know what is going on & what you are doing. Just address to: Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, E Company, 20th Infantry, Nitro, West Virginia

Footnotes:

The book, "Nitro, the WWI Boom Town," describes a “sizeable interior police force called the Nitro Guards (later, the “U.S. Guards”) consisting of 11 officers, 305 guards and 90 mounted patrolmen. They patrolled the streets of Nitro and the plant area day and night, manned regular posts, and generally handled all police matters.”

“The most identifying characteristic of early Nitro was its hundreds of brown stained look-alike houses all arranged in neat straight evenly spaced rows.” Source: Nitro, the WWI Boom Town, p. 64

A view of the explosives plant in Nitro, West Virginia with the brown bungalow houses of the workers in the foreground.

Letter 117 ~ December 20, 1918

2009-03-05T13:17:00.008-06:00

I let my mother know we arrived safely in Nitro, West Virginia, and are settled into our barracks which compared favorably to those at Camp Funston. I withhold my judgment, however, as to whether I'm going to like the country or the weather.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Nitro, West Virginia
Friday night, December 20, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, we arrived here a little before noon today and are fairly settled here in our barracks.

I haven’t decided yet how I am going to like the country but our barracks are quite a bit nicer than those at [Camp] Funston. They are larger and we have two whole barracks to each company while in Funston we had only 1 ½ barracks to a company. There is a recreation room downstairs in this barracks where we can write, read & play games. We have nice mattresses instead of straw ticks and also feather pillows. They say tomorrow we will get sheets and pillow cases. All these things make it much more agreeable and homelike.

The chief reason that the country looks so dubious is because it is muddy and the natives say that it is dry compared to what it usually is. It rains a whole lot here and the soil is red clay that certainly is sticky. I always did hate rainy weather. They are blowing lights out. I was going to write a long letter but I will have to put it off till tomorrow. Please send me my suit. Just address it to—

Pvt. Ward C. Griffing
E Company, 20th Infantry
Nitro, W. Va.

Footnotes:

For story on Nitro, click here.

According to a 16 year-old farm boy who came from Iowa in 1918 to work at the munitions plant in Nitro, "There were some Army barracks across the street from the Depot. Troops of the 20th Infantry, Companies E and F were here, for guard duty, and behind the barracks was a large corral where nearly a hundred horses were quartered. The stables were next to the barracks and below them, about a block or so, was the hospital. All of this was across from the tracks." To read more of his recollections of Nitro, click here.

Ward's Postcards Enroute to Nitro, WV

2009-03-05T08:35:00.020-06:00

After waiting several days for transportation, we (Companies E & F of the 20th Infantry Regiment) are finally loaded into Pullman cars for the 870 mile ride from Junction City, Kansas to Nitro, West Virginia. The trip took three days -- from Tuesday noon, December 17, to Friday noon, December 20, 1918. I sent postcards to my mother Hattie, my brother Willis, and my sweetheart Minnie, from several points along the route...

I mailed these first two from Lawrence, Kansas:

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Post Marked: Lawrence, Kansas, December 18, 1918

On board train Tuesday night. We left this P. M. Expect to reach Nitro sometime Friday. We have pretty good accommodations & are not crowded. It is a long train however & we go very slow.

To Mr. Willis Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
Post Marked: Lawrence, Kansas, December 18, 1918

On board train Tuesday night. Well, we pulled out this P.M. and expect to arrive Nitro sometime Friday. A lady gave us postcards and apples in Topeka. Am well.

I mailed two more postcards from St. Louis, Missouri -- one to Minnie and one to my mother. I will only show one since the image and messages are identical.

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Post Marked: Saint Louis, Missouri, December 19, 1918 9 A.M.

Wednesday P.M. [December 18]. Have reached St. Louis & must stop for about six hours to water & feed the horses & mules. The trip has not been very tedious as yet, but we are only half way there.

Finally, I mail two more postcards from Milltown, Indiana. Milltown is 25 miles northwest of New Albany, Indiana, and on the route of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

To Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Postmarked: Milltown, Indiana, December 19, 1918

Somewhere in Indiana. We are hung up out here in the brush somewhere waiting for them to fix a drawbar. Our train is so long it broke in turning a sharpe curve this morning. Am well. – Ward

To Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
Postmarked: Milltown, Indiana, December 19, 1918

We are hung up somewhere in Indiana waiting for them to fix a drawbar. Our train is so long that it broke in turning a sharpe curve. We haven't had a hot meal since Tuesday noon and won't get any until we land in Nitro. Am well. – Ward

Letter 116 ~ December 14, 1918

2009-03-04T13:48:00.009-06:00

Soldiers watching a football game at Camp Funston on Thanksgiving Day

I write my mother and brother that our departure from Camp Funston is imminent. This letter is abbreviated to eliminate some of the redundant material written in a letter to Minnie the same day.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Funston
December 14, 1918

Dear Mother,

I have been sent over here to the “Y” to help answer telephone calls, run errands, etc. It doesn’t keep me very busy and so I can write in between. I attempted to call you up awhile ago but central [switchboard] said you didn’t answer so I will call again later...

Thursday afternoon we all had to go out and watch a football game in the rain. I don’t know what I would do these rainy days when we don’t drill it it wasn’t for the camp library. I have read several books lately and they are good ones too. I hope there is some kind of library where we are going but as it is only a small camp, they may not even have a “Y.” I expect guard duty will be pretty old before the winter is over.

... We have to get another shot in the arm either before we leave or shortly afterward for pneumonia.

I got me a pretty good ring but I paid more for it than I want you folks to spend on me for Xmas, so I will just call it my Xmas present from all of you and you won’t need to get me anything. This will be the strangest and I shouldn’t wonder but what it will be the loneliest Xmas I ever had. Some of the store windows show some decorations already. It doesn’t seem as tho it could be so near Xmas.

One or two of the boys’ fathers have been here trying to get discharges for their sons but they didn’t have any luck. We will just have to wait until spring anyway now,

Inspection passed off without any trouble this morning.

Harlow Hudson doesn’t know what he is talking about half the time. This division is not to be discharged and [General] Woods is still in command.

I am glad to hear that the sick folks are getting along alright and that Willis is getting the work done up so well. I hope the weather stays good now for awhile now that it has cleared off. Well goodbye and good luck, -- Ward

Footnotes:

Ward purchased a plain gold infantryman's ring (crossed rifles on the face). He wore the ring until his son (my father) graduated from high school in 1940, at which time he gave it to him to wear in lieu of a class ring. The story goes that my father wanted to purchase a class ring but the family couldn't afford it so Ward gave him this ring instead. My father it wore it from that point forward, most of his life, until he passed it on to me and now I wear it. -- wjg

Harlow K. Hudson lived in an adjacent farmhouse on College Hill northwest of Manhattan.

Letter 115 ~ December 14, 1918

2009-03-04T13:35:00.005-06:00

The Camp Funston Library where Ward "made a pretty good start" reading all the books.

I tell Minnie what we've been doing at Camp Funston while waiting to be sent to West Virginia.

YMCA Letterhead
Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Camp Funston
[Saturday] December 14, 1918

Dear Kid,

I have been sent over here to the “Y” & help answer the telephone & to run errands, etc. It doesn’t keep me very busy so I will try & write a little in between.

Passes are not being issued today except in cases of severe illness or death so of course I won’t get one. It seems like a long time since I have seen you now. What will it be by spring or summer or whenever I do see you? It seems too bad that you won’t be able to give a nice Xmas program as you had planned but I suppose the kids won’t mind it much if they don’t have to learn anything. I kind of hate to see Xmas coming because I am afraid my Christmas will be a little lonesome. It will be strange to say the least. Some of the store windows are already decorated I noticed last night and it sort of startled me & kind of made me homesick. We always thot a good deal of Xmas at home.

I don’t suppose you came home today or I would try & call you up this evening. I am going to get the folks if I can.

We didn’t drill Thursday & Friday but just hung around the barracks except when we all had to go to the parade ground & see a football game in the rain.

I don’t know what I would have done when we were idle if it hadn’t been for the Camp Library. There are lots of good books there & I have made a pretty good start at reading them. I have put in more time just lying around reading this week than I have ever before. Our company is on guard today but I didn’t have to. I guess we will get all the guard we want before the winter is over with.

We are going to leave tomorrow or Monday. Some of the companies of this regiment have already left. Most of the boys are wild to get out of here. They think Funston & Kansas are about two of the worst places this side of the infernal regions to hear them talk.

It looks as tho tomorrow would be a nice day. Gee, I wish I could come up & see you but it’s not what we want that makes us rich in this world. I wonder if you remember our first Xmas night together as I do? That was some time ago & lots of things have happened between & I expect lots of things will happen before we have another together too.

Well, Good Bye. Minnie, I do believe I’ll try to call the folks now. With lots of love, -- Ward

Letter 114 ~ December 11, 1918

2009-03-04T13:18:00.010-06:00

I let my mother and brother know that I'm being transferred to Nitro, West Virginia to guard a munitions plant. Most of the content in the letter is repetitious of what I wrote Minnie on the same day so I'll only include the material that is different.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Funston
December 11, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, Willis, you might as well tell Mr. Hays to hand over that dollar because I will be about fifteen hundred miles away from home at Christmas.

Monday the Captain said ... we would likely go to Nitro, West Virginia sometime this week. I didn’t want to write you folks about it until we were ready to entrain. I was afraid it might be another of those false reports. However, we began to pack up yesterday so there isn’t any doubt but what we are going. They packed all the dishes so we are eating off of mess kits again. Lieutenant Boone said this morning that we were to go yesterday (we didn’t go out to drill at all) but they decided to wait until they could get Pullmans. We could have gone in chair cars yesterday but they thot that only two companies could go in more style than that, so we may not start until Monday.

Our job will be to guard the Hercules Powder Plant. He said it would be a ticklish job because the miners and munitions workers there didn’t like the soldiers. He said that if we went hunting for trouble, we could sure find it. There are tons and tons of high explosives stored there too so they will be mighty strict about what kind of a guard we put up. This place Nitro is about 15 miles north of Charleston, which is quite a large city and is connected [to Nitro] by trolley.

The Captain [said] they are going to keep 12 army divisions in the U.S. besides the men in Europe. Things are a long ways from settled and now South America is trying to start something.

The 20th [Infantry Regiment] is going to be scattered from Fort Riley to West Virginia. [Companies] A & B went to Fort Riley today. G & H go to Leavenworth. C & D go to Fort Brady (that is where we almost went), L goes to Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, E & F to West Virginia, and some go to Fort Sheridan. They will probably be assembled in the spring at Ft. Douglas, Utah.

Washington [D.C.] is only about 300 miles I should judge by the map from Charleston [West Virginia] so I may get a chance to go up there before coming home. Maybe you had better tell [my sister] Gussie to wait until you get my new address before she sends that paper. All men who were out on passes were called in by wire and no more passes are being issued, I will try and call you folks up just before I leave if I can. I got that pillow today. As soon as I get settled, I will want you to send me my serge suit probably. There are wooden barracks there similar to these here but of course the camp is very small. Our work all winter will be guard duty and close order drill. We went out to drill this morning and most of it was close order, but believe me it was snappy.

Well, I hope you folks will write often and tell me how the weather is and how the cattle are getting along, etc. I have been so close, I could tell about when you could pasture or not, but it will be different [when I am] there. This is still good pasture weather, isn’t it? I expect they are on the whole field now and doing fine.

Well, I will be home in two or three months any way so do the best you can. I would be home now if I could but I can’t so there is no use worrying about it. Write often and don’t worry about me. With lots of love, -- Ward

Letter 113 ~ December 11, 1918

2009-03-04T12:53:00.011-06:00

The Kansas Building at Camp Funston

I break the news to Minnie of my transfer to Nitro, West Virginia, to guard a new explosives plant.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Camp Funston
December 11, 1918

Dear Little Girl,

Well, I won’t get to eat Christmas dinner with you & I probably won’t get to see you again until spring at least. I am sorry I didn’t get to come up & see you last Sunday.

Monday morning the Captain [Sterling C. Robertson] said he had received several letters from the parents of some of the men saying that they had not heard from their sons for months. He said he would not mention any names but that we knew ourselves who it was & that when we wrote to say that we would probably be sent to Nitro, West Virginia sometime this week. He said that those who hadn’t written must write at once & if he had any more complaints of that nature it would go hard with the guilty one. He said also that men were bothering him about discharges & the next man that came to him wanting a discharge would get a week in the kitchen. He said that the company commander did not discharge men. He mentioned that some of the drafted men had the impression that they ought to be let out immediately but that they could be held so long as there is an emergency & so long as we have men in France, there is an emergency. He said we would not be let out before spring anyway.

When I heard this Monday I thot that I would not write until we were ready to entrain so that in case it was a false report you wouldn’t have to know about it, but they started to pack up yesterday so I know that we are ordered to move & the only thing that could keep us here now might be another outbreak of influenza.

Yesterday they packed all dishes so we are eating off our mess kits again. We didn’t drill yesterday but hung around the barracks all day expecting to go sometime before night, but we didn’t. Today we learned why. We went out to drill this morning & the Captain gave us a talk about our conduct on the trip. He said that he wanted to create a good impression in Charleston [West Virginia] & that everyone was to conduct himself accordingly. He said he didn’t care how much the men drank if they kept out of sight when they got drunk & he didn’t care how much they swore if they did it under their breath, but he didn’t want any loud yelling, etc.

Lieutenant Boone said that we were to guard the Hercules Powder Plant. You have heard of it, haven’t you? It is about 15 miles north of Charleston, West Virginia & is connected to that city by trolly so we will have easy access to amusements. He said it was kind of a ticklish job because those miners & munitions workers didn’t like the soldiers & if we went hunting for trouble we could sure find it. Then too we are to guard tons & tons of very high explosives which in itself calls for strict attention to duty. They have wooden barracks there similar to these but it will not be a crowded place like this because only two companies, E & F, are going. The 20th is being all split up – E & F going to W. Va., A & B to Ft. Riley, G & H to Leavenworth, L to Rock Island, Ill., C & D to Ft. Brady, Michigan (this is where we nearly went), etc.

