Ft. Sheridan, Ill.
July 27, 1918
Dear Aunt Mabel & all,
Well, I am in the army now for a change and not so very far from you either.
A couple weeks ago I got a letter from the President of our college that he had been requested by the War Dept. to appoint five of the leaders in his college for training camp here. He said that I was one of the men selected and asked me if I would accept. I immediately wired back that I would and as a result I am here.
It is a great life here but we have to work awfully hard. They keep us going 15 hrs. a day. From 5 in the morning until 9 at night, and the only time that we have to ourselves is from 9 to 9:30 when the lights are out and we have to be in our bunks. They are terribly strict here, and their discipline covers the most minute details of our life.
We started out drilling the first day we got here, and we have been drilling and hiking ever since. In fact I am on my feet just about all the time. We are drilling and hiking with rifles and cartridge belts on now and my shoulder is sore from carrying it. When we are not drilling we study, and have lectures by the officers on various phases of military life. Of late we have been working out tactical problems in patrolling and advance guards. We are studying trench war-fare a little bit, but the emphasis has been laid on open war-fare.
Last night 3 fellows in our company got a pass to stay out until 12 o'clock, last night, but they stayed out a little later than that and this morning they were in the guard house. They were the most surprised and scared bunch of fellows that I ever saw. They marched them down our company street, this morning as his (sic) customary, with a guard with a gun behind each one of them, and there was no grin of bravado, or smile of recognition on their face. They looked like three whipped dogs. But you see they are in the army now, and subject to its disipline. (sic) I do not like it and absolutely would not be here if it were not that my country needs me.
We are talked to and treated like dogs by our officers, and they can get away with it. Of course we will be officers ourselves later, but I do not like the system.
With lots of Love
Your Nephew
Jamie
My address is 12th Company, S.A.T.C. Ft. Sheridan, Ill.
James E. Cougdon Jr. in Officers Training Camp. (sic)