Today we have another letter from soldier Harry Lowell to his sister Eva.
April 21, 1943
Greetings from the “Lone Ranger” state!
As you know I was put in the Quartermaster Corps – very much against my will, I must say. I was classified for motor operations and maintenance; after five weeks’ basic training I’ll be trained for that branch of the Quartermaster Corps. However, one can never be sure of things in the army; nobody can tell what lies before him here. I do hope I’ll get in some fighting unit. Army life seems to agree with me very much, indeed; let me describe to you one day’s routine at Fort Warren.
At about 5:20am, the corporal turns on the lights and shouts a few encouraging words at us; we reciprocate by muttering all sorts of names under our blankets. But we get up ten minutes later lest we receive special detail which usually means about 18 hours of the nicest jobs. After getting up we have just half an hour to clean up, shave, dress, shine our shoes, make our beds, and sweep and mop the barracks. Before we finish comes the order: “Fall out, double time!” At a terrific speed we put on our helmets, rifle belts, and leggings and hustle down to the field to stand Reveille. A few minutes later we are dismissed; then we wait for the breakfast bell.
Here you see the whole Co. C answering the “chow” call:
Inside the mess hall takes place a contest of out-grabbing each other. Have you ever fed peanuts to monkeys at the zoo? Imagine the monkeys with a uniform and you have a picture of us at “chow.” This picture repeats three times a day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Woe to him who acts civilized! He’ll end up with a mere cup of coffee and bread and butter, all other food having been devoured by those who followed the law of self-preservation. I have proven myself an expert at that law; I have acquired that certain “the-hand-is-quicker-than-the-eye” grab.
After breakfast we march out to the drill field and are given calisthenics and drilling. Two hours of that and we receive training in map reading, chemical warfare, etc. Then comes mail call; the rush to the mail carrier is equal to that to “chow.” About ten minutes are left for reading when the familiar bell calls for lunch. In the afternoon we get drilling and classes again; at five we stand retreat which is followed by the inevitable, but very welcome “chow.” After that the day is done and the time is ours until eleven when we have to be in bed. Fort Warren has many recreational facilities with which to assure the soldiers a few relaxing hours.
Last Saturday the first regiment had a track meet in which all its twelve companies took part. The contest included all phases of track sports. I won a point for Company C in the mile run. I wasn’t first that time, but I am sure of bringing home the bacon at our next meet in May when I’ll have gotten used to this high altitude which makes breathing difficult. We defeated Company B in volleyball yesterday and we will do our best to beat the other ten companies also. It will be a feather in our cap because our Company C is the rookie company of the camp.
I haven’t been able to get a pass to go to town yet because we are confined to the camp. Someone in the company got scarlet fever all of a sudden.
It’s getting toward bedtime, so I must finish now. Hoping you are in the best of everything, I remain
Yours sincerely,
Harry.P.S. Give everybody my best regards.