Friends from the Ammunition Train

Camp Sheridan

Montgomery, Ala.

Oct. 29, 1917

My Dear Dad - 

Yours of the 26th rec. with the buttons. Well you people are not the only ones who have rain. It rained here just about all day, for about an hour. I never saw it rain so hard in all of my life. Then just about supper time the sun came out and it cleared up very nicely. Immediately after supper it started again, and believe me it sure poured. It has cleared up again now & the moon is shining brightly.

Everything is fine and dandy here. They started on their 16 weeks intensive training today. Believe me they have sure issued some drill schedule for the 16 wks. It is just about 6 times as hard as the one we had at the border. I do not think it will affect me to any extent, as my time is practically all taken. Did I tell you that I work nights also? Beside all my other duties, I have to take some "sick reports" over the Dir. Surgeon's Office every night at 7:00. I always have to work Sundays as there is one delivery of mail and the Gen. orders & reports come & go as usual.

Arthur Madden came over & had supper with me last evening. You know he is here with the Ammunition Truck Train. Harold Madden is in France, with the Seattle, Wash, Engineers N.D. 

Well. I must write Leona & Jim so will close. Feeling fine.

Love to All

Howard

Arthur Madden belonged to the 112th Ammunition Train, as part of the 37th "Buckeye" division at Camp Sheridan. Howard's and Arthur's units were both part of the 112th Train Headquarters and Military Police. They would have remained together through training in Alabama and into Camp Lee, Virginia. On June 11, 1918, the 37th was broken up. Some went to Hoboken, NJ and others were sent to Newport News, Virginia, before they were sent overseas to France. I won't reveal which one Howard was sent to just yet - wouldn't want a spoiler alert! Once in France, Arthur's ammunition train would have been broken off again with the field artillery brigade to Camp-de-Souge, France for a training course in firing French 105-MM. and 155-MM. cannon. (Doughboy Center).