[October 9, 1917]
Dear Bess:
This is one more grand day. Two letters from you and two from home. I slipped up again yesterday on writing you but there was such a terrific dust storm blowing that it was impossible to see your hand before you hardly. Our tent and all our trunks were full of dust. The table that I am writing on was covered to the thickness of a sheet of this paper. The wind blew a gale from the north all day and until about seven o'clock this morning. All of our horse pens are directly north of camp and you can imagine the grand amount of dust 14 or 1500 horses can stir up. It rained about five o'clock this morning just about enough to settle the dust. It was sure enough cold and is still. The wind is not blowing much and what little there is is from the northwest. Some of the boys are sure sick of Army life. I think the most of them expected to on one long picnic at the government expense. When they find that it's work from 5:45 A.M. until 6 P.M. it's not so funny. I am still having one grand time with my canteen. It is almost impossible to obtain stuff. Business is so good that I run out almost as fast as things come in.
I suppose you are having that picture made? I am looking for it. You must be having a grand time with all the company you are having. I am pleased that Mrs. Wells wanted to be remembered to me. You tell her the same. I am officer of the day today went on at 5:00 p.m. and will be on until 5 P.M. tomorrow. It is a real job down here. We have to stand out in front of the regiment and have each Captain report "Sir A Bty present" or accounted for and B, C, D, E, F, etc. and then go to the Colonel and tell him "Sir, the Regiment is present or accounted for." When I said that him he said "Alright, go put them to bed." I have to stay on the job until 1 A.M. and then wake up all the Battery Commanders and give them Col. Klemm's compliments and instruct them to get up and visit their horses. Won't they swear when they have to crawl out of a warm bed and go picking out to see how a lot of old plugs are faring? I am going to see those horses about three times between now and morning. I haven't a suggestion as yet to get home on but I think I have a grand one brewing. I think it will work too.
You can see that my good stationery is gone. This came out of the canteen. You've no idea how bright the days are when your letters come. We work like the dickens all the time but it still kind of lonesome.
Most sincerely,
Harry