Lawton, Okla.
Feb. 1, 1918
Dear Bess:
I have your letter today and I sure am glad to get it. As I have told you, the day is always bright and fine when your letter comes. We are working as usual. I have a regular schedule. From eight to eight-thirty I teach physical exercise (it is to laugh), from nine to nine-fifty I teach communication, semaphore, buzzer, and wigwag. Had to learn the international code in one evening to do it. In the afternoon I teach foot movements of artillery, and then more communication. Every lieutenant has a definite thing to do at every hour and he's got to be on deck or something drops on him. In addition to my regular drill periods I have to see that every man in Battery F has all the clothes he is entitled to and that he wears them. Also they reopened my canteen because it is solvent. That has to be run. I don't have very much to do, no not very. Every day we have a regular officer's school on how to fire a battery, and Saturday a written exam on the week's work. Talk about efficiency. Edgar, that bird didn't know the meaning of the word. I am of the opinion that Danford coined the word and its definition. Anyway he knows how to put it into practice. With it all everyone is crazy about him. The men, the officers and the cooks, the prisoners and the stable police all think he's just exactly right. He is. He's made a study of artillery and organization and he can do practically what he's named theoretically. Some of us can't do that.
I had a letter from Col Klemm yesterday. He sent me a check for his canteen account and told me that he would see me in a few days. I guess he is going to come up here to the school of fire. That's where all N.G. Cols have to go after they are done with the San Antonio School.
If we don't all have nervous prostration or fall into the hands of the nut doctor as a result of our mental and physical labors I am of the opinion that single handed and alone this division will march straight through the Huns and Russia and back again. We are making some shooting sons of guns.
I'd like very much to have been at Miss Elizabeth's wedding. I know it was a grand affair if you had anything to do with the arrangements. Couldn't be any other way. Hope she lives happily ever after and that the Germans haven't made any bullets for the man. I know they haven't made any for me. We have had two blizzards since I wrote you before but today is a fine day. Just about zero and sunshiny and no wind. I am hoping we have some warm weather very soon now. The natives say we have spring in February but they are such liars I don't put any faith in what they say. I am writing this at noon. The bugle has blown and I have to run.
I wish we'd have the nerve to beat Lib to it. We'll know better next time.
Yours always, Harry