Lieutenant Boone said that he thot we had about the nicest trip because he didn’t think it would be quite so cold there as some of the other places. The reason we didn’t go yesterday was because they decided to wait for Pullman’s. Chair cars were ready but as there were only two companies going, they thot we might go in style. We may not go until Monday now. We will have to drill until we go but we only carried light packs today.

We marched down to the Kansas Building this afternoon & had our picture taken. We are to go back again this evening for something. I don’t know what.

I sure hate staying in the army so long now but there is no help for it. However, I will not be the only one. They are not going to demobilize the 10th Division as the first impression was. They are going to keep 12 Army Divisions in the U.S. besides what are now in Europe. Things are a long ways from being settled. The South American countries are trying to start things down there but so long as we keep a large well-trained army ready for business nobody is going to monkey with Uncle Sam.

Captain [Sterling C.] Robertson said that the 20th would probably be assembled next spring back at Ft. Douglas, Utah. That is its old home. They will need me very much at home in the spring & I trust that nothing happens to keep the drafted men from being turned out by March at least.

Well dear, don’t worry about me. I will be as well cared for or better there than here but I won’t be able to get very many week-end passes home. I think tho that I can manage to run up to Washington [D.C. to visit my sister] sometime before I come home. I think it is only about 300 miles from Charleston. If I can do that it will help to lighten the idea of staying in the army.

I have just come back from the Kansas Building where General Wood delivered a farewell address to the 20th Regiment. He praised the 20th & said he felt as tho he was losing a member of his family, etc. etc. He said however that we still belonged to the 10th Division & that if the fortunes of war so demanded it, we would again be assembled here & be prepared for any emergency. He said that he did not know when the drafted men would be discharged but that they would be held for the present at least.

Monday I received three letters from you written while I was still in [Detention Camp] No. 2 about the first week or two of November.

Say, for lands sake kid, don’t feel bad about that blessing. Honestly we never thot of it at all. I hate to think, girlie, that that night is to be the last time I will see you for possibly three or four months. If you happen to come east to visit [your sister] Bertha after school is out, don’t forget to hunt up your old acquaintance, yours truly. I will get more lonesome there than I ever have here probably, so as soon as I send you my address I want you to do your derndest with pen & ink. Maybe I can find something new to write about. At least I hope so & I expect you are tired of this same old dope too.

If you happen to come home Sunday & I am still in camp, I will try & call you up. Well, be good & don’t forget to think of me once in awhile. As ever, Ward

Footnotes:

Nitro, West Virginia was named by the U.S. government because of the establishment there during WWI of a large federal plant for the manufacture of black powder explosives. The town is in the Kanawha River Valley a few miles from Charleston – the State Capital. The plant was erected in less than one year, sending its first shipment in November 1918.

According to the book, Nitro, the WWI Boom Town, “two companies of the 20th United States Infantry, consisting of 16 officers and 510 enlisted men were stationed at Nitro. It was their duty to patrol the outer boundaries of the reservation and man the observation points on the surrounding hills.”

Letter 112 ~ December 11, 1918

2009-03-04T08:35:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me about several new cases of flu in her school.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co E 2oth Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale High School
[Wednesday night] December 11, 1918

Dear Ward:

I have been outlining my book this evening. I got over eighty-three pages. I think that’s pretty good for one evening. My hand aches so I can hardly write now.

I only have one girl at school now. Five [out of 17] of my pupils are out because of the “ flu.” I’ve been working on a Xmas program but am afraid it won’t amount to much but we can’t have anything in the evening anyway if there’s only a few of us going to school. If we can’t have a program, we can have a good time anyway. I know of lots of things we can do.

So you got a pass last Sunday and was home. I read in today’s paper that Camp Funston was quarantined so you were lucky getting home. They may not let you go again for awhile.

I would have gone home last Sunday eve for about 80 minutes. Chalmers went down to take some of their folks and came back again that night. They said if they had only thought they would have asked me to go along. I wish I could have.

I wonder if you are on your way to another camp? You would be going by this time, wouldn’t you, if you are to go?

I had a letter from you and Mama yesterday. About all either of you talked about was that [Grand] Review last Saturday. It sure made me provoked when I wanted to see it so much and couldn’t. I don’t have any idea when I’ll get home again. I may get to this weekend but probably not.

If you are home for Xmas dinner, you will be likely do better than I. If it should happen to be bad [weather] Xmas eve so the folks couldn’t come for me, I would be doomed to stay here. I don’t believe the Blue Valley train runs on Christmas Day (It never hardly does go if it can possibly escape).

I wish you could have come up last Sunday. It sure would have been fine. There’s not any news and it’s getting late. I’m almost asleep. Good night Ward, -- Minnie

Letter 111 ~ December 8, 1918

2009-03-04T08:11:00.006-06:00

The General Review of the 10th Division held on December 7, 1918
Ward Griffing paraded with men of the 20th Infantry Regiment

I tell Minnie about the 10th Division parade review in which I participated at Camp Funston. I also fill her in on what I did while on a pass to Manhattan on Sunday.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

At home [Manhattan, Kansas]
December 8, 1918

My little Girl,

My, but today has sure been a beautiful one, hasn’t it? This is the kind of day I would like to walk with you up to “our” rock. You know that place up in the hills where we fixed those sticks?

The parade came off yesterday & I was like a drop in the bucket. It was quite a sight & one I will remember for a long time. It will probably be the last time I will ever see so many trained men in a body. To my notion, there are but few things more pretty & grand than to see a well trained body of soldiers on parade -- the colors flying & the band playing & each one in perfect step. I tell you it gets into a fellow’s blood. Our regiment got back to the barracks after the parade about 11:30 & I asked for a pass & got it. They started granting four-day passes too the other day. We started off for the parade before daylight Saturday morning.

I thot sure that Willis would have the car fixed up by today. I wanted to come up [to Stockdale] yesterday afternoon or today [to visit you] but they had to send away for an [ignition] coil so it is still down town. It may be tho that I can use it next time if I am still in the country & the weather permits.

We are supposed to be on our way to Ft. Brady [in Michigan] some time this week but the fact is, I don’t believe we will get to go because they are issuing passes out of the regiment. I wouldn’t mind going up there just about a month but I do hope I can get home to help Willis out this spring [with the farming]. He will have it pretty tough if I don’t. I am beginning to believe that I won’t leave Camp Funston.

Willis & I went with the Hays [boys] hunting jack rabbits this morning. We went over to the college pasture back of your place. Caught three jacks. We saw your [Frey] boys & Arnold boys playing football over in your pasture so we went over there & fooled around with them awhile. They said that they went up & saw the parade yesterday. It sure was a fine day & the roads were pretty good too.

It is nearly Christmas, isn’t it? I expect you are getting ready for a Christmas program. I hope I can get home for Christmas dinner at least. Are you going to get down anytime before Xmas?

Keep well & write often. – Ward C. Griffing

General Wood, State Governors and Staff Reviewing the 10th Division at Camp Funston

Letter 110 ~ December 8, 1918

2009-03-04T07:55:00.006-06:00

Leonardville, Kansas ca. 1915

Minnie writes me about her school activities and what she did over the weekend in Sherman Township.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
[Sunday evening] December 8, 1918

Dear Boy:

Well, I had to stay here this weekend. I taught school yesterday and little Nellie Klein visited school. She intends to be in a little drill we are going to have. And we sure had one time of it. She’s only four years old and not the least bit bashful. Well, in the afternoon she began to cut loose and the things she didn’t know. She was playing with some blocks and she knocked them off the desk and they rolled all over. She jumped up in her seat and yelled out real loud, “Gosh! Darn!” She drolled it out long and loud. Well, that was just a beginner. I never heard tell of a child of her age using the slang and curse words she can, and she’d yell out any time and all the time. I just burst out laughing, I couldn’t help it, and so did all the children. I’m afraid we wouldn’t have much school if she was there all the time.

The mail man told me yesterday that all the schools were to be closed (just as they were before) the 20th of December. He said it was in that day’s paper. Well, I went into the school house & told the children what he said and we all went home thinking we would have no more school. When I got home I found nothing of the kind. The Manhattan schools were to be closed and I think that’s what he saw. So today I had to call all the children and tell them we would have school.

This morning I intended to do some of my school work that I have been putting off from time to time, then Mrs. Parkerson wanted me to go up to [William] Hoffman’s with her. There were three families there. Two car loads came from Manhattan last eve. We stayed there till noon. Then this afternoon we went to church and Sunday School over at Grandview, a rather nice country church and real nice people. It made me think of the day we went to Vinton Church. I met lots of people and sang in the choir. I would have much rather not have done that but they insisted so I thought I better.

Tonight Krause’s called and wanted me to go up on the hill to the German Church with them. I went and had a ‘good time.’ There wasn’t much preaching and I was with the craziest bunch of kids. So the work I didn’t get done between church this afternoon and church tonight, I had to finish tonight when I got home. It’s getting pretty late now.

I called Mrs. Dyer this morning and had a nice long talk with her. She is going to meet me in Leonardville next Saturday and take me out to her home if Parkerson’s or anyone around here goes to Leonardville which they are almost sure to do.

You know I wanted to go over to Camp Funston so bad yesterday [to watch the Divisional Parade Review] and Mrs. Dyer told me they were over there and saw my folks. She said they just passed them – that was all. I sure was raving when I heard that. It seems like I never do get to go when I want to go. I didn’t have any idea the folks would go up yesterday.

The German preacher said tonight that he was talking to a soldier boy today and the boy said that beginning with today, they were going to release ten members from every Company each day till they were all discharged. I hope you will be one of them if that’s true.

Next week is the end of my third month of school. It ought to be nearly the end of my 4th month.

Well, I must go to bed or I’ll not have any pep tomorrow in school. Keep good care of yourself boy and don’t get the flu. I’m sure afraid of that.

I wonder what you did today since you couldn’t get a pass. It was such a pretty day. I wish we could have been together. Your little girl, -- Minnie

[P.S.] Write often.

Footnotes:

Nellie Klein was the four year-old sister of Zelphia Klein, one of Minnie’s students.

Probably 48 year-old Mima (Carey) Dyer who lived with her 74 year-old husband Samuel Dyer and their three children on a farm in Madison Township, Riley County, Kansas. Mima and Samuel Dyer’s eldest daughter, Louisa, married Minnie’s brother, Jesse Frey, on 5 September 1916.

Letter 109 ~ December 6, 1918

2009-03-04T07:44:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me the news from Sherman Township where she is boarding with the Parkerson's while teaching school.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
[Friday evening] December 6, 1918

Dear Ward:

The mail man sailed right by the school house today and didn’t give us a chance to go out. We didn’t see him till he was nearly by, but he always has honked his horn if he has any mail for me. So I didn’t think I had any mail today. When I got home tonight there was a letter from you. I was surely surprised. He had a man driving for him. I think that must have been the reason he didn’t stop. I was glad to get your letter. I haven’t heard from you this week but I wasn’t going to fall into a fit if I didn’t hear because it always turns out alright.

The folks didn’t come for me today so I’m going to teach tomorrow. Then I have plenty of work and a book to read over Sunday so I won’t have time to get lonesome except at night before I go to sleep. I always have plenty of time to wish myself home.

I had a visitor at school today – Miss Hazel Krause. She is the “bell[e]” up here, so I hear. She’s quite sociable but too cheap looking and not much to hear. And [she] has tuberculosis.

My books came yesterday that I ordered last winter. I was supposed to get them the first of September but didn’t. They are just great. They’ll help me a lot with my school work, especially the little folks. I can’t seem to find enough to keep them busy.

Say but I’m glad you got your pass just when you did. You were lucky to get off at all. That will sure be the limit if they send you way off and keep you six months longer. I hope they don’t, but just can’t ever tell what they will do.

I hope they will let you get weekend passes before I get a chance to get home again. For my part, I wouldn’t see you if you were able to get them for awhile. But just the same, I bet it doesn’t set well to have to stay there when you might just as well be at home over Saturday and Sunday. They will surely go to issuing them again soon, won’t they? My, I hope I get to see you again before they take you off... if they do.

I thought Saturday they must be issuing caps to the soldiers. I saw several with them on. You must look funny with a cap cocked on the side of your head. There’s nothing I despised more than to see you put a hat on the side of your head. But there was never any reason for you doing that. They always fit.

A person can get all the sugar he wants now. I’m sure glad of that now that Xmas is almost here. I’ll send you another box of candy some of these days, if you don’t leave.

Is the flu breaking out up at camp? It’s awful bad all around here again.

Good bye, -- Minnie F.

Footnotes:

Hazel Krause was the 16 year-old sister of the Krause twins who attended Minnie’s school.

Letter 108 ~ December 4, 1918

2009-03-03T13:48:00.004-06:00

Minnie tells me she was embarrassed that her papa was unable to say grace when called upon by my mother at the family Thanksgiving dinner gathering.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
December 4, 1918

Dearest Boy,

My, everything seems to be going just so smooth and nice. This has been the best week of school I believe I have ever had. Hasn’t today been just great? It was so warm and nice and this afternoon we didn’t have to have a fire at all. There was a honey-bee between the curtain and one of the windows all afternoon. It kept buzzing all the time. It seemed like spring. I wish it was time for spring. I just dread to think of winter.

We are well started on our Xmas program. I’m sure anxious to see what success it will be. Am afraid tho. The flu seems so much worse all around. We may not be able to have a [box] social. By Xmas we will have all our three weeks made up. If the children continue to work the way they have been, then maybe I will get Thursday and Friday off after Xmas day. I hope I do.

I would sure like to go up to Camp Funston Saturday [for the Divisional Parade]. The more I read about it, the more I want to go. But I guess I’d better teach instead and then anyway, my soldier boy didn’t invite me up.

Ward, I never will forget how embarrassed and what agony I was in the other evening when your mother called on Papa to ask the blessing. Ward Griffing, if there had been a hole for me to crawl into I would gladly have disappeared from this earth forever. I thought I had been in some very embarrassing situations in my life, but nothing has ever come up to that. Oh, if your mother had only called on Mama or any of the rest of the family almost, it would have been alright. But Papa never has done that. We always tried to get him to [say grace] at home. We told him it was absolutely ridiculous for anyone who professed to be a Christian not to, but he never would. Now he feels so ashamed, I believe he will [in the future]. Maybe some good will come of it. I would rather it would have happened anywhere on earth almost than at your home – and [with] Clause and Ruth there too. Glory, boy it is awful. And I tell you it kinda hurts to know your father has been laughed at, even if he does have his faults.

