George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - December 4, 1917
Transcript
[page 1] Ayer, [Massachusetts] [December] 4 1917 Dear Folks Having finished my washing I have nothing more to do this evening but write a few letters. Several things have happened which I thought would be of interest. First: Do not send the drawing material I asked for yesterday. If you have already mailed them alright. The Lieutenant gave orders that we could take nothing of our own as the government would supply everything we needed. Second: the appointments for the first hundred men, who are to leave the end of this week, were made. Sargeant, corporals, and privates were the only three divisions. Herbert, and Simpson are classed privates and others of even less training givin the higher commissions. I was not on the list which means that
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[page 2] I have not been classified as yet and will not go with the first hundred. Sorry to be separated from Herbert and Simpson. From all indications the second hundred will not leave until the end of the year. If this is the case you can be sure that I spend Christmas in New York City, possibly with the Pancani’s or some of the people I met in Mine La Motte this summer. (However do not slacken on the material “kit” I have asked for, because if we are called I must leave at once.) This army life is a funny business. A man is judged by his ability in the ranks, how he marches and holds a gun, etc. I have noticed that the appointments just made were done for a good part in this way. An ignorant clerk is a sargeant one Ray Herbert. But a private has nothing to say in
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[page 3] [sketch of soldier with signal flags] the army. All morning we practiced the semaphore system of signaling. It is interesting to see how they signal from hill to hill by the position of these flags. In the afternoon we each got a wooden gun and went through the manual of arms. Suppose everything at home is as usual (Everybody living in the kitchen). See that all those books are well protected. Especially the ones in my room which will blacken with the soot of the gas stove. Wish you wouldn’t write so many letters as I can hardly find time to read them all. Sincerely George
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - December 4, 1917 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Folks. 4 December 1917. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote to his parents from Ayers, Massachuttes on December 4, 1917 while at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. Maguolo was in the 419th Depot Detachment, 25th Engineers and served in the 29th Engineers in France until 1919. In this letter he described how rank was designated in the Army and how it was based on skills instead of knowledge. He also discussed the training he was completing while at camp which included the semaphore system of signaling. Maguolo also said that the first 100 soldiers from his unit had been selected to go to Europe and that he would not be going with this group. This letter was written on Y.M.C.A. letterhead. |
| Subject LCSH | Camp Devens (Mass.); World War, 1914-1918 |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A0969 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | December 4, 1917 |
| Language | English |