July 26, 1918

Jul 27 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Michigan Ave.,

Manitowoc, Wisc

“(c/o Art Rankin)”

(from Great Lakes, Ill... “Great Lakes Receiving Ship”)

July-26-1918

Dearest Rose,-

I just got your letter yesterday. And was glad to get the gum. I would have got your letter befoure but you sent it to Farragut so it was waylaid.

This is much better place than Camp Farragut. We have nearly everything we want. lots to eat. we have guns to drill with now. believe me they get heavy befoure night. we drill nine hours a day.

It sure is hot here now and it is rather hard to drill. But I don’t mind it as much as lots of others.

There is one fellow here inlisted the same time I did. he is only 16 years old. his mother and Father came after him. I gues they are going to take him back.

I just got done working hard this after noon we had to get down on our hands and nees to scrub the floor. the room is about two hundred feet long and about 25 feet wide. but there was eighty six men of scrubing so you know how long it took us.

I have to wash my white suit to-night. There is not much chance.. There is to many washing at once.

I hear we are going to move pretty soon. the company just acrost the road moved to day. I don’t think I will move befoure next week.

Now I don’t think I could come on that air ship. the only time I saw it. it was about a mile high. And I don’t think it is supposed to leave the station.

I am going on guard again to-morrow after noon. I always get Saturday after noons and Sunday all day off. but I see I have to go on guard.

I got a letter from my sister Dallice yesterday. But I have not heard from Ida yet. Say did you ever write to her? Her old man’s brother has gone to the Army. I suppose they are lonesome there now. There father is gone to North Dacota to visit so they are alone.

You asked me if I knew any one down here but I do not I came alone. And it sure is hard to get acquainted there is 144 men in our company. That is a big bunch.

Those pictures I had taken are not any good. But I had some more taken to-day just as I was washing the floor. my shirt off, shoes and socks off. with my pants rolled up. so you can amagine how I looked.

Now I wish I was back there for Sunday to go to the show with you. There is no use wishing. it would take to long. And I am not off until next Wednesday. And only twelve hours. so I would not have time I will supprise you some time.

It is nearly bed time so I will have to make this letter short.

I have not had any fresh fruit or any candy for a long time and can not get any here. I can not get out on liberty for another week. but believe me when I do get out me for some ice cream or some thing good.

You are a little dear to send me that gum. I thank you very much.

I am not sorry that I joined the navy. But for only one thing. And that is for leaving you. you may think I don’t care but I sure do.

no you said you did not have any body to get (l or b, some letter, and then “cky”) at if you want to call some body down write it in my letter.

you can’t get me sore any more I wouldn’t think you ment it.

I have to get my clothes examined yet. so I have not got much time.

will close with ever lasting love. don’t forget to answer soon. I will not wait for an answer I will write as soon as I get time. So Good-Bye Answer Soon,

Your Best Friend.

D. Martin.

Camp Dewey,

Co. D,

Great Lakes, Ill. XXXX

(on back of envelope, “D. D. Martin, Camp Dewey, Co. D. Great Lakes, Ill.”)

July 23, 1918

Jul 24 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Mich. Ave.,

Manitowoc,

Wisc.

(from Chicago, Ill... “Canal Station”)

Great Lakes, Ill.

July-23-1918

Dearest Rose,-

As I have a little time I thought I would write a line or two and tell you how I like it down here. This camp is a little nicer than it was over at Cam Farragut. This camp is just acrost the track from the other one we was at. over there the food was not cooked a bit nice. it tasted as if it was cooked for the pigs. But here it is just fine. we get plenty of it. Here there is a park. lots of benches nice grass to lay on, but we we don’t get much time to lay on it only Saturday afternoons and Sunday’s.

I sure has ben hot here the last week. I am all sun burnt. now it is thundering and making a big noise. so I think it is going to rain hard.

We have to drill nine hours each day. scrub the floors. keep all our clothes clean. They want us to write two letters each week. But Don’t care if we get time or not.

