Letter 111 ~ December 8, 1918

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