Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 43, 1920 (part 2 of 2)

The last move was a big one. and I hojie that Fm not included in the forces. However, we're fully e<|ui|)ped an<l with a full roster once more and ready to move at any minute and moving a battalion in France doesn't require lh(> time that we wia-e used to in the States. We also hoiie that our next move will be toward the coast and aboard a boat heailed west. Since the war is over, the country doesn't appeal to very many, and they want to move at an>- nunute. the sonner the better. In fact, I have a bet that we'll be in the States by Christmas. That's presmning a good deal, but I still have a good deal of time to start the journey.

If we do get home, that means the U. S., it will jirobahly be some time later before we get turned loose to do as we please without having to hot-foot e\ery time we lu>ar a bugle. They don't bother me a great deal, for in fact I'm so used to them now that usually I am awake before they start calling.

The Elks of this area had a meeting th.e oth. a- night to se.> if w.' e.)iil.l hav.' a so.aal session and get together some time soon. Wr app.nnte.l a ami 1 .l.m I know what th..y will do about it. Probably not much, as th.av's no plac aroun.l laav t<i liave any big bl,,w-.,ut. Th.ac are a lot of th..^ b..ys ar..un.l. an.l ..ut of hfty at th.' meeting, aliout thirty-tive states were represented. I hop.' to tak.' in a Masoni.' nieetuig betore leaving here, if I get the opportunity, but that will not niattia- so much, for there'll be |ilenty of chance for that after I get to the states.

I was at a Keconnaissan.'e S.-hool tor a couple of weeks. That was siuvly a .-otirse of intensive training. They gave us everything from pickuig billets bir tro<ip to airplane photos, and we were supposed to adjust ourselves in that short time, to all tliese conditions that have taken years to develop. One thing about it. ami that is, I got a lot of information that would have taken a lifetime any other way. It's v.ay interesting work ands one fine thing to be doing with any sort of :i unit. In thai work y.)u s.'e the wh.ile thing before anybody else gets a l..ok. ami b.'sid.'s, y.m ar.' su])i)osed i.> pi.'k out bill. 'is, camps, detraining points, etc., ami arrange for e\-eiythiiig befor.' tli.' outfit I'om.'s up. That s what makes it so interesting.

For the last two weeks we've ha.l som.' of the most beautiful weath.'r you ever saw. This morning .startinl out th.' same way, but ali>iig towar.l n.i.in it .'I.hkI.'.I u|i and lias rained ever since. One funny thing ab.)ut this country is that if a cloud c.iim's ov.'r. it's a stin' bet that it will rain.

Some packages have been coming in from the Stat. 's, most of the m .-oniaining I'andy and chocolate. That's what is nee.le.l mostly. Tobacco is very iileniiful li.'re, aii<l I'igarettes are costing about half of what th.'y .lo m the States, due to the fact that there is no tax on them. It makes it a lot I ett.'r, for money isn't so very plentiful around here, and pay day is rather an uncertainty. It's a good thing that the government put a ban on sending smokes, for there are plenty of them around here for ever,\bo(h-. AiKithcr sure thing that the boys go after is jam, and if the people at home are wise, tli.'>' U have plenty of jam ready when they all get home and shove their feet untlcr the table.

I must close for this time and am wishing all of you a merry Christmas an.l a very happy New Year. Letters get here pretty regularly. Your son,