Isn’t Ruth a nice girl? I don’t know her, but she looks and seems like she would just be awfully nice if one was well acquainted with her – and jolly too.

I finished my book last night. I was sorry when it ended. I liked it fine and it would have gone on a little farther. Have you ever read it? (The Reclaiming) I don’t suppose you have unless at the “Y” at [Camp] Funston. It was just put out in October. Next week is the end of another month. I don’t like that I always have to put all the grades in the Register, make out report cards, and fill out the Monthly report to send in.

Ward, do you know how old children have to be before they are compelled to attend school? Dorothy [Condray] hasn’t been to school since a week before Thanksgiving. Her father called tonight and said he wasn’t going to send her for awhile yet. He’s afraid of the ‘flu.’ She’s seven years old and I thought they had to attend when they are seven. Mrs. Parkerson said I ought to report her but I’m not real sure. Maybe I’ve something around here that would tell me this.

I have another fine trade last for you Ward. Just the kind you would like to get, or at least I think you would. I can’t write it tho, there’s too much to it that I’d have to tell. I’ll bet this Christmas will seem rather lonesome. [My sister] Bertha won’t be at home for the first time, and she’s just great to have around then. I wish you could spend Xmas with me, at least part of it.

I see there has been one transport of men landed and two more on the way. I just wonder if there are any boys we know amongst them. I guess they are mostly wounded soldiers tho. That makes me think, have they heard anymore from Lester Foltz [not sure that’s the way to spell his name but you know who I mean] or have you heard. I hope he will be found alive. It seems worse to hear about them being missing now since the war is over than it did before.

Well, I must write home. Goodnight darling. Yours, -- Minnie

Footnotes:

Corporal Lester Lawrence Foltz was the 24 year-old son of Cyrus Foltz and Hattie Whitney of Zeandale, Riley County, Kansas. In 1910, he lived with his 36 year-old sister Mildred, who was married to Perle Kimball of Ogden Township, Riley County, Kansas. Lester worked on a farm in Wakarusa, Shawnee County, Kansas just prior to the war when he enlisted in 1917. While serving in Company K, 140th Infantry, 35th Division, Lester was killed in action on 30 September 1918 following heavy shelling in the area between the town of Exermont and the Montrebeau Woods in the Meuse Argonne Offensive. He lies buried in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in France along with over 14,000 other WWI American soldiers.

Letter 107 ~ December 4, 1918

2009-03-03T13:31:00.005-06:00

I write my mother and brother about the possibility of my being transferred to Ft. Brady up in Michigan.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Funston
December 4, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, I got my four-day pass just in time because when I got back here there was an order posted to the effect that no more furloughs, four-day passes, or weekend passes would be issued until further notice. This was dated the 28th and I got my pass on the 26th. The reason given was that the railroad systems were too crowded. Someone said that the 69th Regiment were getting four-day passes again so maybe I can get a weekend pass after awhile.

I called for my mail when I got back and along with three or four letters, I got that package we thot was lost. It had been lying there in the orderly room for quite awhile, I guess. A mouse had gnawed a hole in it and the fudge was dry but it disappeared anyway.

While I was gone, the men had been issued caps and gloves so I got mine Saturday afternoon. All the caps that were left were too small so mine just sits on my head.

Lieutenant Pierpont told me something Monday afternoon after parade that I don’t know whether to believe or not, and I don’t suppose I ought to say anything about it because it is so uncertain. He said that the 20th and 41st [Regiments] were just unlucky and had been picked out to be held after the rest of the division had been discharged. He said that we couldn’t expect to be discharged for six months. He said tho that we would leave this camp within two weeks but he didn’t know where. We heard later tho that the 2nd Battalion (that’s the one I am in) was going to Ft. Brady, Michigan, up near the Canadian line for guard duty. I sure hate the idea of going that far north for the winter but maybe we won’t. We have had so many false alarms that we can’t be sure until we are on the train, but indications point toward our staying in for a time yet because the other night we had our equipment remarked and they issued some leggings, shirts, and hats to those whose clothes were nearly worn out. I got another pair of shoes.

We haven’t been paid yet but I think we will be soon. I meant to bring that letter paper up with me this time but forgot all about it. Will you put that Larkin paper in that box of notepaper of mine and send them both up?

I am sore all over today. I played in the [football] game against H Company yesterday and it was a hard game. This sure is fine weather to pasture cattle, isn’t it? I sure hope it stays this way. Goodbye, -- Ward

Letter 106 ~ December 3, 1918

2009-03-03T09:41:00.008-06:00

A map showing all of the army camps in 1918. Note Fort Brady in Upper Michigan.

I write Minnie about a possible transfer to some other army post for guard duty. I also let her know that I get relief from drilling because I am on the football squad at Camp Funston.

Letterhead: Knights of Columbus War Activities, Camp Funston

Camp Funston
December 3, 1918

Dear Kid,

Well, I got my four-day pass just in time. When I got back there was an order posted on the bulletin board to the effect that no more four-day or weekend passes or furloughs would be issued until further notice. This was dated the 28th, two days after I got my pass. The reason given was that the railroad facilities were inadequate. I think I was lucky for once in my life at last.

During my absence, the company had been issued caps & gloves so I got mine Saturday. The only caps that were left were all too small so to keep mine on, I had to cock it over one ear & if I keep from wagging my ears, I get along very nicely.

When I got back, I went into the orderly room & got my mail & there was that package we thot was lost. It had been in there quite awhile. I don’t know why I hadn’t gotten it sooner. They probably forgot all about it. The fudge was awfully dry but that didn’t make any difference in the way it disappeared. One of the socks had a hole gnawed into it by a mouse. I also got a letter from you that you wrote November 11. No telling how long it had been in the office either. I got those pictures. They are fair but I hope that we can get some better ones. I wish I had of had my picture taken when I was down home but if I don’t get home for some time, I can have it done here. Land knows there are plenty of places on the zone where they fight for a chance to take your picture.

I heard some news yesterday. I don’t know whether to believe it or not & for that reason I don’t suppose I ought to tell you about it. But it at least gives me something to write about. We had a regimental parade yesterday & when we were halted after the parade, the Lieutenant leading my platoon said that we didn’t expect to be discharged within six months. He said that the 20th and the 41st [Infantry Regiments] were unlucky because they had been picked to remain intact for some time, probably to do guard duty at some army post. He said that the 20th would leave this camp, however, inside of two weeks. He said he didn’t know where we were going but we have heard rumors of our going to Ft. Braden [Fort Brady] up in Michigan near the Canadian line. I sure hope it isn’t any farther north than this but I am afraid it may be. My, but you can’t imagine how I dread being in here six more months. But I am not going to worry about it until we are actually moved because lots of men from this camp are going to be discharged shortly after that Divisional parade which comes off Saturday. I had had hopes of being out by Christmas but maybe I won’t now.

I am on the football squad & so I haven’t drilled any this week. We have to go out to the drill field tho, and practice out there. When we got through with football practice, we went over to where the rest of the company had unslung their equipment. There is a Swede in the company that always makes a hog of himself at the tables. Well, we unrolled his pack & put about 8 or 10 iron grenades & another piece of old iron in it. We didn’t get to see him carry it but I’ll bet if he carried that load clear in, it nearly killed him. It sure tickled me because that “ornery” Swede sat next to me at the table once & all he ate was prunes. He grabbed that prune dish & filled his plate full & the rest of us didn’t get any. I expect we will get weenies again for breakfast tomorrow. We only had them once today.

Well, be good & write often. With lots of love, Ward Clarke Griffing

Footnotes:

“The Zone” was a shopping and entertainment mall constructed during 1917-18 for the troops stationed at Camp Funston.

An infantryman in front of "The Zone" near Camp Funston in 1918. Note the depth of the mud.

Letter 105 ~ December 1, 1918

2009-03-02T09:27:00.005-06:00

Minnie writes to say how good it was to see me in Manhattan over the Thanksgiving vacation.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
December 1, 1918

Dear Ward:

Well, I wonder how you spent this long day. I know I would have been dreadfully lonesome if I hadn’t of brought a book to read. Mama got me a new book Saturday [called] “The Reclaimers” – one of Margaret Hill McCarter’s new books. I have it over half read. Then I brought another book, “The Riders of the Purple Sage.” When I get those read, I’m going to have Mama send me some more. I love to read and that’s something I can do this winter. My school work won’t keep me any where’s near busy, especially when I have to spend my weekends up here. Sometimes I think I’ll just go crazy with nothing to keep my mind busy. My school work don’t any where’s near do that. My school is all I know about now and people get tired of hearing about that. I was lot’s better company three or four years ago than I am now. I am certainly anxious to get in college where I’ll have my studies and nice places to go.

I wrote to [my sister] Bertha and [my brother] Jesse tonight so I’m about played out on the letter writing. I didn’t want to quit reading my book at all. It’s sure interesting. I’ve been reading all day. Sit in one chair awhile, then in another and so on, all day.

Say Ward, you sure did look nice this trip. Your hat and uniform and all looked so nice. You were certainly a fine looking soldier. Did you have your photo taken? I hope you do if you haven’t already.

Well, I must go to bed now and start to work in earnest again tomorrow. I don’t suppose I’ll see you again for a long time. I’m not planning on getting home again till Xmas. Write as often as you can and care to. Time goes so much faster when I get letters, doesn’t it for you?

Goodnight Boy, Yours, -- Minnie Frey

Letter 104 ~ November 26, 1918

2009-03-02T09:18:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me to say she wishes she were home when she hears I'm expected to get a four-day pass for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
Tuesday, 11:25 A.M. [November 26, 1918]

Dear Ward:

I am doing something I thought I would never do [and] that is write during school but I am ahead just a little and I want to get this off in today’s mail. It being so nice today, he may come a little early.

Just think, you were to go home in about half an hour now. I sure hope you get to. If you do, I will see you before this letter gets to you but [I'll write anyway just] in case something should happen that you didn’t get to go home.

I wonder if they ever said any more to you about letting the gun stack fall. I don’t believe they will, to you it doesn’t look like it would be at all right for them to. I hope nothing interferes with your coming home today. I sure want you to be there tomorrow when I get home.

Our company is going to leave today. Parkinson’s took them to Manhattan yesterday. They did intend to go to Camp Funston but they didn’t.

Your mother said Mr. Finney told Willis that Kate [Taylor] and Frank [Blair] were married and were keeping it quiet. I don’t believe it at all but I don’t see what Finney wanted to tell that for if he didn’t know something about it. It can’t be true tho.

I haven’t anything new to write about. I wish I were going home today noon. I’m afraid if it clouds up again [and rains], I won’t get home till Thursday noon. I intend to go on the freight Wednesday night if the folks don’t come for me. But I may not get to.

Had a couple of letters from you yesterday. Good bye, Minnie G.F.
Footnotes:

Probably Herbert C. Finney, a 56 year-old store manager with a residence on Fremont Street in Manhattan, Kansas.

Letter 103 ~ November 25, 1918

2009-03-02T09:06:00.002-06:00

Minnie writes me after visiting her folks in Manhattan over the weekend.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
Monday Morning, [November 25, 1918]

Dearest Ward;

I wanted to write to you last night but didn’t get a chance. I’ve a lot to tell you but not enough time – only fifteen minutes.

I called your mother Saturday evening and told her you called. She was glad to hear from you. I went to a [picture] show last night. It was fairly good; have seen lots better tho. Sunday we went over to Munger’s in the morning. Stella [Munger] said she would go home with us for dinner if I would wait till she got her things ready so she could go right out to her school as soon as she came home. So we went down to your place while we were waiting. [My brother] Lester wanted to see [your brother] Willis, but didn’t get to. He (Willis) had been out ever since early in the morning looking for his cows.

Your mother said she wrote to me last Sunday evening. She put the wrong address on the letter tho. So I didn’t get it. Sorry I didn’t.

Papa brought me home [to Sherman Township] last evening. He didn’t have to bring me any farther than Chalmer’s. Parkerson’s and their company was there. They waved at us so we stopped. We came home after supper and Hoffmans came down. We played the Edison [phonograph] and I nearly “died a laughing” if I ever did. Parkerson’s haven’t played it for a long time and before we oiled it and fixed it up some it sounded just awful.

Did I tell you about Parkerson’s company? [They are] Mr. & Mrs. Mondfort from Ohio. He is a very good friend of Mr. Parkerson’s but they haven’t been together for 17 years. He has all gold teeth and wears a wig. I just discovered they were ‘newlyweds.’ He is 59 and she is 58 -- the jolliest, nicest people. I wish they would stay. They are just like a couple of kids and Oh so sweet on one another.

Left my keys down home. Sure hope I see you. With love, -- M. F.

Letter 102 ~ November 21, 1918

2009-03-01T11:31:00.014-06:00

Minnie writes me that she hopes to see me over Thanksgiving.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Stockdale, Kansas
Thursday Evening, [November 21, 1918]

Dear Ward:

Had a letter from you today and I take it that you won’t be home this weekend. But if you get four days Thanksgiving, why that will be better. I sure hope you will now since I’m not going to teacher’s meeting.

You said we were about square on the letter deal. “Nix on it” Mr. Man. I wrote four at least last week and this is my third this week, and I didn’t get any letters last week and two this week. You’re about four behind. If you don’t want me to feel rather forgotten, you had better make up for lost time. Maybe that’s what you wanted. If you did, it had the desired effect alright.

This week has sure gone fast. Tomorrow is Friday already. I tried to call the folks this evening to tell them to come for me tomorrow evening. I didn’t get them but am going to try again in the morning. If they don’t come tomorrow, I’m going home Saturday.

Mama sent two of those pictures up that we took the 2nd Sunday you were home. If I don’t get to see you this weekend, I’ll send them to you. I think the [the first] one of you and Eben [Scholer] is just fine.

The school board is holding a meeting tonight. They have to borrow money to pay me and I told them I wanted my money tomorrow sure. I would like to be there at their meeting. [Then] I’d know what they thought of their teacher and whether there was a chance of her getting the same school next year. School is sure going fine from all appearances.

