June 6, 1918
Ft. Riley, Kansas

Dear Mother and all,

How is everybody existing at home? I am getting along first rate, drilling hard every day, and learning just as fast as any of the others, I think. It has been awfully hot here today, but they rest us at short intervals. I guess we walked some fifteen or twenty miles today. I just now got back from mess and had a pretty fair supper - Iced tea, spuds, beef boil, hominy, and gravy with a heel of bread. If the first round at the supper isn't enough, you just fall in on the end of the line and pass through again.

They suddenly took a notion that we should take a two mile hike over to the fighting ring and see some good fighting and wrestling matches last night. It is compulsory that everyone attends. Got back just in time for taps, for the lights all out. It is a slow drizzling rain this morning, so I don't know whether we will drill or not. Our officers have not returned from mess yet. We are drilling in blue overalls and jumpers now, saving the khaki for a little later.

I saw Elmer yesterday. He looks pretty good in uniform, though I think he is a little homesick. I see some of the boys about every day. It won't be so bad in another week, after our other shot of syrum. We get from under the quarantine. Then we can get a pass to town, which is about three miles from here. Junction City. Just a little burg, I think. We are about 80 miles west of Topeka.

Well, Mother, I will have to close for the time being, but will write again soon. With all the love in the world to you and the others,

Your son,

Charles L.

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