George J. Maguolo letter to Mama - December 10, 1917
Transcript
Camp Devens [December]10, [1917] Dear Mama – Received the kit yesterday and was very much pleased with it. Certainly it is just the thing to keep all the toilet articles together. After I had placed all of the toilet articles in it, the roll is about six inches in diameter. The kit now includes - two combs, two tooth brushes in a nickel case, hair brush, soap box, tooth-paste, vasaline in tube, scissors, nail file, face cloths (made special for me), shaving soap, talc, mirror, raisor and blade cases, in one pocket hope to place a sewing kit promised me and in the other a first aid kit. Can hardly see how I managed to get along with out it now. It is getting very cold up here. Yesterday morning they said the thermometer stood six below zero.
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Our drills are also getting longer and more difficult every day. Believe me it is hard work to march through six or eight inches of snow all day long with the wind whistleing as I never experienced before. At times I feel like giving up but every body does it so why should I kick. Now that Ray and I are separated it is rather lonesome among strangers. We (remaining) now form a new company entirely independent from them. Believe I told you part of our company is quarantined for the measels. This means a delay of two weeks at least. In a way I envy them because they are in the warm barracks all day. It seems folish that we should continue drilling this way when our real work will probably always be inside, but they say we must be in perfect physical condition and ready for an emergency. I certainly will be glad when we get an order to move because the
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French officers here say it is not so cold in France. From recent news however we may got to Italy. This would please me more. You know of the recent declaration of war upon Austria. This means that the U.S. will do something on the Italian front. I have high hopes of getting somewhere should they do this. Of the hundred men who have been chosen, there are a bunch of clerks and stenographers who certainly get in on their nerve. I believe a clerk is the nervest person on earth. Can’t see why they left me out but its all in war. A private can never open his mouth. The best thing he can do is to obey his officers (supervisor?) or he gets into trouble. Believe me it is certainly hard to
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have to obey some boob, who probably was a stenographer, and who gives you a command that you know is wrong and will have to be repeated. Have learned to swallow all of this and more with out a grumble. There are many others in my conditions and we hope to show up these would be officers when it comes to getting out actual Engineering and Architectural work. For the time we can do nothing but drill on patiently and wait for the best. But this concilation we have, that it is not very likely that we do any trench fighting. Well lets hear from you. Sincerely yours - George
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Mama - December 10, 1917 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Mama. 10 December 1917. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote to his Mother from Ayers, Massachuttes on December 10, 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 explained that it was below zero outside and that they were drilling in six inches of snow. 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 10, 1917 |
| Language | English |