My, but I’m glad this horrible old war is as good as over. Ward, you can never imagine how I felt when the good news kept coming. I used to just love to think and think of you, and yet it just hurt because I never knew what would happen. But now I’m reasonably sure you will get back home someday not so very far off. Now I can just dream and dream of you and feel perfectly happy. God has sure been good to me. Just think how awful it’s been for some girls. The uncertainty of it all – and some few – my, but my heart sure goes out to them. I ought to be very grateful and believe me, I am.

Your Lieutenant didn’t know what he was talking about did he? You said the 20th [Infantry] may go to Utah for the winter. Don’t let the Mormons get you if you go. But you would see something worth while I imagine if you go near Salt Lake City, it must be awfully nice.

Some of the kids knocked my watch off the desk today and broke the face. I don’t see how it ever happened without breaking the crystal, but it didn’t. When I asked them who did it, everyone was perfectly innocent, of course. But it happened just the same. I saved the pieces that broke out. I suspect Smith can fix it up alright. The watch runs yet so it didn’t hurt the works.

I sure hope you get your four days off Thanksgiving. That sure sounds good to me. Did you see anything of the folks when you were home?

Folks up here that have seen you think you are a “husky big fellow.” I was up to [William and Pearl] Hoffman’s one evening for supper and Mr. Hoffman said, “Say, that fellow that was up here to get you the afternoon I was dragging roads is sure a big fellow. I’ll bet he will make a fighter. He looked like he could lick about three of me.”

I hope I can see Stella [Munger] this weekend. I don’t know how it will be, but I don’t want the “flu.”

I’m sure anxious to find out what they really will do with you. For a very selfish motive, I wish they would keep you at Camp Funston until you’re discharged. But I know you would like to go somewhere else where you’ve never been before and I sure can’t blame you for it either. I rather wish they would let you too if they don’t let you out fairly soon. Just so it’s as good as Camp Funston and they treat you good. You might just as well see some “sights” off of ‘Uncle Sam.’

Well I must go to bed. Goodnight dear boy, -- Minnie G. Frey

P.S. Have you forgotten how to write your name? One would think so from the way you sign your name or is it lack of time?

Picture Left. In addition to the picture above, Mrs. Frey sent Minnie this badly focused picture. I believe the family members, from left are: John C. Frey, holding his granddaughter Ruth Scholer, Eben Scholer, Hattie (Clarke) Griffing, Eliza (Brewer) Frey, Ward Griffing, Carol Cunningham, Minnie Frey, Bertha (Frey) Scholer, and Willis Griffing.

Letter 101 ~ November 21, 1918

2009-03-01T11:24:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me the news from Sherman Township where she is teaching school.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman, [Kansas]
Thursday Morning, November 21, 1918

Dear Boy:

Well I guess it’s time I’m writing again. Had a letter from Mama Tuesday. She said you were home this last weekend. I received a letter from you Monday that you wrote a week ago yesterday so I knew you hadn’t left Camp Funston Monday but not before.

Sunday we spent the day with Art Chalmers [and his wife Lena at their home in Grant, Kansas]. Had a dandy time in the evening. Then we went to the revival meetings up at the church.

I’ve been awfully busy with my school work this week. We’re trying to make up lost work. I’m not going to teach on Saturdays until after Xmas, if I do at all. We’re not going to have any Xmas vacation excepting one day. That may be all I’ll have to make up. I noticed in yesterday’s paper that the Teacher’s Meeting was to be postponed until January because of the ‘flu.’ That sure makes me peeved. But I guess it is best for all.

Isn’t this weather the limit? I’m going home this weekend sure. I can go down on the ‘Blue Valley’ [Railroad] and come back Sunday afternoon. Come to Riley, and then Mr. Brown will bring me out here. Since there is not going to be any Teacher’s Meeting, I will be home all Thanksgiving vacation – four days. Hurrah! Wish you could be home then too. I thought perhaps they would want me to teach on Friday but Mrs. Parkerson said they wouldn’t. She said I would want to go home for Thursday, then come back for Friday, then go home again Friday evening or Saturday and they wouldn’t expect me to do that just for one day.

I’m sure sorry Stella [Munger] has the ‘flu.’ It will put her back so with her work. Maybe I’ll hear from you today. I’d better – only one letter. Goodbye, -- M. F.
Footnotes:

Probably Tom Brown, a 47 year-old garage mechanic. In the 1920 Census, he is the only Brown living in Madison Township where the town of Riley, Kansas was located.

Letter 100 ~ November 20, 1918

2009-02-28T18:52:00.009-06:00

The regimental band plays outside the Auditorium at Camp Funston

I tell Minnie we are still being trained. I also mention something of the entertainment at Camp Funston.

Camp Funston
November 20, 1918

Dear Little Girl,

I will hurry & write what I can before the entertainment begins. There is to be one of some sort tonight. There isn’t much news. We just keep drilling as usual. I don’t see what good there is in having the war over the way they continue to train us. We had our dinner in the field as usual today but about two o’clock instead of going right to drilling they assembled the whole regiment around a truck & we sang songs. Lieut. Guthrie led and the regimental band accompanied.

It was rather cold today & especially this morning. We noticed it because we worked up a sweat marching to the field & the problem that we were out necessitated our being idle for about two hours because E Company formed the reserve of a line of outguards. We laid around behind rocks on the hill side out of the wind & piled up like pigs trying to keep warm. Tomorrow we go out to drill with our overcoats on.

We signed the payroll tonight but we won’t get our pay until after the first. Our Company goes on guard tomorrow but I missed it this time. I expect I will have to go on sometime when I want to get off on a pass.

I stopped to listen to a lecture on “Valley Forge” & when I looked around for my fountain pen someone had taken it. It was an illustrated lecture & was pretty good but the best part of the entertainment was an imitator. I heard him once about six years ago at a Chautauqua at Manhattan. He sure was fine. He would imitate things from the country & he almost made me homesick. He imitated roosters crowing, hens calling their chickens, cows, pigs, bees, etc. Why, he could fool the animals themselves.

Well, I hope I hear from you tomorrow. I haven’t heard from you very often lately. Well, good night & sweet dreams. -- Ward

Letter 99 ~ November 19, 1918

2009-02-28T18:42:00.003-06:00

I tell my mother and brother it's possible I might get a four-day pass to come home for Thanksgiving.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Funston
November 19, 1918

Dear Folks,

I don’t see any use in having the war to stop the way they are drilling us. We are still drilling as hard as usual. There isn’t much news to write about – just the ordinary everyday life. We go on guard next Thursday and I suppose that I will be on this time because I wasn’t the other time.

Monday there was an order posted that 2% of the actual drilling force of the company would be granted 4-day passes each day beginning Monday. I went in to put in for one but he said I would have to wait awhile because I had had passes. Maybe I can get mine sometime near Thanksgiving. I sure hope so. Lots of the men are so far from home that they don’t care for even 4-day passes. Others say that they don’t want to go home until they can go and stay. Most of the men think that we will be discharged before so very long and I think so too, but of course we may not.

Well, I guess no one can kick about this kind of weather, can they? We are still able to work up a good sweat at times. There is a man making a talk here in the “Y” and I can’t write while he is spouting so I guess I’ll have to stop. I haven’t gotten that fudge yet. I don’t suppose I will ever get it now. I got a letter yesterday that you wrote last week. Well, goodnight, -- Ward

P.S. I don’t suppose that I will be able to get a pass next Saturday.

Letter 98 ~ November 18, 1918

2009-02-28T18:28:00.006-06:00

I tell Minnie I celebrated her birthday by pulling K.P.

Camp Funston
November 18, 1918

Dear Little Girl,

Well it has been quite awhile since I have written something to you & I ought to be able to write a long letter & I have thot of lots of things to write about but when I go to write it down, there seems to be nothing interesting. I haven’t gotten a letter from you for a long time & I know that you haven’t received many from me this last week so I guess we are even.

Last Saturday was your birthday. I wonder how you celebrated it. I celebrated in the kitchen. I came back from the rifle range Friday & they put me on K.P. right off the range. Each fellow has to take his turn at it. While I was taking the fatigue clothes off the spuds & stirring the slum, I thought of you & your advancing years with tears in my eyes knowing full well that you would be a whole year older before I could enjoy your presence once more.

Friday afternoon after I got back, I went into the orderly room to put in for a pass. He asked me if I had one last week. I said I did & he said I couldn’t have one this week. I couldn’t have used it till Saturday night anyway being I was on K.P.

Well, I didn’t get very down hearted about it because the weather was so [bad] that night. The top sergeant (he is the gent that says yes or no) was in the kitchen. I accosted him at a very psychological moment, just after he had partaken of a very hearty supper & asked him again for a pass. He told me to come into the orderly room & he would fix me up. So I rolled down my sleeves, took off my apron (flour sack), slicked down my hair, knocked on the orderly room door (if you don’t knock, maybe you get a pass & maybe you don’t) entered, closed the door, popped my heels together, & snapped out a salute that would be the envy of any previous service man in the army. All this was done with the usual grace & elegant bearing of our gallant here.

Well, I got my pass & reached town about 8 o’clock [Saturday night]. I phoned out home & mother said that [my brother] Willis had already gone to town but went on horseback. I hunted around for him for awhile but couldn’t find him & so went to a [picture] show. You know you said that you were going to a show this time so I had hopes of seeing you inside as well as Willis. I found Willis just as I was ready to go home but walked out from the end of the car line anyway. If I didn’t walk just about so much every day I wouldn’t feel right.

I wish I could have seen you last Sunday before we start for Utah, if we go. We heard that the 20th [Infantry] was going back to Ft. Douglas at Salt Lake [City], Utah for the winter. I would like to go but I am afraid we won’t. I think that we are more liable to stay right here in [Camp] Funston until we are discharged. The 20th [Infantry] came from Ft. Douglas & most of the boys are wild to get back there. Many of them are enlisted men & will not be discharged until their time is up. They were sure disappointed that they didn’t get to go across [to Europe] because most of them have been training for over a year. I want to go mighty bad but now that the war is practically all over, the sooner they discharge Pvt. Ward Griffing, the better suited he will be.

We got up at five o’clock this morning & went out to the field with our dinners in our haversacks: 1 sandwich & 1 hard boiled chicken in the shell.

They are issuing four day passes again & I went in to see if I could get one soon. They said I would have to wait for a week or two because I had had two passes already. I hope I can get mine about Thanksgiving time.

Well, I will have to tell you the rest [later] I guess because they are going to put the lights out pretty soon. So Good Bye Minnie, -- Yours, as ever. -- Ward

[P.S.] This is my last sheet of paper.

Letter 97 ~ November 17, 1918

2009-02-28T18:15:00.004-06:00

My mother writes Minnie to tell her they had a nice visit with me. I talked my way into a pass Saturday evening and came home to Manhattan for the rest of the weekend.

Addressed to Miss Minnie Frey, Sherman, Kansas, c/o Mrs. Parkerson

Manhattan, Kansas
November 17, 1918

Dear Friend Minnie:

Willis, Carol and I took Ward downtown tonight for him to take the [interurban] car back to [Camp] Funston. He would have waited until morning but he felt that we all would have a better night’s rest if he left tonight. Then too, the visit does not amount to very much while we sleep, or try to. He did the same way last week and got up there before the lights were out. For cold weather, I think likely it is really the better way to do although we always want him to stay as long as possible.

He was going to write to you this evening, got his paper and pen, but we talked to him so much that he did not get it written. So I thot just for fun I would send you a little note. I want to congratulate you for your birthday and to wish for you many many more and that they may be very happy ones.

I am thinking that likely some little girlie was rather lonely and blue last night and today. It has not been a very pleasant day and one is likely to be more lonely at such times. I trust that something happened to make the time pass pleasantly for you.

Ward said that he is likely to have to winter in Utah [and] that they may have to leave [Camp] Funston between the 20th & the 30th [of November] from what he has been hearing.

It is too bad that Stella [Munger] has been sick. It will make her school quite late in the spring.

Our birthday club met with Mrs. Taylor last Friday and as usual, Kate was very anxious to know what Ward thot about the boys having to go across [to Europe] and when they would likely get out, &c, &c.

Ward said today that he rather believes that he may get out in time to help Willis on the farm some next summer. We are certainly hoping so. Claude [Cunningham] was up to see the Taylor’s yesterday. He said that they were to have gone up to see Mr. Blair’s people today if it had not stormed [and] that his father has bot a farm for him to go onto as soon as he gets out of the army. Well I wonder if you are not tired of my scratching.

Very lovingly, -- Hattie Griffing

Letter 96 ~ November 16, 1918

2009-02-27T09:07:00.022-06:00

Minnie writes me a long letter from Parkerson's farm in Sherman Township, Riley County, Kansas where she is boarding. She tells me she became scared during a storm while alone at the Parkerson’s and ran to a neighbor's farm. The wet weather and the muddy roads prevent our getting together this weekend.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas
Sherman [Kansas]

[Saturday morning] November 16, 1918

Dearest Ward:

We sure have had a siege of bad weather up here this weekend. I had planned to go home today. Mr. [William] Hoffman was going to Stockdale so I was going that far with him and then take the train home. But it was so muddy and cloudy, I was afraid I wouldn’t get back. I’m sure disappointed. I wanted to be home [on] my birthday and then I had so many things to buy for my school.

I wonder very much where you are. I hope you write pretty soon. I haven’t heard from you since I came up here [last Sunday evening]. I don’t understand. The paper says they didn’t send any of the 10th Division away after the Armistice was signed but I know you have left [Camp] Funston or you would have written to me. I wrote Mama this morning and asked her if your folks knew where you were.

Thursday, Parkerson’s went to Manhattan. Mr. Parkerson went to a sale over across the river so they didn’t get started home till late. Then they had a blow out near Stockdale. Well, I knew they intended to get home early because Mrs. Parkerson didn’t make any arrangements for me to stay anywhere as she always does when she thinks they will be late. So I came home from school and expected to see them coming any time, but they didn’t.

