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”)