We have plenty to keep us buisy Those pictures I had taken I sent them up to Hardtke to finish, I just got them back Saturday. They were not very good. So I sent them home when I get out of this camp I will not for get you I will have my picture taken. And you will get one. I do not expect to get out befoure Aug. the first and maybe not then. I sure will seem good to get out of Detension.

We just got our military hair cut this morning. it sure is great. cut short.

I sold my camera yesterday. I am sorry now I did not send it to you.

We have got hammocs to sleep in here. they are about six feet from the floor. so you know they are hard to get in. after you get in it is hard to stay in. some falls out.

They keep us buisy here and don’t hardly get time to get lonesome. But I can always get time to think of you. And makes me wish I were back by you. Now don’t you wory for I am comming some time.

This will be all for this time so. write as often as you can. Good-Bye.

With Love. Dan.

XXXX

(on back of envelope, “D. D. Martin, Camp Dewey, Co. D. Great Lakes, Ill.”)

July 19, 1918

July 19 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Michigan Ave,

Manitowoc,

Wisc.

(in little print on the bottom-left of the envelope “(Art Rankin)”)

(from Great Lakes, Ill... “Great Lakes Receiving Ship” as postmark)

(YMCA paper again)

Co. 377, Barricks 946-W.

Camp Farragut,

Great Lakes, Ill.

Dearest Friend,-

I just got your letter this noon and I sure was glad to hear from you.

I have only ben here a week and it seems like a month. They keep us buisy alright. But I can always get time to think about and can’t help but get lonesome. If I knew what I know now I would not have inlisted, altho am getting plenty to eat. I only wish I wasn’t so far from Manitowoc I would come up every Sunday. We only have twelve hours of each week. it would take nearly one day to go up there. so you see I could not go up unless I got a five or ten day furlow.

I am locked up here for three weeks. There is about five or ten thousand of here locked up. every body is keep in the same camp for three weeks befoure we can go any place. And after that we get twelve hours a week off. I will come up as soon as I can, But don’t expect I will be able to get a chance befoure Christmas.

They had a fire drill here Tuesday night. We all had to get up, get out doors as soon as possible. Some fellows just had there under clothes and a pair of rubber boots on.

All the men were lined up on the road. there sure is some bunch, we just got back in bed and asleep when another alarm rang. I don’t mind a fire drill. But I don’t like to get up in the night.

We are not allowed to chew gum here for three weeks and those fellows that smoke sigarrits can not get them here eather so it goes hard for some of them. it is rather hard for me. I used to chew so much gum. And here I can’t get any. how if you get back in Manitowoc and if you have a penny to spare wood you mind sending me one stick. just put one stick in the letter and it won’t be noticed. I will be glad to do as much for you some time. you can get pine apple and you can chew the rest yourself.

I had my picture taken with my uniform on and if there are good, I will send you one. if you want is. it was taken with my camera. i sent them up to Hardtke where I always used to take them.

We see a air ship here every day. it sure goes up high.

I haven’t got much drilling yet. But I got to help scrub, sweep, and sometimes wash dishes. I sent my clothing to the laundry when i got them back half the buttons were off I got buisy and sewed them on. so you see I have to do my own work here now. it wasnt hurt me any. I was guard four hours this morning and three hours this after noon.

I have ritten about all I can think about now. But I want to say that if you get a chance to go too a dance don’t stay at home. But be sure you know who you go with. I want you to have a good time while I am gone. When I come back I will try and show you a better time. I will try and learn to dance then.

Will close for this time. Don’t forget to answer when you get time.

Good-Bye with Love,

And a dozen kisses.

Your Best,

Dan M.

(on bottom of pages “TO THE WRITER: Save by Writing on BOTH sides of the PAPER. TO THE FOLKS AT HOME: Save Food, Buy Liberty BONDS and War Savings STAMPS”)

July 14, 1918

July 15, 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik,

Stangelville,

Wisc.

Route 2

Box #70

(from Great Lakes, Ill... “Great Lakes Receiving Ship”)

(“Army and Navy Young Men’s Christian Association ‘With The Colors’”)

Great Lakes, Ill.

July-14-1918.