Well, it got real dark. I lit the light and thought I would build a fire and start supper. Well, the wind was blowing and the cows were bawling and this house seemed so big and lonesome. I began to get cold feet. Knowing what a coward I am after dark, you can imagine how scared I was getting. Pretty soon the dog barked up. I jumped and blew out the light and off to Hoffman’s I ran. [When the] Parkerson’s got home later, they called to see if I was there. Kenneth [Hoffman] brought me home then.

That day the [Krause] twins asked me if I wouldn’t go to the revival meetings with them. I told then, “Sure I would” but it was so rainy and bad Mrs. Krause called and said they had decided not to go.

A week from next Wednesday is Stella [Munger’s] box social. I hope it’s nice weather so I can go. Mrs. Parkerson is going to Kansas City to visit her daughter. She asked me tonight if I would stay with Chalmers' or Krause’s. I told her yes, certainly I would. She seems to hesitate so about leaving while I’m here. I may have my “shes” mixed up but I guess you can make it out.

Tonight’s the night I had planned on going to a [picture] show in Manhattan. Maybe I can next Saturday night. I’m sure going home then, rain or shine. I can’t hardly stand it to stay here over weekends – this is the second time. It wouldn’t be half so bad if I would get some mail. The mail man didn’t come today, but Mr. Parkerson got the mail at Stockdale. I was sure anxious for him to get home. I thought I would get a whole handful of mail – this being my birthday. I thought sure Mama, Stella [Munger], and you would write. Mrs. Parkerson hated it when she did tell me. But I think the folks expected me to come home until it rained so last evening.

Ward, you remember Capt. Willis [L.] Pearce that carried mail on Route 8 for ten years? I noticed in the paper tonight that he was killed in action October 9th. And that Riley County boy [named Henry Uhlenhop] that was reported dead the same time George Wingate was killed is alive. His folks got a card from him last week. He’s in a German Prison hospital. They think it may be that George Wingate is alive yet [too]. Neither one of the boys clothes were sent home. And they always are [once their bodies are found].

I have all the papers graded. Did some last night, did the rest up at the school house this morning. Just have my monthly report to Miss [Reppie] Carey to make out yet, and then I’ll be thru. I have the grade cards all made out. Well I do wonder where you are tonight, dear Boy. I wish we were both where we were a week ago tonight. As ever, Minnie G. Frey

Footnotes:

Capt. Willis L. Pearce served in Co. F, 142nd Infantry. He was killed in action on October 8, 1918 while serving in the 36th Division's efforts to push the enemy from the area north of St. Etienne-a-Arnes (specifically, Hill 140) back to the Aisne River. The division was successful but Americans suffered heavy losses in their first action under fire. Willis was born in Kansas about 1882. His father was a farmer in Grant, Riley County, Kansas at the time of the 1895 Kansas Census. Willis is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Section S W Site 4348.

George L. Wingate was born on August 5, 1894. The August 22, 1918 edition of the Manhattan Tribune reported that George was the first Riley County soldier killed during the war. He died leaving a wife and a baby that he never saw. Prior to his enlistment in 1917, George was a farmer near Ogden, Kansas.

Henry Uhlenhop was indeed reported dead and the whole village of Leonardville, Kansas, mourned his loss at a funeral conducted shortly afterwards. He later turned up in a German Prison Camp where he had been well cared for by the Red Cross. He won the Croix de Guerre in the Second Battle of the Marne. He became the postmaster in Leonardville following the war.

Letter 95 ~ November 14, 1918

2009-02-27T08:59:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me on examination day in her school.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas
Sherman [Kansas]

[Thursday morning] November 14, 1918

Dear Ward;

Today is examination day. I sure pity the kids. I know how I used to hate them.

I haven’t only a little time to write this morning but I guess it doesn’t make any difference for I haven’t anything to write. I have to go to school a little earlier than I used to. One of the little girls is taking to getting to school about twenty minutes after eight or before.

Parkerson’s are going to Manhattan today. I wish it were Saturday. Then I could go along.

School is going fine. But that little Dorothy Condray tells the biggest stories. She told her mother one night when she got home real late that the teacher made her stay in till dark. That was all a falsehood. I didn’t do anything of the kind. But her mother thinks it’s true.

It’s a little cloudy this morning. I suppose it’s going to get colder. It’s been so nice this week. I certainly expect a change.

Let’s see. Didn’t you say that if I didn’t hear from you for 3 days, I could quit writing till I did get one? Well I haven’t heard [from you] yet and I’ve been here three days. I guess I don’t need to send this.

I think I’ll go home Saturday noon on the Blue Valley [Railroad] if I can get some one to take me to the crossing. I’ll have to borrow some money to get home on tho. I forgot to bring my pocketbook and I only have two dimes up here. I’ll have my pay but that won’t do me any good till I get somewhere I can cash the check.

I wonder if you are coming home Saturday. Not hearing from you makes me think you might have been transferred. Good bye, -- Minnie

Letter 94 ~ November 13, 1918

2009-02-27T08:09:00.008-06:00

Infantry at Mess on the Rifle Range at Camp Funston

I write Minnie about training again on the rifle range. I still hold out hope of going overseas and don't anticipate being discharged until next spring despite "Kaiser Bill's" defeat. This letter to Minnie is a near duplicate to one I wrote my mother on the same day from the Camp Republican "Y." I have only included here, in parenthesis, the one sentence that was different.

Letterhead, “Army and Navy Young Men’s Christian Association
‘With the Colors’”
Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

Range Camp
November 13, 1918

Dear Kid,

I expect you must think by now that I must have left Funston. I might as well have so far as writing accommodations go.

As soon as I had breakfast Monday morning, I had to make up my pack and start to march out to the rifle range. [It is a long ways out there, especially when you are taking nearly everything you own. But I rode on a truck part of the way and a taxi part of the way.] Some of the other men of my company went out Sunday night but as I happened to be somewhere else, I didn’t go.

I didn’t take any writing material but if I had, tonight is the first time I could have written because we have sure been working. We have been shooting at night as well as all day as long as we could see the target. Last night we had to shoot with our gas masks fixed. I used to think it was lots of fun to shoot that rifle but I have shot so much now that it is an old story.

We don’t get any too much to eat while we are out here. For dinner yesterday we had 1 cup of coffee & one bologna sandwich. Today we had 1 slice of bread, a few beans, coffee & hardtack. Bread and beans for dinner and beans and bread for supper. Monday night I nearly froze. We got in so late we didn’t have time to fill our ticks with straw & with only 3 blankets; I tell you it was somewhat cool.

I haven’t had a bit of mail since last week Tuesday & I probably won’t get any until I get back to Funston. I don’t know when that will be but I think we ought to be able to finish the course by Thursday night & get to Funston Friday. We are on the 500 & 600 yard range now.

Well how do you feel about the way Kaiser Bill is cutting up now? He is a little slow about running but he finally did it. I think he was afraid of the 20th [Infantry] after I was transferred into it & thot he ought to get out before we came over.

No one is allowed to go across unless their range record is complete so it was necessary for me to get right out on the range. Our Lieutenant said that the war looked a [hell] of a lot from being over & that we also looked a whole lot more from being out of the army. It is mighty hard to tell what they will do with us fellows but I was hoping to be let out sometime next spring. I don’t know whether we will stay at [Camp] Funston this winter or not. I sure hope I hear from you soon.

Are you going to make up your school work? We have been fortunate in having good weather for target practice because some of the regiments had to shoot during that rainy weather & it made no difference whether it was raining or not, the men had to shoot. They are playing a Hawaiian piece on the Victrola here in the “Y” and it makes me almost homesick for a big armchair in front of a fine big fireplace not many miles from here.

Well goodnight, my Little Girl, -- Ward

Letter 93 ~ November 13, 1918

2009-02-27T07:56:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me the latest news from the Parkerson's farm where she is boarding in Sherman Township, Riley County, Kansas.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
[Wednesday morning] November 13, 1918

Dear Boy:

I read in yesterday’s paper that they were going to keep the boys at Camp Funston drilling and going on just the same until they had orders from Washington telling them to do different. So I suppose you are still over there at Funston. Isn’t this the grandest weather? It corresponds to the feelings of the people. I am writing this in the kitchen and in rather an uncomfortable position for writing. I had a letter from Mama and Stella [Munger] yesterday but none from you. Mama sent the letter with your address.

I received the bi-monthly examination questions yesterday so we will have that tomorrow and the next day. I will sure half to work some if I get to go home Saturday. I’ll have all those papers to grade first.

President Wilson said the war was over because the armistice made it so they couldn’t renew hostilities. Most people seem to think the 10th [Division] will go across [to Europe] anyway. But people don’t always think right.

School is sure going fine and just a little over four months yet to teach. May go to the Dutch church tonight [for] revival meetings. I wonder how long it will take them to pray the Kaiser out of purgatory.

I’m sure going to a [picture] show the next time I go home. I’d sure like to see a real good one. Stella [Munger] says she goes in with [your brother] Willis and sure did have a good time. It made me want to go.

Parkerson’s are going to saw wood and butcher today. So I’ll get some fresh beef. And I want to take the saw dust and make some sweeping compound for the schoolhouse. Well, I must go to school so goodbye Ward. – Minnie G. Frey

Letter 92 ~ November 11, 1918

2009-02-26T11:04:00.011-06:00

Celebrating the armistice in nearby Leonardville, Kansas, on November 11, 1918

Courtesy of Jim Olson.

I receive a pass to leave camp on November 9-10. I surprise Minnie by driving up to Sherman Township and bring her home to Manhattan for the weekend. Minnie writes me following our visit, beginning her letter on Monday evening, November 11, and finishing it the following morning. She tells me that news is received of an armistice.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
Monday evening [November 11, 1918]

Dearest Boy:

Well I suppose you are still at Camp Funston. You know Ward you wrote your address on that letter and I left them laying there on [the] dining room table. But I guess I remember your address. I ought to as many times as you have told me.

Well today has certainly been a hurrah old time everywhere – the stores were closed all day. Parkerson’s went over to Leonardville [Kansas]. I wish I could have gone somewhere but didn’t get to.

They gave the general ring early this morning before I was up. Then Mama called tonight about five o’clock but I wasn’t home. I came home from school tonight by moonlight. She said they had been [celebrating] in Manhattan all day.

My, just think how many happy people can go to bed tonight to rest their first night of peace. Of course we don’t know what may happen when it comes to talking peace, but certainly the worst fighting is over.

I must go to bed, it’s 10 o’clock. I’ll write more in the morning. I had to write to the folks tonight. I want Mama to get something and send me for my teeth and gums. I can’t hardly talk, they hurt so bad. (A bad condition for me to be in.) Goodnight dear Ward.

Tuesday morning [November 12th]

My, but this is sure a swell day – just like spring.

I wonder if you will get a pass again Saturday. I should think you would. Are they going to send any of the 10th [Infantry Regiment] away or keep them drilling right there?

You know I said that everybody would know just who came after me Saturday and all about it. Well they did. Monday morning one of the boys came in laughing. He said, “Teacher, you didn’t go home in the Ford or the Hudson either one Saturday, did you?” He also saw us sitting on the front porch at home. The little Wickstrum boy said, “We saw you teacher run out of the school house to meet that soldier. We were looking from the window.” I never heard tell of the like of it. But I don’t care a bit. And they all like soldiers so it doesn’t make any ‘dif.’

They are having revival meetings up here on the hill. We may go some evening this week. I wish I could be in Manhattan yesterday and today.

You said you bet the folks didn’t like it because you came after me Saturday. I don’t remember what I said, but you sure don’t need to think that they weren't glad. Some of them would have come for me that evening if you hadn’t so they were glad you came. Then they thought I would be so surprised and glad to see you that they wanted you to come.

Well Boy, I must go to school. Keep good care of yourself and be happy. You don’t know how nice it is to see you just the picture of health, and that sure is what you are. Mr. Parkerson said, “My, but he is a great big husky fellow, isn’t he?” You sure look good. Good bye, -- Minnie

Footnotes:

The Allied powers a signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing WWI to a close. Between the wars, November 11 was commemorated as Armistice Day in the United States, Great Britain, and France. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.

The Manhattan, Kansas newspapers reported that the largest crowd that the oldest inhabitant ever saw in Manhattan gathered on Monday afternoon, November 11, to celebrate the coming of peace and the burial of the Kaiser and Crown Prince and Von Hindenberg. The news came by A.P. service at three in the morning and was announced by blowing of whistles and ringing of bells. At nine o’clock the celebration started all over again.

Possibly Lloyd or Glen Wickstrum, the young sons of Charles and Nancy Wickstrum of Sherman Township, Riley County, Kansas.

Letter 91 ~ November 7, 1918

2009-02-26T10:50:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me about plans for a Christmas program at her school.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, Co. E 20th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
[Thursday evening] November 7, 1918

Dear Ward:

Well I wonder where you are. It’s sure turning cold and it’s awfully muddy up here. I was mighty glad this morning [that] I had my high top overshoes. Tonight the mud was so deep and thick I could hardly drag my feet along. But we sure have a good stove at the schoolhouse. I can build a fire in it easy and it warms up in just a little bit.

We decided today we would have a box social Christmas, have a Xmas program and Christmas tree about six weeks from now. We’re going to begin on our program right away.

We are going to begin cooking Monday. Tomorrow evening we will appoint assistant cook and general helpers and decide on what we’ll have to eat. I hope they want soup all the time. I’m afraid the cooking will bother me more than my school work. I like to cook and think it will be fun. But there’s such a bunch of them. I’d hate to fix up a mess they wouldn’t eat.

I had a letter from you today. We came very near not getting any mail. I didn’t think we would. I don’t know whether I told you or not that the mail man up here doesn’t deliver the mail at all when it’s so he can’t take his car. They didn’t get any mail up here a couple of days last week. Sometimes he don’t go for quite a spell. So that means this winter Ward G. won’t get any letters from M. F. for awhile because I can’t send any out. But I’ll be worse off than you because I’ll not get any mail – not even the papers. He came today about 4 o’clock, went part way, then turned around and went back. I don’t ever see how he made it this far.

My, but the war news is great. I’m not going to tell you that trade last till you come back to stay after the war is over.

I’m not lonesome. I’m getting used to it up here or at least I’m not tonight. I’m feeling so good. I feel that the world is just more than treating me good. May[be] you would to if you had been reading what I just have been.

