Camp Willis, O,
Aug 9, 1916
Dear Dad -
At last I have a few minutes to myself. We drilled about 7 1/2 hr. today, which included about a 6 mile hike.
They are getting as strict as the devil around here now, we cannot leave camp to go to town anymore without a pass.
The Provost Guard stationed in the business section of the city are all armed with 35 rounds of ball-shot. This was done because of the trouble the rough-necks of the Infantry made when they went to the city. The guard is about 150 strong.
They court-martialed our 1st class private and our serg't, who took a "French Leave" of three days, this morning, the serg't was fined 6 days pay ($7.20) and confined to Co. street for 2 weeks, the 1st class private got 5 days fine ($3.00) and 5 days at hard labor at the 4th Reg. Guard house.
They draw 4 names a day for 48 hr. furloughs, if I am lucky I may get a chance to come home before we leave. I still have 60 cents and the fare is only $4.90 round trip. They keep telling us that pay day is not far off, they have been telling us that for the last 3 weeks. I don't know whether there is $5.00 in camp or not, besides some change needed for street-car fare and Beach fare, but if I get a furlough I will try to manage to make is some way or other.
I got a letter from Lamont's girl yesterday, she thinks that it is awful because Lamont can't come home whenever he takes a notion to do so.
I haven't heard from Leona since a week ago Tues., don't know whether or not she is back in Toledo yet.
I got a letter from cous. Anna Souder yesterday, she did not know to what Co. I belonged and the letter was sent to the 3rd. Reg., then to the 5th Reg., then to the 1st, 2nd., and 3rd. Field Hospitals, then to the 1st Amb. It was everywhere except the Signal Corps, and the Calvary & Battery.
Everything is about the same in camp, two of the fellows who took French Leave Sunday have not returned yet.
Got a letter from Clarence Forman today, telling me he had been married 3 months and wouldn't change place with a single man for the world.
I feel better every day.
Love to all
Howard
The above image is from the Upper Arlington Archives, depicting the Post Office that bungled the delivery of Howard's letter from Anna Souder. Anna was the daughter of Howard's Aunt Ellen, his father's sister.
Howard's daily schedule likely was as follows, which was reported by a correspondent with the Kenton newspaper at the time:
As Howard alludes to, his company was one of the State Medical Units - the 1st Ambulance Company which hailed from Toledo. According to Cole Kingseed's thesis, pay at the camp ranged from $16.67 per day for general officers to $4.72 for second lieutenants to $1 for sergeants. Howard was only a private at the time, so he would have earned 60 cents per day.
Howard's daily schedule likely was as follows, which was reported by a correspondent with the Kenton newspaper at the time:
Morning the first call is made at 5:30, the assembly is at 5:45, and mess at 6:15. The troops drill from 7:40 until 11:00. Mess is at 12:00, and drill begins at 1:30 and continues until 4:15.
Guard mounting call is at 4:40 and assembly is at 4:50. Mess is at 6:00. The men have the evenings, but the call to quarters is at 9:45 and taps at 10:00.
As Howard alludes to, his company was one of the State Medical Units - the 1st Ambulance Company which hailed from Toledo. According to Cole Kingseed's thesis, pay at the camp ranged from $16.67 per day for general officers to $4.72 for second lieutenants to $1 for sergeants. Howard was only a private at the time, so he would have earned 60 cents per day.
This is the first mention of Leona, my great-grandmother. She and Howard were married in late summer 1920. Thus far, it is unknown whether they were engaged before Howard left. Leona was a nurse, so she likely would have had much in common with Howard in the ambulance unit.
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