Title

"Writes of Soldiers' Life at Camp Pike," Conway Log Cabin Democrat, June 11, 1918

Creator

Files

Date Original

1918 June 11

Description

Newspaper article featuring a letter from Benjamin F. Clark to his family discussing life at Camp Pike.

Transcription

WRITES OF SOLDIERS'
LIFE AT CAM [sic] PIKE
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
If you will allow me a little space
in your valuable paper, I will take
this means to give my friends in
Faulkner County some idea of the life
of one of Uncle Sam's soldiers.
I have been in the service six
weeks and have been transferred
three times on 10 minutes' notice.
Of the 15 men who left Conway
April 26, two of us were placed on
special duty; Will Simmons in the
postoffice, and I as scoring clerk for
the psychological board. Simmons is
now in the hospital and the other 13
have been sent to Georgia.
I expect soon to be placed in the
medical deparment adn assigned to
this work. This psychological board
has given examinations to all the of-
ficers of the 27th division, also to the
men now in the officers training camp
at Camp Pike. It is the purpose of
this board to examine all men coming
in the present draft, with a view of
placing the men in the branch of ser-
vice in which they are best fitted to
serve.
The first few days in service are
the hardest ones for the new recruit,
because he is just away from home
and under quarantine and is also
vaccinated and given three shots for
typhoid at intervals of one week after
which the are better able physically
to do the seven hours of work each
day.
The soldier is furnished good quar-
ters, which are kept strictly sanitary.
Carpenters are now at work screen-
ing every window and entrance to
barracks from flies and mosquitoes.
We are given plenty of wholesome
food three times a day, and have many
of the conveniences found in a mod-
ern city. The only thing that is par-
ticularly lacking is good society.
Since this war call has visited near-
ly every home in the land, our people
are realizing more and more that the
soldier is a man - a human, like them-
selves, and with their liberal contribu-
tions have made it possible for the Y.
M.C.A. to furnish an abundance of
wholesome entertainment.
I was glad indeed to know that our
county and especially my township,
Benton, went so far over the top in
the sale of liberty bonds, war savings
stamps, thrift stamps and Red Cross
funds.
We have half holidays on Wednes-
day and Saturday afternoon, and all
day Sunday. This time is usually
spent, playing games attending reli-
gious services or visiting.
Airplanes come over from Lonoke
every few days, but I have only seen
two. It is interesting to see them
do their stunts in the air. I have had
several interesting letters from my
students at Vilonia, whom I left two
weeks before school was out. I cer-
tainly appreciate them and will be
glad to hear from any of my friends
in Faulkner county.
Hoping this may be of interest to
those who read it, I am yours for
canning the Kaiser.
Benjamin F. Clark,
30th Co., 8th Tr. Br., Camp Pike
June 8, 1918

Physical Description

Microfilm

Subjects

World War I, 1914-1918

Contributor

Conway Log Cabin Democrat

Geographical Area

Camp Pike, North Little Rock, Pulaski County (Ark.)

Language

English

Identifier

MFILM NEWS 000106 Roll 007

Collection

Newspaper microfilm collection

Publisher

Arkansas State Archives

Contributing Entity

Arkansas State Archives

Recommended Citation

"Writes of Soldiers' Life at Camp Pike," Conway Log Cabin Democrat, June 11, 1918, Newspaper microfilm collection, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rights

Use and reproduction of this lesson plan supplemental material for instructional purposes is allowed without prior written permission. For further information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

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