I don’t care whether I get to go home or not this week and since I can’t get there to see [my sister] Bertha off (or at least I don’t think I can), unless you should get your gun clean enough to pass inspection. I think that’s pretty poor, Boy. I’ll bet if that’s all that stood between me and my seeing you, I would have that gun clean if it was possible to do so. And you will too. If you don’t come home Sunday, I’m not going to think it’s because your gun didn’t pass inspection.

If you do come home, I hope I get to see you. If you get home Saturday or Sunday morning, and the roads are anywhere near decent, let the folks know you are at home and maybe they’ll come for me. But I guess you won’t get their letter before you would leave if you go Saturday.

They don’t seem to think up here that we ought to have any more than just one day off Xmas. I would like to have more. I’m not much afraid to bet, Ward, that you’re home to stay before I am, unless they keep you in the service for quite awhile after the war is over.

I read in tonight’s paper than Harlan Sumner has been located in a prison camp in Germany.

My, but I’m anxious for you to have your picture taken in your uniform. It will sure be dandy. And won’t we be proud of it tho, or more especially, the person it represents.

Good night, Boy -- Minnie G. Frey

[P.S.] I hope wherever you are boy, that you are well and happy. That counts for more than anything else.

Footnotes:

A box social was a fund-raising event in which donated box lunches were auctioned off.

Letter 90 ~ November 6, 1918

2009-02-26T10:26:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me that the school board worked all day repairing the Sherman Township school house where she teaches.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 164th Depot Brigade, 25th Company, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
[Wednesday evening] November 6, 1918

My Dearest Boy:

Well isn’t this a stormy old evening. My but the weather acts funny. I waited at the schoolhouse tonight till one shower was over then I started home. I sure did get soaked. It rained awfully hard here tonight.

The school board worked all day at the schoolhouse today doing what they should have done during the vacation. They put new latches on all the windows and new screens. Also fixed the pump.

School’s going just fine. Nothing very exciting happens. But I just can’t get over Ray’s leaving school. It never can be so interesting without him.

If it hadn’t rained Parkerson’s were going to Alta Vista [Kansas] tomorrow to attend a sale. I was going to stay at Mr. Scott’s till they came home. I’m rather sorry they’re not going. I would like to go down there.

I got four letters today but none of them was the letter. I don’t suppose I will hear from you for awhile tho – unless you wrote before you were transferred, if you were transferred.

‘Round Robin’ came today. I sure like to get [it]. I hear from all the girls that way and it’s sure a lot of reading. They all write so fine so as to get a lot in as small a space as possible.

If it don’t stop raining I’m afraid I won’t get home this weekend. But of course there’s plenty of time for it to do that.

My, but I hope you are at Camp Funston, Boy, and not a thousand miles away or on your way for a distant camp. My, as I sit here thinking, I just wonder where you might be. I have no idea whatsoever.

I wonder how Willis’ hand is? I sure hope it gets well quick.

Today is [my brother] Jesse’s birthday. He’s twenty-four years old. I just now happened to think of it. Wish I could see him. Goodnight Ward, -- Minnie G. Frey

Footnotes:

Round Robin refers to the practice of forwarding a letter among a group of correspondents, each adding their own bit of news. Minnie and her girlfriends from Manhattan shared information about what was happening in their lives this way. If they only had e-mail...

Letter 89 ~ November 6, 1918

2009-02-25T12:56:00.002-06:00

I write my mother and brother to let them know I'm still at Detention Camp 2 (Camp Republican) and that we hear peace may soon be at hand.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Republican
November 6, 1918

Dear Folks,

I got your letter tonight that you wrote Tuesday. I have been anxious to know how Willis’ hand was getting along and was glad to learn that it was alright. It is bad weather tonight. I hope you have gotten the hay up. Have you found those lost calves yet?

I am sure getting tired of waiting for a transfer. About 17 or 18 are to be transferred tomorrow but I am not one of them. When this war is over and someone asks me where I fought and in what organization, I hope I won’t have to tell him I was in the Depot Brigade all the time and only fought bed bugs.

I heard that the 10th Division has stopped moving until further orders. I suppose the reason for that is because of the German Peace Note. Things seem to be dragging out here as tho there was no need of hurrying up the training of new men. It looks as tho the Allies would have an easier time of invading Germany now than ever before and they may be able to do it shortly.

We haven’t been paid yet but maybe we will be by tomorrow. Well, there isn’t much news. I expect it will be pretty cold in the morning. I am feeling fine and hope you all are. With love, -- Ward

Letter 88 ~ November 6, 1918

2009-02-25T12:50:00.004-06:00

I let Minnie know I'm running out of patience...

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas

November 6, 1918

I am still waiting for my transfer but not patiently. I sure hope I won’t have to stay here much longer. I may still be here Saturday tho. Hope you are well & that school is doing fine.

Letter 87 ~ November 6, 1918

2009-02-25T11:31:00.006-06:00

Minnie writes me about her school house repairs and Eben Scholer’s visit.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 164th Depot Brigade, 25th Company, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
Wednesday Morning, [November 6, 1918]

Dear Boy:

Isn’t this the craziest weather? Looks so rainy and it’s just as warm as summer this morning. I wish it would clear off and stay clear. I want to go home Friday evening right after 4 o’clock.

School is going fine. The children seem to study better than before. I don’t half to speak severely hardly to any of them. It’s just great.

Mr. William Chalmers came up to the [Sherman] school house yesterday morning to bring some water. Our pump needs new leathers and we can’t get any water till it’s fixed. He said, “I hear that ‘spooks’ visited the school while you were gone.” He said he would get new latches for all the windows and get new screens for those that need it. The people couldn’t get in thru the windows anymore.

Isn’t the war news great, Ward? I’m sure anxious to see today’s paper. Last evening, the [Topeka] Capitol said that peace may come in 24 hours. If Germany accepted the terms, the Allies lay before her. I sure hope she does. Of course if she doesn’t, she can’t struggle on alone very much longer. But I’m so anxious for Germany to surrender.

I wonder if you are still at D[etention Camp] 2 or if you have been moved.

Eben [Scholer] came up here with us Sunday. I told them before we left that I bet Parkerson’s would think he was you. They did too. Mr. Parkerson talked quite awhile to Eben and didn’t know but what it was you till after they left. Mrs. Parkerson thought so till she was introduced to him.

I am sure glad to be back up here. I must go to school. Goodbye Ward, -- Minnie G. F.

Letter 86 ~ November 5, 1918

2009-02-25T11:17:00.004-06:00

I send my brother Willis a postcard on election day. I screwed up and dated the card as October, however.

Addressed to Willis Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas
[November] 5, 1918

Dear Bill [Willis] --

I am still laying around up here in this hole hoping to be transferred any time but it hasn't come yet. We voted today. Hope your hand is well now.

Sherman Township School in 1918-1919

2009-02-24T15:43:00.013-06:00

Shown here are:

Minnie G. Frey's Letter of Recommendation for a Teacher's Certificate following graduation from Manhattan Public Schools.

Minnie G. Frey's State of Kansas Teacher's Certificate.

Minnie G. Frey's Contract to teach school for seven months at $65/month.

Two views of Minnie G. Frey's hand held school bell.

A view of the children in Minnie G. Frey's school, taken in October 1918.

A view of the Sherman Township school house where Minnie G. Frey taught school during 1918-1919. This view was taken many years later after someone had added an anteroom over the front door and taken up residence in the school.

Letter 85 ~ November 5, 1918

2009-02-24T10:16:00.012-06:00

I write Minnie about camp activities, voting in the national election, and close with a poem.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Stockdale, Kansas
Camp Republican,
[Tuesday evening,] November 5, 1918

Dear Minnie,

I am still in good health, well fed, but anxious to get away from here. It is very tiresome waiting for something to happen when you don’t know what it is.

I got back to camp all O.K. Sunday evening & nothing was said about overstaying the pass. Last night Ralph Currie & I went to the picture show down to the “Y.” It was the first show I had seen since that night before I left for the army. We had to stand up outdoors to see it but we were glad to do that even. The pictures were only fair. Before the pictures, we sang songs that were thrown on the screen by slides.

Today we fooled around the whole morning voting [in the national elections]. They would line us up to march us over to the polls & then fall us out for awhile & then line us up again. Finally we went over to the “Y” & just before noon we got to vote.

You must be a good schoolteacher or the children wouldn’t be anxious for school to begin again. I don’t see why you want to tell me why you have a trade last for me & then not tell me what it is because if you are planning on waiting until you see me, it may be so long that you will forget all about it.

Tomorrow is inspection again & we always have it on Saturday too. If we have a dirty gun, that means no pass! So if I don’t get a pass next Saturday or Sunday, it may be from other reasons than that I am transferred.

I saw that picture today that I told you about. It is fairly good but would have been better if the camera had been closer. The man said he was going to have several struck off so if both of us are still in camp by the time they are finished, I will have some. Like you, I hope those we took Sunday are all right, if I don’t get transferred away from here, I want to have my photo taken as soon as I get my other clothes fixed up.

Well good night Kid

[P.S.] I hope you are having good luck with your school & don’t get lonesome up there by yourself. My visit home was about half dream & about half reality. I don’t know which.

It’s the faith of a little girl like you that counts when the world goes wrong. When a fellow’s down & mighty blue, and his lips can voice no song, when the loneliness seems hard to hear, and the scheme of life seems tame, it’s knowing somehow that still you care, that makes a fellow game. It’s girls like you that keeps men straight, keeps them white clear thru & clean. It’s girls like you that keeps men great, and not what they might have been. Oh it’s good for the man when all seems night, when the clouds hide the goal from view. Just to knuckle down & fight, yes fight, for the sake of a girl like you.

Footnotes:

Ralph Alexander Currie was the 22 year-old son of Charles and Nancy A. [Fleming] Currie who lived on Osage Street in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born 24 October 1896 in Garrison, Kansas, married Katherine A. Ryan on 3 June 1922 in Topeka, and died June 1980 in St. George, Kansas.

October 25, 1918, may have been the single most decisive turning point in Wilson’s entire eight-year presidency. Before that date, he enjoyed bipartisan support as a war leader for the entire nation. Then, with just ten days before the elections, he released a note calling for the return of a Democratic Congress as essential to the nation’s security. Wilson’s questioning of the Republican party’s patriotism turned what had been a listless campaign into a heated contest.

On November 5, Republicans swept the congressional elections, compiling a two-seat majority in the Senate and a forty-one-seat margin in the House. Local issues, the tendency of the president’s party to suffer losses in midterm elections, and dissatisfaction with Democratic legislative accomplishments accounted for some of the Republican gains. But the bitter and egotistical tone of Wilson’s plea also made a difference. For Wilson, the worst consequence of the election was that it placed his Republican nemesis, Henry Cabot Lodge, in two vital Senate posts: majority leader and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. His subsequent failure to work agreeably with Lodge to secure ratification of the Treaty of Versailles ultimately doomed his presidency and set in motion the ominous chain of events that tied the first world war to the second.

Letter 84 ~ November 5, 1918

2009-02-24T10:07:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me about school activities, making up for lost time, and some Halloween shenanigans at the Sherman Township school house.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 164th Depot Brigade, 25th Company, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman, [Kansas]
Tuesday morning [November 5, 1918]

Dear Boy:

Well school went off real smooth again. Children seemed ready to go to work. Two of my primary children have quit. The little fat boy that I thought so much of has gone to Manhattan to live and the little five year old girl has been sick so much they decided not to send her anymore this winter.

I guess I will make up my school on Saturdays. The patrons would rather not have the last time made up than keep the children in school longer in the spring. And the children all seem willing to go on Saturdays. So I’m going to see the school board this week and if it’s all right with them, that’s what we will do. It will suit me just fine. I won’t have to pay any extra for my board and I can go home on Saturday evening instead of Friday. That will be alright.

I was sure surprised yesterday morning when I opened the schoolhouse. I left it just as clean as could be – everything right in place, dusted well, etc. When I opened the door everything was in a mess, pencil boxes turned upside down on the children’s desks and everything about the schoolroom out of place. The first thing I thought was that they had been fumigating the schoolroom. I know the State Superintendent asked all schools to do so. But when I walked in I knew they hadn’t been, but someone had been real smart. The lamps were taken off their racks and put on my desk, the water jar put on my desk, nearly all my books put on a heap on my desk, and the contents of the desk drawer thrown on top. I had a couple of pair of stockings up there so if I should get my feet wet this winter during bad weather I could change them before school in the morning. They were pulled apart and thrown on top of my desk. Then they had tobacco strewn over everything and burned matches (a dozen or more) on the floor around the desk. They had spilled ink on the school register [and] marked on the report cards. They had my flowers on the floor under some of the desks. Well I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t do anything for awhile. Then I heard the children coming down the road so I decided if they had a hand in it, I would have everything all cleaned up and act as tho nothing had happened. But none of the children had a hand in it, I found out. Every large pencil was taken and two fountain pens, and a pearl-handled knife. We thought possible they were hid but we can’t find them anywhere about. They wrote my name in the Library book and scratched all over the page with black ink. They spelled my name Fry, so it was someone that didn’t know me but knew what my first and last names were. It was one of the new books. I hate it awful bad and everything on my desk and in the desk drawer smell so strong of tobacco that I would feel so ashamed if anyone was to visit my school. They would think I was a habitual smoker, wouldn’t they? They also stole our box of matches.

The children think it was some boys out Halloween night. Parkerson’s think it was Charlie Scott for one and some other boy with him but we can’t imagine who. That Charlie Scott is a regular pill. Anyway he thinks he acts awfully smart. He’ll stand out in front of the school house when they are working roads and cuss a blue streak, walk crazy, and everything else to make the children laugh.

Well, I must go to school. Today is the day you thought you might be transferred. I hope it will be to [Camp] Funston. With lots of love, -- Minnie G. Frey
Footnotes:

Charles H. Scott was a 21 year-old farmer in Sherman Township, Riley County, Kansas.

Letter 83 ~ November 3, 1918

2009-02-24T09:55:00.006-06:00

A view of downtown Manhattan, Kansas (looking East) about 1918. The interurban railway trolley can be seen on the tracks that ran from Poyntz Avenue all the way to Junction City.

