In The Army Now.

Subject: Ridge Runner in the Army


In the Army Now


Dear Ma and Pa:


Am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Army beats
working for Old Man Minch a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe
all the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay
in bed till nearly 6a.m.(!), but am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell
Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine
some things -- no hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split,
fire to lay. Practically nothing. You got to shave, but it is not bad in
warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal,
eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, beef, ham steak,
fried eggplant, pie and regular food. But tell Walt and Elmer you can
always sit between two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours
holds you till noon, when you get fed. It's no wonder these city boys
can't walk much.


We go on "route marches," which, the Sgt. says are long walks to harden us.
If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march"
is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys all get sore
feet and we ride back
in trucks. The country is nice, but awful flat. The Sgt. is like a
schoolteacher. He nags some. The Capt. is like the school board. Cols. and
Gens. just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.


This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for
shooting. I don't know why. The bull's-eye is near as big as a chipmunk and
don't move. And it ain't shooting at you, like the Higsett boys at home.
All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. you don't even
load your own cartridges. They come in boxes. Be sure to tell Walt and
Elmer to hurry and join before other fellows get onto this setup and come
stampeding in.


Your loving son, Zeb


P.S. Speaking of shooting, enclosed is $200 for barn roof and ma's teeth.
The city boys shoot craps, but not very good. - Z.