Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
January 7, 1918

Dear Blanche,

Your letter received this noon. I thought I
had thanked you for the fruit cake etc. It seems
as though I owe oe letters and guegs I will
never get caught up. That fruit cake sure wagw
good and will be glad to Bet all you can send. I
have been transferred to the First Section and it
has a fine, healthy appetite for cake and fudge.

It is about my trun to treat so how is it by you?

I dont think the other Bassett has gotten any of
my mail that he didnt bring to me. He is about my
age and seems to be a fine feilow. I think if you
make a printed “A" after Co. there will be no mis-
takes as he is in Co. C-6th and a written A may be
mistaken for a C. I like the lst Sevtion better
than the Sth as the latter is the heaguarters radio
Station and moves about less than the ather four,
Which are mule pack stations and see more real action.
in the field. We have the best non-com' officers in
this section and some fine fellows. Our three mules
are therbest behaved, but we got a roughneck bunch of
horses. "Ten" is the only sensible horse in the sec-
tion. He is one peach of a horse alright,but he has
one fault and that is his hard mouth. When we are

on a gallop, I can stand up in my stirrups and lean
back on the reins and he wont notice it; however a
little two-hand sawing will keep him back in line. I
am dippy’ over riding and last Sunday a bugler and I
went out for the afternoon and got caught in a sleet
storm five miles out from the Fort. The wet snow

and sleet froze as it fell forming a glaze of ice
that our smooth-shod horses couldn't keep therfeet
on. We couldn't find a place on or by the road where
they could stand, so after a couple# falls, we had to
dismount and lead. We came to a plank bridge where
we had to sand the path in order: to get Collin's
horse across. It sounds pretty fishy but you wouldnt
think so if you had seen Ten with each of his four
feet skidding in a different direction at the same
time. We got to the stables an hour late and it.took
another hour to rub dry and care for our horses.

 
It sure was storming some when we lit out for the
Cantonments, a mile and a half away. When we got

to the Post Exchange we Caught a Kansas City car

to Leavenworth and got a good supper. There weré

@ bunch of fellows skating on the paved streets

after the storm stopped. Collins and I were a

hard looking vair when we sat down to the table

ijinen but we did justice to a good meal alright.

The Company rode only once this week as the horses
couldnt even walk on the dirt roads in the woods,
They rode this morning though and I guess it wasn't
so bad. I didn't go as seven others and I went up

to the Army Service School War College) to enroll

in the gas-engine class. It is a pretty sure thing
that the Company will be motorized like the 410th
Telegraph Bn. They have cycle-cars, a couple autos,
and a lot of big Quad trucks. I go # to the class
between 8 and 10 A. M. when the Company grooms the
horses. I dont know how long it will last and dont
feel very enthusiastic about it anyway. This morning
the Captain at the College said that nearly all the
Technical field organizations of the Army would be
motorized soon.™ Our horses will probably be turned
over to officers after we get them fixed up in good:
Shape. Some system. I should worry how it goes but
I like our horses mighty well. We sure do have great
times. Our new saddles are fine ,too,and mine just
fits Tem and I. The Company sure does look good too,
when we go out for mounted drill. We have been doing
more practical field work lately.

We are pretty sure to move South This month so
the weather will not hinder outside drill so month.
It takes an awful lot of coal to keep these Cantonments.
going. The 410th Bn went to Teas. Well I think I
better hit my little straw bunk. Dont Forget that
fruit cake; it makes a real hit here. Thanks.