Minnie writes me that she is back at the Parkerson's farm in Sherman Township and ready to start teaching again on Monday, November 4th.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 25th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, Kansas

Sherman [Kansas]
November 3, 1918, Sunday evening

Dearest Ward;

Well I am back at the same old table writing my daily letter as usual. It seems good to be back. Children are anxious for school to begin; I’m surprised but glad of that. I suppose you got your [interurban railway] car and are safe back at camp.

Mrs. Parkerson says it seems nice to have me back. That’s the kind of a greeting I like to get. I guess she thinks she has someone to gossip with now. We sure talked some tonight. If we have anything to say, we sure say it as fast as we can. [We] only take time enough between stories to get our breath – not like you and I, are we?

Today has sure been a swell old day – just perfect. I wish we could go for a long walk on just such a day as this has been. I had the most fun this morning and afternoon riding. [I] had a dandy horse and it was such pleasant weather. I guess I was gone three hours or more.

I hope those pictures we took this afternoon were good. I left the roll and told [my sister] Bertha to have them printed this week.

I’m going to try to get home early enough next Friday evening to see Bertha off. She don’t leave till sometime around six o’clock. We think we can make it.

Well I must make this letter short and hike to bed. It’s a quarter after nine and at seven I was so sleepy I almost had to prop my eye lids open. I do hope [your brother] Willis’ hand gets alright and they won’t be put out too awful much. I know Papa and the boys will do all they can but at the best they can never make it up to Willis. Papa feels awfully bad about it. If he just hadn’t asked Willis for gas, it never would have happened and it spoiled your visit to a certain extent. I sure am sorry it had to happen. We were all so happy before [it happened], weren’t we?

There was a letter and a card from you here when I came today besides several other letters from Co. Supt., Colleges, etc. I’m anxious for the time to fly by. I want to see where you are sent and for the war to end. In the letter I got today, you told about your foot being so sore. That sure must have been awfully painful. You can stand the most and be the most cheerful about it of anyone I’ve ever known.

I have another fine trade-last for you Ward – the very best yet.

Let me know about your transfer as soon as you can, boy. Wonder what we were doing this time last night? Goodnight dear boy and good luck to you. Your sweet heart, -- Minnie G. F.

Footnotes:

A “trade-last” is a favorable remark that one has overheard about another person and offers to repeat to that person in exchange for a compliment overheard about oneself.

Letter 82 ~ November 1, 1918

2009-02-24T09:48:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me from her parents farm near Manhattan. She tells me she is learning to knit.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 25th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, Kansas

Manhattan, Kansas
[Friday] November 1, 1918

Dearest Ward:

I had two letters from you yesterday – the one you wrote Tuesday evening and the one that had been held at Camp Funston. I’m going to write this morning. It was so late when I got home last night, I thought I had better go to bed.

You wondered what we were to do last evening Halloween. My, I had so many social engagements; I had to cancel them all. There’s so much doing, we are certainly in a whirl.

I didn’t do much on my outline yesterday as I had intended. I decided yesterday morning I wanted to learn how to knit, so I got Mama to teach me. I like it better than anything else I have done that way. I think I’ll do that all my spare time this winter. I’m ashamed to think I haven’t learned before, but Stella [Munger] and I were so busy last winter, we didn’t have time when other girls were learning to knit.

Yesterday afternoon, [my brother] Wayne wanted me to go to town with him. I wanted to get a few things so I went. And just my luck – Stella [Munger] came while I was gone. So I only got to see her about half an hour. I guess we sure are going back to our schools Monday. It will seem almost like beginning all over again and our work will be awfully mixed up, I’m afraid. But I don’t mind.

Mama, Wayne, Lester, Bertha, Ruth and I all went over to your home last night. Willis brought out the little bottles of grain. We went over them first and he told me what he thought I would want. Then he got the labels and we printed the names and put them on the bottles. It was fun. I’m glad they were not fixed up before. Willis was sure good about it. He said he didn’t think you wanted to sell them and I had better bring them back with me when I leave my school. So if you want them, I’ll sure take good care of them and bring them back. I sure am thankful to get them. It sure saves me a lot of work and time and then I wouldn’t have a collection like that. If I can complete my collection this winter the way I want to, the children will certainly be interested in that work. Those children seem better about fitting right in and taking up what I might start than most any of the schools I have known.

I thought when you left here [last] Sunday you intended to go back to Camp [Funston] that evening. So I didn’t look for you back here hardly. A least I made myself believe you were not coming so I wouldn’t be disappointed if you didn’t. My I wish you could have come back again. The time you were here, Boy, sure flew by. And if we hadn’t had company, I’m afraid I would have felt awfully bad when you left. It was gloomy and lonesome.

We certainly do owe you an apology, Ward, for not offering you any supper Saturday night. We never once thought of it till last night and from what you said about time you left camp, etc., we concluded that you didn’t have anything to eat that evening. That certainly was a bone head on my part and I wouldn’t have been so forgetful for anything. Willis said, “Believe me! When I get a girl and go to her home if I’m hungry, I’m going to ask for something to eat.” I wish Ward would do that too if his girl hasn’t got sense enough to give it him without his telling her. I guess I’ll make a rule of asking you every time you come if you have had your last meal, then I’ll not do anything like that again.

Your mother is certainly looking and feeling more like herself and Willis is just alright now. I don’t think you need to worry anymore about them. I’m certainly glad they were so lucky.

Hope you continue feeling fine. We are looking for you home this weekend. Do you think you can come? Goodbye and lots of love for you, -- Minnie G. Frey

Letter 81 ~ October 31, 1918

2009-02-23T10:22:00.003-06:00

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas
Post Marked: Junction City, Kansas, October 31, 1918

[Minnie]

I still keep well but there seems to be no news. I received a dandy box of candy from you today but it is all gone now. It sure was fine.

Hope you are well. As ever, -- Ward

Letter 80 ~ October 31, 1918

2009-02-23T10:17:00.003-06:00

I send my mother and brother a short letter to let them know I am done with the special training at Smoky Hill Flats and am back in the Detention Camp awaiting news of our transfers.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Republican
October 31, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, this is Halloween night. I suppose if I was home I might be at some party somewhere but I’ve had my last party for awhile, I guess. There is no news since I wrote last so this letter will be short.

I had to turn in my overcoat, gloves, and sweater when I left Smoky Hill Flats and I can’t get any over here so I get pretty cold sometimes. I haven’t gotten my winter clothes and I don’t know when I will get them either.

Our company was on guard the other night and there were three of the men posted to guard the prisoners. When it got dark, three prisoners escaped and these three guards that were supposed to be guarding the prisoners are now under arrest. If the prisoners are not caught, it will go mighty hard with them.

Men are still being transferred out of here and I may be yet. I haven’t drilled since I have come back.

I hope that Willis has found all the calves by now.

Well, I can’t think of anything more, so goodnight. -- Ward

Letter 79 ~ October 30, 1918

2009-02-23T10:09:00.002-06:00

Minnie writes me that the flu has gotten worse in Manhattan and that her school may get canceled yet another week.

Addressed to Pvt. Ward C. Griffing, 25th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, Kansas

Manhattan, Kansas
October 30, 1918

My Dear Ward:

Received the letter today you wrote Saturday and Sunday evening; also two cards from you. It sure seemed nice. My, but I’m glad you got back and it was alright. Wasn’t it nice tho for them to have the stove up and everything sailing. I was awfully surprised tho when your mother said this morning that you left about 2:30 Sunday afternoon. I supposed you stayed all afternoon anyway.

I was downtown this afternoon, saw [your brother] Willis for the first time since he’s been sick. He doesn’t look any the worse for it, does he? I wish I had of seen him before he shaved his mustache. I bet he sure looked funny.

I was going over tonight, but it was pretty late when I got home and the horse was out in the pasture so I didn’t get to go. I called your mother and told her I couldn’t come tonight but would tomorrow. She called later and wanted me to come tonight if I could [since] Willis wouldn’t be at home tomorrow, but I couldn’t so I’m going tomorrow evening.

I got a lot of my book outlined today. It seems like I might be going to school doing that.

I sent you a box of candy today. Be sure to tell me when you get it because I sent it insured and I’ll get my money [back] if you don’t get it. But of course you will. I wanted to send you some and it’s so hard to get sugar. I had to buy the candy instead of making it. I’d rather make it – it’s more fun.

I expect you are all nicely settled back at D[etention] camp, aren’t you?

The influenza is worse here in Manhattan again, much to my sorrow. I may not have school again next week. Isn’t that the limit? I hope I do tho. I don’t want to teach a whole extra month next spring, especially if you are at Camp Funston. I want to get home so I can see you as often as I can.

If you are moved down to Camp Funston next week, you’ll not be sent away very soon will you? That will sure be great if you can go down there and be in the barracks. Soon you’ll feel like you are in a palace, won’t you, after being in those tents and a little candle light at night, and land knows what else. Then you will probably get off every weekend.

The next quota for Riley County is 77 men. That’s quite a few. I don’t see who’s going to do the work next summer – we girls I guess.

Maybe I’ll think of something else to write tomorrow before the mail man comes. I’ve a lot of extra paper here I would like to scratch over. Good night Boy – Minnie G. Frey

Letter 78 ~ October 30, 1918

2009-02-23T09:58:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me again from her parents farm near Manhattan. She says she is anxious to resume teaching in Sherman Township but the Riley County schools remains suspended due to the influenza epidemic.

Addressed to Ward C. Griffing, 164th Depot Brigade, 25th Company, Camp Funston, Kansas

Manhattan, Kansas
October 30, 1918

Dearest Ward:

Nothing much to write about, just the same old routine. These letters are so spicy I bet you just fall head over heels to get them.

I have just so much to do; I don’t know how to plan it to get all done. I’ve been fooling around the last two weeks and this week I know I must get busy to get everything I want to done before I go back to school. I’m going to spend most of the time writing that book review. I want to get it finished as soon as I can because when I get back up there I want to spend most of my evening’s knitting.

I talked to your mother this morning. You didn’t get a very long visit at home, did you? It would have been fine if you could have had a pass till Monday morning. We are hoping you can get off most every weekend, but of course you can’t tell.

I’m going to your home this evening to get those [grain] samples. I sure am glad to get them, boy. I asked you once how much you wanted for them but it was quite a long while ago and I’ve forgotten what you said. I should have paid you Saturday evening but didn’t think of it. You tell me how much – maybe your folks will tho – and I’ll pay you the next time I see you. I’m sorry to have bothered you about them – you not being at home.

[My sister] Bertha is going to live at Fall’s Church, Virginia – a little town out from Washington [D. C.]. An electric car line goes out there. [Her husband] Charlie [Scholer] says the country is so pretty around there. They can get rooms much cheaper out there and it will be just as nice for Bertha and [their infant daughter] Ruth and may be nicer.

[My brother] Wayne has a new book – “The Riders of the Purple Sage” by Zane Grey. He thinks it is fine. I want to read it if I get a chance before I leave or take it with me.

Ross Arnold goes up to Ogden every two weeks. You know Rosa lives up there now. I’m surprised that she doesn’t have a soldier boy living close to the camp.

Just now heard Bertha say it was getting awfully black in the west. I sure wish it wouldn’t rain. We had enough moisture today for months I think. Good bye, dear Boy, -- Minnie G. F.

Footnotes:

Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) has been called the most popular western novel of all time. It is set in the mysterious canyon country of southern Utah, and the rugged landscape the novel inhabits is more than a backdrop for the action. Villains and heroes both try to use the stone labyrinth to their advantage, but it is the landscape's power and majesty that dictate the final result. Portraying the conflict between Mormon and non-Mormon settlers over the possession of land in the 1870s, the novel questions the right of a religion to tyrannize its followers and deprive them of freedom in the name of good.

Letter 77 ~ October 29, 1918

2009-02-20T13:55:00.003-06:00

I write my mother and brother to let them know I am back at Camp Republican. Much of this letter repeats what I wrote Minnie on the same day so I'll abbreviate.

Addressed to Mrs. Hattie P. Griffing, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Republican
October 29, 1918

Dear Folks,

Well, I am again settled in my new home and it is about the best place I’ve had since I have been here. The tent is brand new and has a new stove. There are only six of us in it. Roy Drown, Ralph Currie, and Johnnie Clarke are in it. I was lucky to get in with them because a boy had been transferred out of there yesterday and Ralph said that there was room for me....

Johnnie Clarke said that while I was gone, my name was called for transfer to the signal corps and I would have been stationed at Ft. Leavenworth for training. The signal corps is way and again better than the infantry.

I am feeling swell and I hope Willis can be about now. The weather is much better now. Goodnight. -- Ward

Letter 76 ~ October 29, 1918

2009-02-20T13:48:00.003-06:00

I write Minnie about being moved back to detention camp and that I expect to be issued winter clothing soon.

Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas

Camp Republican
October 29, 1918

Dear Kid,

Well I have gotten back to [Detention Camp] No. 2 & have gotten my barracks bag & am all settled. There are only six in this tent. It is a brand new tent & has a good stove in it. One of the men has a little pine table & I am writing at it now. It sure is swell here after what we have been [living] in for the last two weeks. A truck load of new winter clothing drove up in from of headquarters this P.M. so probably we will be issued our new clothing tomorrow. It looks like awful poor stuff compared to what was issued a year or two ago. Every man from the 26th Company packed up & was hauled out on trucks this evening. I don’t know where they went but I imagine it was down to [Camp] Funston. I hear that this company is likely to do the same next Tuesday.

Johnny Clarke told me tonight that while I was gone, my name was called for a transfer. I would have been placed in the Signal Corps and would have been stationed at Ft. Leavenworth for training. About 18 of the boys are up for transfer tonight to go into the aviation. Either one of these corps would suit me lots better than the infantry.

I got two letters from you today. You asked about the proper way to address my letters. The correct way is Pvt. so and so. We never use Mr. in the army. I know because I have heard men called for it. It is perfectly alright not to use any title at all just as you did in your last letter because it is a civilian letter. But in a strictly military letter, the military title is required & no civilian title goes. The letters will come any way they are addressed & as that is what you want & the letters are what I want, so don’t worry about how to address them.

