The artillerys a little different from the infantry.  They make us work harder.  At least theres more work on the skedule.  I know now what they mean when they say that the “artillerys active on the western front.”

They got a drill over here called the standin gun drill.  The names misleadin.  I guess it was invented by a troop of Jap akrobats.  They make you get up and sit on the gun.  Before you can get settled comfortable they make you get down again.  It looks like they didnt know just what they did want you to do.

I dont like the Sargent.  I dont like any sargent but this one particular.  The first day out be kept sayin “Prepare to mount” and then “Mount.”  Finally I went up to him and told him that as far as I was concerned he could cut that stuff for I was always prepared to do what I was told even though it was the middle of the night.  He said, Fine, then I was probably prepared to scrub pans all day Sunday.

I dont care much for horses.  I think they feels the same way about me.  Most of them are so big that the only thing there good for is the view of the camp you get when you climb up.  They are what they call hors de combat in French.  My horse died the other day.  I guess it wasnt much effort for him.  If it had been he wouldnt have done it.

They got a book they call Drill Regulations Field and Light.  Thats about as censible as it is all the way through.  For instance they say that when the command for action is given one man jumps for the wheel and another springs for the trail an another leaps for the muzzle.  I guess the fellow that rote the regulations thought we was a bunch of grass hoppers.

[Illustration:  “I dont like any sargeant”]

[Illustration:  “I dont care much for horses, they feels the same way about me”]

Well I got to quit now an rite a bunch of other girls.  Thanks again for the box although it was so busted that it wasnt much good but that dont matter.

     Yours till you here otherwise,
          Bill.

Dere Mable:

Todays Thanksgivin.  Im thankful things aint no worse though Max Glucos what lives on the next cot says they couldnt be.  Cheery an bright to the last.  Thats me all over, Mable.

Every man gets ateen ounces of Turky on Thanksgivin.  All to himself, Mable.  The sargent says the commitee on Hays and Beans at Washington decides that.  Mines inside.  Im most to full for expreshun as the poets say.  We had a great dinner.  Soup an turky, dressin, crambury sause an pie an smashed potatoes.  All in one plate.  I wish you could have heard how the fellos enjoyed it Mable.  I know now why they call the turkys gobblers.

Thanksgivin is a holiday.  All a fello has to do on a holiday in the artillery is to feed the horses an give em a drink an smooth em out an take em for a walk an then feed em an smooth em out an feed em an give em a drink.  It makes a fello feel like givin back a dollar out of his pay at the end of the month.