Headquarters Co.
Bn. 5. Reg.2. F.A.R.D.
Camp Taylor, Ky.
9/28/18
H.E. Cole
Baraboo, Wis.
My Dear Friends, I have not written you for a long time and no doubt some of your readers think that I have already gone across. I have only been transferred to another part of the camp from the infantry to the light artillery. You will notice F.A.R.D. in the address meaning "field artillery replacement depot." The purpose of this organization is to replace casualty lists overseas or to fill up companies in any camps. Perhaps the readers are as glad to hear of our last experiences as they were to listen to the first.
On Sunday, August 18, we received our last shot and shortly after we returned to our barracks, we were called out – most of the company to be transferred from our original 33rd Co. to Field Artillery Sixteen of our Sauk County's twenty-two were included in the call. We soon had our issued articles ready for inspection and on our way to our new home. After a short hike we were asked to display our goods again to see whether we had lost anything from our barracks bags and suitcase. From there our baggage was taken by truck and two of us were taken on board to see that nothing fell off. I was feeling pretty miserable from the effects of the shot and the that that I had to move made things look bluer than ever to me. We soon reached our barracks which is about three miles from the 33rd Co. area. The lieutenant chose me as acting non-commissioned officer to take charge of the one hundred fifty men so that they got their bunks placed and ready for dinner. At retreat in the evening I was called out to the the office of first sergeant which I declined on the ground that I was not enough familiar with army life. I was excused but instead got the work section chief or assistant sergeant to take care of sixteen men. This lasted but for a short time.
After a week had passed, the lieutenant sent me to a mess sergeant school and at once I got an appointment into regular sergeant work in the mess hall. My first duties were to take the inventory of the stock and to get the books started. I working with me two graduates of the cook and baker school and under my supervision fourteen cooks and twelve K.P's or kitchen police ( men whose duty it is to work in the kitchen for one day at a time unless put in for a longer time as a punishment. It is my duty to make out the bill of fares, have charge of the mess hall inside and out, order the groceries and keep a record of the materials used and on hand. I have taken great pains to make my stock sheet perfect. I made all in mechanical drawing letters and figures. I haven't seen any others but the major has said that my records are the best in the regiment.
I am going to give you a sample of a bill of fare to show you that we feed and are fed.
Supper: beef pot pie, brown potatoes, lima beans, canned pineapple, bread, butter and hot cocoa.
Breakfast: stewed prunes, oatmeal, milk, sausage, American fried potatoes, bread and coffee.
Dinner: vegetable soup, croutons, pork roast, American pickled cabbage, boiled potatoes, stewed tomatoes, cherry cobbler, relish, bread, buns, butter and ice tea.
Before I went into the mess work my kitchen was rated 76% and the lowest in the regiment; now the grade is 93 ½% and ranks second.
I have told all I believe but about the meal hour. There are 250 to feed and they surely are hungry. We put everything on the tables and then have the fellows go to it. I am to preserve order - anything but order – everybody hungry – everybody starving and yet they are well and gaining weight. I fell right at home – the work is very much like teaching – always so much to worry about.
So much for what I am doing. My work is so different from the rest that I shall tell you briefly what the company is doing. There are many transfers each day so that our bunch is dwindling away. The rumor is that we will all be gone in the next few days – all of us cooks and mess sergeants to go across. One can not place any stress upon all he hears. The men are taking physical exercises, foot drill and now are working with light machine guns and horses. I don't get to see much of the work but I know the boys are kept busy.
We have all been in quarantine since Labor Day for spinal meningitis and measles. There were no deaths and the patients are slowly returning to duty. No one from Sauk County has taken sick.
We got our first month's pay last week and expect the second next week. We have each gotten an extra blanket and have had our measurements taken for our winter clothes.
I believe the weather here is much like it is in Wisconsin. Quite cool days and very chilly nights – no frost as yet.
I have just received a notice to prepare for an overseas examination as mess sergeant Monday morning. There are four of us to be examined and if we pass, I believe we'll be ready within a few days to leave for the east. There is a call for mess sergeants and cooks for immediate service. While this order mat not be filled at once, we know that we are not to stay here very long for we are to be ready for service by the end of the month.
The deadly Spanish influenza has surely gotten away in our camp. We have examination for the disease each day and each day some are taken to the hospital. While the disease is known to be severe, yet our soldiers seem to have it very mild.
Perhaps this is enough of my rehashed war dope. I shall come again soon.
Sgt. Ernest A. Weinke
Editor,
Take all or extracts of the above for your paper. Your "News" greets me daily as usual. E.A.W.