Say Minnie, I want to apologize to you & your folks for not saying goodbye. They must have thot I did not appreciate staying there, but I thot of course that I would be back Sunday evening & I could say goodbye then. And too, [your brother] Lester put himself out to come down & get me. I felt sort of bad when I left home because things hadn’t been kept up on account of Willis’ sickness. Things sure looked neglected, but of course it couldn’t be helped & we can be thankful it wasn’t any worse. The weather is so good now. I expect he will get out pretty soon.

I wonder what you folks on College Hill will do for Halloween? I sure wish I could go to a house party again on Halloween like we used to. Remember that Halloween at Hartley’s? I do. I feel just swell tonight & hope all my loved ones do the same. Goodnight. -- Ward

Footnotes:

John W. and Elizabeth Hartley lived in a farmhouse close to the Griffing’s on College Hill. They had three daughters and one son, all younger than Ward and Willis.

Letter 75 ~ October 29, 1918

2009-02-20T13:36:00.004-06:00

Minnie writes me that she will be paid in spite of not teaching during the quarantine.

Addressed to Ward C. Griffing, 164th Depot Brigade, 25th Company, Camp Funston, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas

October 29, 1918

My Dearest Boy:

Well I suppose you are back at the D[etention] Camp again.

Nathan Gish is here today trying to get me to take a $1000 life insurance [policy]. He was here this morning and I told him I wanted him to talk it over with Papa so he came back this afternoon. He’s here now. I’ll have to go out there pretty soon I guess. I felt like I might be having arrangements made for my own funeral to hear him talk. He said “it costs something to get out of this world these days” etc. It’s sure funny.

Mr. Gish left. I didn’t take any insurance now. I’m going to wait till spring. Ethel [Arnold] took some out today.

There was a lot of peace talk yesterday in town and the best Bulletin up there ever has been. But it seems to have died down today, Papa said.

Miss Carey said she was sure we County teachers would get our money for this time lost and not have to pay. I’m sure glad. Teacher’s meeting has been postponed till three weeks from Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It seems funny they would have it then as that is Thanksgiving. It won’t be any extra vacation. I guess the authorities like that part of it.

I hope the sun shines the next time you come home. I want to take a picture of you in your uniform. Be sure to let me see that picture of you in your helmet and gas mask. I want to see it sure if I can.

Mrs. Signor is certainly a busy woman. She didn’t think [the chairman of the Riley County Draft Board, Mr.] Yenawine, would do her son justice. So she went down to Wichita to see the [Draft] Board [there]. She told them that there were boys here that ought to be in tho; they said she squealed on several of the boys around him – some of them young married men – a lot of the people she got sore at her.

Papa got some rubber boots for the boys. He couldn’t get any black ones. He had to get a pair of white ones and a pair of red ones. They are the craziest looking things.

Today is [my brother] Wayne’s birthday. I must get busy and make him a birthday cake for supper.

Did you get to see any of the College Hill folks Sunday besides your folks?

I suppose I will leave [for] school next week. I haven’t heard anything different. I hope it’s real nice this week and so if you should get to come over next Sunday, I wouldn’t have to leave till late. I hope it will be so I can go up in the car, then don’t have to start early. Mail man here. With love, -- Minnie

Footnotes:

Nathan A. Gish was only 18 years old at the time.

Mrs. Kitty Signor was the 47 year-old mother of 22 year-old David L. Signor. She and her husband Harvey lived only a couple of households away from the Charles Frey family in 1918.

Letter 74 ~ October 28, 1918

2009-02-20T13:28:00.003-06:00

Minnie writes me that she expects to go back to Sherman Township to teach her school the following week.

Addressed to Ward C. Griffing, 25th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
October 28, 1918

My Dearest Boy:

Didn’t it seem fine to see the sun this morning? Everything seemed so bright and nice – but it seems to be getting a little cloudy again. I hope it doesn’t.

I have been writing in the evening and sending it with Papa most of the time, but I’m afraid he will forget to mail it sometime so I’m going to write in the evening and send out on the route the next day after this.

Well about tomorrow you will be coming into camp, won’t you? Will you still have special drill there with the Company you were with out on the [Smoky Hill] Flats or will you be just the same as before?

[My sister] Bertha received a telegram from [her husband] Charlie [Scholer] this morning. Bertha couldn’t hear so very well so we are going down to get it this afternoon. He wants her to come in two weeks with Capt. Seaton, and he had a new place out from Washington [D. C.].

What did you think of my school? You didn’t think much of it I guess or you would have said. The picture looks like any group of youngsters but it’s interesting when you know them.

I have a lot to do for my school this week, I’m sure. I’ll be able to go back next week. As soon as I find out just when the Bi-monthly comes, I’m going to begin planning for a program for us to have when we have a social sometime between Thanksgiving and Xmas. The children are pretty small but I’m sure crazy to have a good one anyway.

What time did you get over to camp last evening? It seems funny to think that just yesterday morning I ate breakfast with you. I hope it will be clear and dry next Sunday. Then if you get to come home, you can run your car. And if you don’t get off, I suppose we can go up there if it’s nice. Goodbye, dear boy, -- Minnie Frey

P.S. I started to address your letter last night, “Pvt. W.C. Griffing.” You corrected me when I said “Mr. Somebody” Sunday evening. You said, “They aren’t Mr. when they are in the Army.” But Eben said, “No, Mr. sounds lots better and it doesn’t make any difference.” So I left it clear off. It will get to you either way. But Pvt. is really right, is it not?

Letter 73 ~ October 28, 1918

2009-02-20T08:28:00.004-06:00

Post Card Addressed to Miss Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas
Post Marked: Junction City, Kansas, October 28, 1918

Had our [mock] battle this P. M. & turned in our stuff tonight. Strike camp & go back to [Detention Camp] No. 2 tomorrow A. M.

We were complimented on our work here today & were reviewed by General [Leonard] Wood.

Hope to see you again soon. Sorry I couldn’t get back again Sunday [to see you]. -- [Ward C. Griffing]

Letter 72 ~ October 26, 1918

2009-02-19T09:04:00.005-06:00

Minnie starts a letter to me on Saturday and completes it the following day after my surprise visit to Manhattan without a pass. We hadn't seen each other for six weeks.

Addressed to Mr. Ward C. Griffing, 25th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Camp Funston, Kansas

Manhattan, Kansas
[Saturday] October 26, 1918

Dear Ward:

Well it’s still raining and cold. It sure is sloppy weather here. I don’t suppose you have to drill this kind of day, do you?

Sunday evening,

The grandest boy in the world – and the one I love the very best – just then called. How happy I was to quit writing to him and wait for him to come out. Gracious, boy, but I was so happy I couldn’t think. I’ll bet you thought I was rather queer. I told you in one of my letters I had so much to say to you but I haven’t yet. Maybe when you make a few visits like that I’ll be myself. But honest boy, everything just flew from my thoughts. All I could think from the time you stepped in this house till you left was, “Ward is really here” – the thing I’ve wanted to happen more than anything else for two months. I’m so glad you got to come. I’ve food for thought till you come back again.

Today would have been a lonesome one sure enough if Eben hadn’t have come out. He is a very interesting talker, and all we did was sit around and listen to him talk. I haven’t talked to anyone over the phone or anything.

I hope your folks didn’t think you were too generous with your visit with me. Boy, it was great to have you here. I have been happy all day thinking how very happy you have been being with your mother and Willis all day and being at home. Do you feel like that visit was worse than none at all? I sure don’t, Ward.

Boy I believe if I could hear you tell about your work a little oftener, as you told me about it last night, I could get just awfully interested in it. And some of the horror seems to leave. I didn’t think I would enjoy that kind of work, but I do.

Ward, army life certainly isn’t hurting your looks any. You look better to me every time I see you. You just have such a good look that’s just irresistible. And that is not any of Minnie’s flattery either. Everybody thinks so. I am mighty proud that a fine soldier like you thinks lots of me.

Don’t catch a cold dear [in] this weather and still get the flu. I just live for you boy. I know if it wasn’t for you, nothing would seem worth while. I know one good thing that’s going to come of this war – I’m going to be a lot better girl. [It will] probably not [be] anything that’s visible but I feel it.

I hope nothing comes to the worse for your staying today. If it does, I will be sorry you didn’t go out to your home last night. I would rather anything happen almost than for you to get in trouble on my account. But you always are in the right it seems so I just always trust to Ward to know and don’t worry.

You said in one of your letters, “Just believe in me Minnie and everything will be alright.” You don’t know how glad I am, Ward, you said that. It has done me more good. I just say that over to myself and it makes everything alright. I don’t believe there ever was a girl that ‘believed’ more in a boy than I do in you.

Well I expect you are back in camp by this time. Did you find your stove up, and was your bedding awfully damp?

Stella [Munger] just called [but] didn’t have anything of interest to say.

May God keep you safe and sound everyday, Ward. With lots of love for you darling, -- Minnie G. Frey

Letter 71 ~ October 26, 1918

2009-02-19T08:50:00.006-06:00

I begin a letter to Minnie on Saturday morning telling her about field training. I don't finish the letter until Sunday evening after slipping in a visit to Manhattan to see her without a pass.

Addressed to Minnie G. Frey, Manhattan, Kansas

Smoky Hill Flats
Saturday, October 26, 1918

Dear Kid,

Rain & Mud! Rain & Mud! Gee Whiz, it rained nearly all night & cold! Oh no it is not cold. We are sitting around waiting to be called out any minute so I will start a letter & if I don’t finish it now, maybe I can tonight. It is raining now & we are ordered to be ready to go into the trenches at 1:15 with rifle, bayonet, gas mask, blanket, shovel, etc. Doesn’t that sound like fun? I’ll bet the water is knee deep in some places in there. I wrote you a card last night & said that maybe we would get into D.2. Sunday. Today we have heard that we won’t go until Tuesday. That means 3 more days in this nice, warm, clean, dry & perfectly grand place. But 3 days is about 1,000,000 times better than six weeks. That is what the order was when we moved camp.

The last letter I wrote to you I sent to Stockdale because I supposed you would be teaching. That very same day I got your letter saying that you would be home. I am sorry because you won’t get it for so long. I haven’t gotten any mail from you for 3 days now & none from mother for 2 days. I sure want to hear something pretty soon.

This morning we had to get up the usual time 6:15 & slop out in the rain to stand reveille. Then we lined up for mess & stood & shivered in the chow line for awhile till they said that there would be no breakfast for an hour & a half. The water had run into the kitchen & put the fire out. When we did get it, it was bread, potatoes, corn flakes, pet milk, prunes & coffee. The coffee out here is simply terrible but it warms a fellow up.

Oh joy, I’ve just been up to the supply tent to buy me some candy (at least that is what they call it) & I heard that the battle is to be postponed. Sometimes the officers show a gizzard if they haven’t any heart. Now it can rain as long as it wants to because I expect we will not have to go out at all today except to get our fodder.

Thursday afternoon about five o’clock, we went into the trenches. We carried 1 blanket, gas mask, helmet, raincoat, rifle & ammunition & mess kit & cup. Before going in, the 25th Company boys had their picture taken. I think I can get some prints & if I can will send you one. We had quite a lot of different kinds of trench fighting & came out about 10 o’clock. We had supper in the trenches. Then Friday morning we went back & staid until about five o’clock. It was sure raw out there yesterday, standing on the fire step looking out towards the other set of trenches over “no man’s land.”

I got those pictures [you took of your school children] the other day. They sure were interesting. It looks as tho Sherman [Township] could furnish her quota of soldiers judging by the male members of the district school. I would like to see some more pictures of you & the folks. I am still hoping that I can get a pass some time but it won’t be for a little time anyway. We have heard that the quarantine is to be lifted today at Camp [Funston] but I don’t know whether that is true or not. It would be just my luck to get a pass on a real stormy Sunday & you would be up to your school. But believe me, I won’t turn down any kind of a pass – just so it’s a pass. I would give a lot just to get a pass to Ft. Riley.

This is Saturday. Let me see. Guess I’ll go over & see Minnie tonight. It is rainy & cold; she will have a dandy fire in the fireplace & maybe some popcorn to pop.

Sunday Evening
Smoky Hill [Flats]

Well here I am again instead of being in a big chair in the parlor of a certain house on the Blue Valley road. I expect Martha will have told you about that fellow calling me up today at noon. He called up & the first thing he said was, “I’m afraid we are caught.” So we arranged to meet at the hotel & get right back to camp. When I found him he said that he was eating in the College Inn & another man from College Hill recognized him & said that he had heard that they were moving camp today & that it would be best for us to be there. Well we fooled around town a little & then got on the trolley & went to Ft. Riley. We caught a jitney & went out to [Detention Camp] No. 2 & found out out there that the camp wasn’t being moved so we didn’t hurry back over. We fooled around at No. 2 & had mess there & then caught a jitney back to Ft, Riley. Well we thot that we might just as well be hung for sheep as lambs so we went to the Ft. Riley [Post] Exchange & filled up on sundaes etc., & then walked on out here to camp.

The fellows here in the tent had the dandiest fire going. The little stove was red hot & they have a can of water against the side of the stove that is actually steaming. I am going to shave tonight so as to have hot water. Gee! But it is fine in here compared to what it was yesterday. There wasn’t enough stoves, nor pipe enough to go around so we sure are lucky.

The boys said that no bugles blew last night & none this morning, no formations at all so we will get by like a streak of lightning. They say that we are likely to go in tomorrow without pulling off that battle because the trenches are in awful shape. Shucks, after we get a nice fire & then move us out. Guess I’ll ask them to let us stay longer. Another thing I heard while at No. 2 was that very likely the whole Depot Battalion will be transferred to [Camp] Funston about the 5th of next month. I won’t mind that a bit, will you?

You might phone to Mama as soon as you get this because I may not get to write to her for awhile. I must shave & get ready for bed, so Good Bye. Hoping to see you again soon. As ever, -- Ward

Footnotes:

Jitney was originally a slang word for a nickel, or five cents. The word then came to be used for a bus that carried passengers along a regular route, since the fare for these rides were five cents. Buses like this continued to be called jitneys long after the fares rose. The word's first known appearance is in 1903, in the 'nickel' sense. The 'bus' sense is first attested in 1914, but seems to have become popular very quickly, since we have a number of pre-1920 examples of the term. The ultimate origin of the word is unknown.