Letter 1 - May 28, 1918

Letter #1 addressed to Mrs. Maggie Thompson
Sedona, AZ    Postmarked May 29, 1918

Camp Cody
N. M.
May 28, 1918

Dear Mother;

I guess you all will be waiting to hear from us by now.  We left Flagstaff Sunday morning at 8 o’clock.  Eat breakfast at Winslow, dinner at Gallup and supper at Beleens and then traveled all night.  Slept a little in the seats, but about half of the men were drunk and they made so much noise we couldn’t sleep much.  We got here to Camp at half past five and then we had to report in to places and let them get the names of all those come.   So we were either standing in line or walking until after eleven o’clock before we had breakfast.  

I guess we won’t have much to do for a few days.  I think they examine us next and there are so many I don’t know when they will get to us.  There are three other men in the tent with us.  We have to wrap the tent around the center post in day time so the sun can shine on our blankets so I am setting out in the sun writing this letter.  But I ain’t alone, for there are men on all sides of me and the most of them are writing.  Well I will close for this time.   One of us will write again in a few days. 

(crossed out)
I got the address again and it is different.   Address your letters Private and then our name.
                                  Casual Camp #2
                                  Camp Cody
                                  NM

(Under that)

Private Charles Thompson
Training Co. #2
Casual Camp
Camp Cody
NM

Postcard showing the tents of Camp Cody wrapped up around the center post for airing,
as described in Charley’s letter.