Dearest Friend, --

I am getting lonesome for a letter from you. So Don’t wait until you get back to Manitowoc.

There isn’t much too write, only what I have ben doing.

They put me in the kitchen this morning. I had too dish up and help washes. after that we had to scrub the floor. I was in allday. But I like it real well.

This morning we all lined up. About 144 of us and marched down the revine too church. Every goes too church in the navy. No matter who he is.

It is rather hard to write here there is so much noise. But I guess I will make out all right.

They have plenty to do here so we won’t get lonesome. They have ballgames , Shows, Band concerts, churches, drilling, and plenty of work to do. But we like it, Because we have to.

I don’t suppose any thing like that interest you? But there isn’t anything else to write.

I suppose you are having a good time? I hope so any. I suppose you have your haying all done? Have you a pair of overalls? I don’t suppose you are very ancious to go back too Manitowoc? I know you are going to be lonesome there alone. I just wish I could be back there with you again. But it won’t do any good to wish for awhile. Maybe by—Christmas. But I will try and come befoure. I am locked up in this camp for three weeks. in detension so no dezeases will spread. We get three shots in the arm with a needle than some medicine is pumped in. So you know how it feels. Some faint. And don’t come too for five minutes. I only had one shot and that one didn’t bother me any, I sure hope the rest of them don’t feel any worse.

Well I have written so many letters and cards since I came here my arm is getting sore and nothing else to write. So guess I will close for this time.

Hoping you are having a good time. And don’t forget, I sitll love you, and that am waiting every day for a letter. So Good-Bye.

Will try to write more next time.

From your Best—

Co. 377, Barricks 946-W.

Camp Farragut,

Great Lakes, Ill.

July 11, 1918

July 12, 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik,

Stangelville,

Wisc

Route 2.

Box #70

(from Chicago, Ill.... “Canal Station”)

July 11, 1918

Dearest Friend,

I have enlisted in the navy and passed exam-inations o.k. I was in Milwaukee yesterday and came down here last night. got here at nine-o-clock. This sure is some place. I like it here real well so far. I have not had much chance to look around because we were not hardly able to leave the building.

I don’t think I will get much chance to get lonesome here. I wish you would write real often.

There is over 40,000 men here now and still comming. There was about 500 men came in this afternoon. So you see if you don’t for get to write I will be alright.

We will be locked up inside of a barbed wire fence for three week be foure we can get out.

We have not got our uniforms yet but expect them this afternoon.

We were all vaxinated this morning and about ten or fifteen of them fainted. I didn’t mind it at all.

We just got our uniforms, we got four apiece. two white and two blue. Two white caps one flat blue one, one Blue watch cap. one pair of leggings, one pair of shoes, Two towls, one dozen hankerchiefs, 6 pair socks.

Well I guess I will close for this time. Don’t forget to answer as soon as you can. because I am a long from home, and you.

GoodBye-with Love,

Dan Douglas Martin,

Co. 377. Barricks 946-W.

Camp Farrigut,

Great Lakes, Ill.

July 6, 1918

July 7, 1918

Miss Rose Kraynik

Stangelville, Wisc

Route 2 Box #70

(from Manitowoc, Wis)

July 6, 1918

611 Franklin

Manitowoc, Wis

Dearest Frend;

I don’t hardly know what to write but that I promised you I will try and write something. I came home after I left you at the depot. Nothing else to do so I went to bed and slept nearly until noon. In the afternoon I walked around town, until I got tired. Than came home for supper.

Now there is nothing else to do to-night so I guess I will go back to bed. After I mail this letter to you.

I hope that you got home alright. And that you will have a good time. I know that I will not have a good time here with out you. Because I am all alone now. I am going to keep my promice. I would like to hear that you are having a good time. Go with who you like and go too as many dances as you like. But don’t forget me. I am coming back some day and I will want to see you.

There is nothing else to write so will have to close for this time. Do not write until you hear from me again because I expect to be down at the Grate Lakes training station by Mon. or Tues. To I probably will be there before you get this letter.

Hope you will have a good time while I am gone.

Good-Bye

With Love

From

Douglas Martin.