Last Parcels from Camp Sheridan - 5/20/1918

Camp Sheridan

Montgomery, Ala.

May 20, 18

My Dear Mother: - 

Well, we are completed loaded, our individual baggage & everything. 

We will leave tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M. if the coaches come in . If not we will leave Wednesday. 

I have Elmer Calisch a pair of cotton trousers, a hat, pair of leggins, & two medical books to send home. 

Also I am enclosing some pictures, I am sending Leona a print of each.

I rec. Dad's letter with the $10 O.K. It will come in very useful. I am very much obliged and the package of stationery arrived O.K. 

E. Calisch will send the things I have him before he leaves, to S.M. Jones Co. via Express collect & his folks will send for the articles which belong to him. 

Well I must close & drop Leona a few lines. I rec. a dandy letter from her yesterday. 

Feeling fine & dandy

Love to All

Howard

The above undated photo is from Camp Funston, Kansas, but it gives you an idea of what Howard and his buddies might have looked like sending out all of their extra gear as they prepared to take one step closer to the front. 

Just a few weeks before this letter, the U.S. started the Military Postal Express Service, which might have been what Howard used to send his and Elmer's things back home. This allowed soldiers to send mail for free or gave their parents the wonderful gift of paying for it when it returned home.