LETTER FROM A KENTUCKY KID, NOW AT FORT JACKSON ARMY BASIC TRAINING CAMP.
DEAR MA AND PA:
I AM WELL. TELL BROTHER WALTER AND BROTHER ELMER THE MARINE CORPS BEATS
WORKING FOR OLD MAN MINCH BY A MILE. TELL THEM TO JOIN UP QUICK BEFORE
MAYBE ALL OF THE PLACES ARE FILLED.
I WAS RESTLESS AT FIRST BECAUSE YOU GOT TO STAY IN BED TILL NEARLY 6 a.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. MEN GOT TO SHAVE BUT IT IS NOT SO BAD,
THERE'S WARM WATER.
BREAKFAST IS STRONG ON TRIMMINGS LIKE FRUIT JUICE, CEREAL, EGGS, BACON,
ECT., BUT KIND OF WEAK ON CHOPS, POTATOES, HAM. STEAK, FRIED EGGPLANT, PIE
AND OTHER REGULAR FOOD, BUT TELL WALT AND ELMER YOU CAN ALWAYS SIT BY THE
TWO CITY BOYS THAT LIVE ON COFFEE. THERE FOOD PLUS YOURS HOLDS YOU TILL
NOON WHEN YOU GET FED AGAIN.
IT'S NO WONDER THESE CITY BOYS CAN'T WALK MUCH. WE GO ON "ROUTE MARCH" ,
WHICH THE PLATOON SERGEANT SAYS ARE LONG WALKS TO HARDEN US. IF HE THINKS
SO, IT'S
NOT MY PLACE TO TELL HIM DIFFERENT. A "ROUTE MARCH" IS ABOUT AS FAR AS TO
OUR MAILBOX AT HOME. THEN THE CITY GUYS GET SORE FEET AND WE ALL RIDE BACK
IN TRUCKS, THE COUNTRY IS NICE BUT AWFUL FLAT.
THE SERGEANT IS LIKE A SCHOOL TEACHER. HE NAGS A LOT. THE CAPT. IS LIKE THE
SCHOOL BOARD. MAJORS AND COLONELS 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 BULLS-EYE IS NEAR AS BIG AS A CHIPMUNK
HEAD AND DON'T MOVE, AND IT AIN'T SHOOTING AT YOU LIKE THE HIGGETT 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.
THEN WE HAVE WHAT THEY CALL HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT TRAINING. YOU GET TO WRESTLE
WITH THEM CITY BOYS. I HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL THOUGH, THEY BREAK REAL EASY.
IT AIN'T LIKE FIGHTING WITH THAT OLE BULL AT HOME. I'M ABOUT THE BEST
THEY GOT IN THIS EXCEPT FOR THE TUG JORDAN FROM OVER IN SILVER LAKE. I ONLY
BEAT HIM ONCE. HE JOINED UP AT THE SAME TIME AS ME, BUT I'M ONLY 5'6" AND
130 POUNDS, AND HE'S 6'8" AND WEIGHS NEAR 300 POUNDS DRY. BE SURE TO TELL
WALT AND ELMER TO HURRY AND JOIN BEFORE OTHER FELLERS GET ONTO THIS SETUP
AND COME STAMPEDING IN.
YOUR LOVING DAUGHTER,
GAIL
letter from a kentucky kid
Moderator: Site Admin
letter from a kentucky kid
MSG Hit_it
@Bragg
@Bragg
