Walter G. Shaw letter to Lizzette W. Shaw - May 14, 1917
Transcript
Douglas [Arizona] 5/14/17 Dear Ma : - I recd your letter was glad to hear from you We are having beautiful weather. I played for the enlisted Mens dance [Saturday] night each soldier had himself a seniorta they are good looking the dance hall is in the camp. the whole brass band played they have 6 clarinets and all the brass instruments of course I will send Langstons horn to him as soon as possible the boy that was using it was transfered away from here I dont know where but will find out from head quarters
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[Page 2] as soon as I find out I Will have him send it home he can get a gov instrument but they are not so good he wanted to buy the horn first of course if Langston Dosent want to sell it he will get it back. there is going to be 25,000 troops here by fall this is a training Camp they will be trained here then sent over to the trenches in the spring or about [January]. I wrote Kinbals a letter I can not pay them anything for a month I havent got last months pay yet the pay is so far behind on acct of so many new men coming I am glad I was not drafted in I shure would have if I had stayed
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[Page 3] out I think this would have ben a bad summer to play every thing is so high I had a letter from Pearl she is shure I will never get back alive. I guess I will I may never leave the U.S. as the band has to play prades and gaurd mounts for the new soldiers. Of course some bands will go to Europe they will be mostly new ones I might get transfered I dont know : we played for a funeral last Friday one of the recruits that came down with me he died With the measels I think the band marched behind the gun carrige for about 10 blocks to the Depot playing funeral marches the Baritone saxophone sounded very
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[Page 4] Weird. some of the Mexican Ninios (children) cried I guess they dident like the minor key I had a chance to play down town in a theatre but a late order from Washington prohibits any One from playing out side. I had to help put one of the boys in the mill [Saturday] night he got some home made whiskey he go 30 days in the gaurd house and a $75 fine so it pays to be straight and you will get along O.K. You needent be afraid I got in any Mishief It alby I only told them hello I was there just ½ hr I must close this time Your Walter
Details
| Title | Walter G. Shaw letter to Lizzette W. Shaw - May 14, 1917 |
| Creator | Shaw, Walter Gray |
| Source | Shaw, Walter G. Letter to Lizzette W. Shaw. 14 May 1917. Walter Gray Shaw Collection, 1917-1919. 1982.83.31. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In a letter written by Walter G. Shaw on May 14, 1917 in Douglas, Arizona, to his mother, Lizzette W. Shaw, Shaw wrote about the band playing for various occassions including a dance and a funeral. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st; World War, 1914-1918--Music and the war |
| Site Accession Number | 1982.83.31 |
| 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 | May 14, 1917 |
| Language | English |