Ernest McKeighan letter to Wife - September 2, 1917
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Fort Sill [Oklahoma] [September] 2nd 1917 Dearest Girl Today and tomorrow are holidays and we do no drilling, nothing except fatigue (meaning work) duty, the [Missouri] Eng play ball tomorrow with the Kansas Eng and the boys are all overjoyed at the prospect of a little play. Some of the Officers took a ride yesterday to a place about 8 miles N.E. of camp, called Medicine Park, in the [Wichita Mountains], there is a lake there and the ones who went say that they have little 4 room Cottages, (stone) for rent, furnished for 8.00 per week, It seems that while you are here it would be nice if you could go there for a week or two. You speak of the possibility that you would not like the arraingement, with Mrs Capt Hedrick. There is no nessessity of your entering into this arraingement should you not desire, as you and she can each do their own work
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[page 2] but owing to the fact of our having to buy some household things, which at best will be for temporary use only, and Capt H and I being of one mind, namely that we should all conserve our resources, and as I have found him to a congenial gentleman and assume his wife to be equal or better, it seems to us that the arraingement spoken of would be most likely to please our loved ones. We both want to please you however, and would suggest that you call on or phone Mrs H and get together on your thoughts, whatever you decide will meet with our approbation. Mrs H lives at 436 West 35th St and her phone is Home South 493. No Dear! I haven
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[page 3] side, Others, the better informed ones, do not see (and I quite agree with them) how it is humanly possible to get the men here, train and equip, them and shoot them across. I rather think we will go from here to some other post and there train some more, my main reason for that belief being that the General
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[page 4] I understand that Congress has already or will soon pass a quarters allowance as well as the Gov
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[page 5] I talked to the Prop. of the Midland Hotel today and he says that they are full, with no prospect of relief, but should you not like the place taken, he might be able to squese you in somewhere. Yes there is electricity in the house and it is the same current as ours, so you can bring your iron and grill. You can buy that weather strip at Bunting Store Hdw Co and they will put it on or at Jones store probably. Can you not get that stonemason who had the wheelbarrow in our shed, for the hole in the foundation? What did Mr Welsh say? Be sure to see Greig, you may find him in the Reserve Bank Bldg at S.E. 10th & Main. You might also see another personal friend of mine Mr Fletcher Cowherd in the
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[page 6] Grand Ave Temple Bldg. Have you heard from U.S. Engineering Co yet in regard to the tools? If you do not within the week, call them up. I wanted them to dig up $75.00 They had offered $54.00 and if they will not pay more, let them have them no, those tools against the coal bin are not to go with the others at bench. As far us packing the other tools is concerned, believe this is a good time to get rid of some of them. Before you pack up, that is if you fail to rent furnished, get Lewis to come out and pick out the strictly Plumbers tools and take possession, to try to sell for me let him use his own judgement as to price. As far as this love thing is concerned, you have nothing on me, as I dream of you and baby Lou almost constantly
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[page 7] Yes, Dear! I have recovered from my first shots - notice this
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[page 8] the rank and pay of Captains and on the battle field The Captain is expected to be way back behind the line in a
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[page 9] to continue to have that pleasure. Yes, Capt Palmer is a Major now and if he is assigned here you may expect me to Transfer or be home, do you get it? Yes it is quite true that we are at liberty to go to town at night but not at 7 pm as the lectures and schools last til about 9 PM and you know we have to have that education, besides we have to be back at 5 AM next AM and we can not do good work and lose so much sleep. I want to go up as rapidly as possible both from the stand point of ambition and safety, the higher you go the more safe you are. Don
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[page 10] This is rough country and what they will need is kacke clothes and riding tags, maybe. About the deposit vault, I think if you will go through the papers in said box, you will find a receipt if not, pay when my salary comes and forget it. How are you getting along as regards money if you are pinched let me know as I can borrow here. Everybody helps his friends here. They, except
Details
| Title | Ernest McKeighan letter to Wife - September 2, 1917 |
| Creator | McKeighan, Ernest |
| Source | McKeighan, Ernest. Letter to Wife. 02 September 1917. Ernest E. McKeighan Papers. 2005.14. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Ernest McKeighan sent this letter to his wife from Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma. McKeighan discussed some of his daily activities in camp, his pay as an officer, and making arrangements for a visit from his family. McKeighan served as part of Company E, 110th Engineers, 35th Division during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Camp Doniphan (Okla.); United States. Army. Division, 35th; United States. Army--Sports; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; Love-letters |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | 2005.14 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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. |
| Date Original | September 2, 1917 |
| Language | English |