Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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Vei ' y little happens to upset the monotony of our daily routine, and since John McCarthy saw you when he was in Baltimore, I know you must be well informed as to what we have been doing. Everyone was quite ex- cited over well grounded rumors that we would leave here for an embarkation point early in January, but the latest reports have cast a shadow over our high spirits. Latest reports are that ve have been transferred from the third to the fourth Army corps and our trip across the pond shall be delayed. I feel quite ashamed of my last letter to you, for I feel it was quite abrupt. At the time of my last writing 1 was not feeling 1113 very best phj ' sically and had quite a case of the blues. At present, however, I am enjoying best of health and am very interested in the training we arc getting. Let me close by wishing Father Ennis, 3a)ursclf and the Faculty the very best of health during the coming j ear, with the request that 3 011 remember me sometime in 3mur pra3 ers. J. Murray Sweenea. .lOSEPII SKUKNTNY Hospital Corps (France Camp McCeeli.an, Ala. Perhaps you think that I have forgotten Lo3a)la, hut not so. Just about the time 3 11 sent me 3H)ur letter I was transferred to Company “A,” noth Machine Gun Battalion, where a good 1110113 Lo3 ola ho3 ' s arc together. Because of the transfer there was some dehn and confusion with my mail, and I did not receive 3a)ur letter until quite late. It is rather ditlicult for me to describe Anniston, or rather. Camp McClellan. We are completcK’ surrounded by hills and small moun- tains which, of course, are vciw picturesque. 31

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])ast our honu ' folks vho braved tlie cold weather lo see us. 1 was ))roud and ha|)i)y to be wearing good old Uncle Sam ' s uniform, and |)arading in his cause. It was (jiiile a hike, that in Ballimore, to us rookies, and we needed very little rocking to go lo sleej) on our return that night, after i)artaking of Ihe “mess” our Mess Sergeant liad j)re- j)ared for us during our aljsenee. At tile Training Seliool for Oflieers we liave lieen working quite strenuously the past three months, hut it has been for a great goal, and one worthy of our best efforts. Those of us who are successful or fortunate in being eommissioned can proudly say they have earned it, while those who are less fortunate can say “work well done,” and need not he discouraged or disheartened, though of course, we will feel keenly the disaj)])ointment. I am hoping and praying that I shall he successful, for nothing would jilease me better in this life than to he an otticer in charge of good American lads to lead against the Kaiser and his brutal hordes. I met Keating and Corcoran shortly before they left for the South, and had quite a little chat with them. I also accidentally met J. Joyce some time ago in Baltimore. He had just received his commission. I had a very enjoyable chat with him, and before we had finished, it became a miniature reunion, for D. Lodcn came upon the scene and the buzzing then became equivalent to any women’s meeting. I want to say a word or two with reference to the good, dear women folks at home; the hajijiiness they have given to the many hoys in the various camps is inestimahle. Their work and efforts for our comfort encourage us, and will he the means of inciting us to our best efforts in every branch of this great game of war. God grant them strength, health and courage to continue their nohle work and sacrifices! And now with every good wish for the welfare of Loyola and its faculty, and my sincere good wishes to you, 1 hid you vale. John J. Stevenson. P. S. — 1 have heen awarded a ing School. Certificate of Eligibility at the Train- Camp McClellan, Ala. Your very thoughtful rememhrance of me on this Christmas is a])iircciated more than 1 can begin to tell you. 1 also received a card from Father Ennis, from Washington, for which 1 wish you would thank him for me. Harry Gallighcr has heen commissioned a second lieutenant, and Edgar Curran and Jerry Joyce have jiassed successfully the examination for a second lieutenancy for the regular Army and have left for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 30

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Wlu n I was in llic llalli Inlanlry, our Iraining was ((uik ' inlcnsive, particular stress l)ciug laid iijx)!! cllicicucy iu the bayonet eoiuhat. There are olheers from both England and France who are showing ns the ways of modern warfare. We also had a great deal of trench digging to do. Now my work has changed. The ritle is discarded and I am studying the machine guns. Of course the work is new to me yet, hut is very interesting. d here is really not much to tell of the camj), everything is going (ill in the same slow, systematic way. But every branch down here is progressing in its elliciency under the steady grind. My kindest regards to the Faculty of Loyola. John G. Hisky. Camp MacAhthub, Waco, Tkxas. Your very welcome letter reached me on the 14th. It had been held up at my old station. Fort Oglethor|)e, Georgia, for (juite a while. Your reason for not forgetting me certainly was a good one, for I believe you wrote more “late slips” for me than for the general run of hoys. Your allusion to Mr. Lajisley made me so homesick that I have wanted to go hack to school and Baltimore ever since I received it. I am very sorry. Father, hut I am really unable, because of lack of time, to give you anything but an outline of my doings since I saw you last Commencement. I am in town today just for the purpose of writing letters and cleaning up. Do you know I have been so busy that I did not know it was Lent until the Sunday before last. Well, here goes for the big game. On July 14, 1917, I rei)orted to the commandant of the Arnij Service School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for a ten-weeks’ course of intensive train- ing. 44iat was the hardest ten weeks of study and hard labor combined, that I have exj)erienced in my life up until now. On October 1, 1917, I rei)orted to the Commanding Ohicer of the 22nd Cavalr} for duty. I was assigned to 4’rooj) “M,” and when the regiment was made into Artillery, to Battery “F.” I was made a Isl Lieutenant about the 15th of October. 4 ' hen the regiment came here and I have been ])romoted to the rank of Cai)tain, and transferred to the Sui)i)ly Comj)any, with which I am now serving. riiat is all of my service up to date, and I am sorry I cannot describe half of the interesting things that have hai)j)ened to me, and that I have no j)hotograi)hs. While we are in the field no i)ictures may be taken of