Dearest Folks:
Well I’m spending my 3rd day in California and my second here in [Camp] Roberts. There seems to be so much to write about. I hardly know where to start. I’m in the field artillery of the 51st battalion, Battery A training battalion. The camp is the largest artillery and training center in the United States housing about thirty-five thousand men. Probably you can imagine the scope of such a camp. The streets are all numbered and spread out over many miles. The nights and early mornings are cool but about ten o’clock it gets up around a hundred [degrees]. The surrounding country is dry and hilly but many of the boys have their own little flower gardens by their barracks. We have a large post exchange, a theatre and a church. The preacher is from Nebraska. I’m writing this letter in the recreation hall where several fellows like myself are writing letters. One guy is playing a hot tune on the piano, some playing ping pong and others reading. Of course there are many of these buildings all over the camp. I can’t give you a permanent address where you can write me for a week or two because I may be transferred to a specialist battery. With my skilled rating I’m given a better opportunity. I should be transferred in two days. After arriving yesterday were first given another little physical exam and then another typhoid shot. Two men keeled over. Later in the afternoon we were issued gun belts and gas masks. Boy do I look funny in it. Our training period will last only 10 weeks instead of the usual thirteen. They said it was so that we could get Christmas passes, but also I believe to speed up the organization. We deal with 75mm howitzers and all type of guns in general. Our training will begin Monday. Boy you should see the fleet of trucks and jeeps. Soldiers everywhere. Just wish you could see it. Railroads and bus lines both serve the camp. It is 230 [miles] to Los Angeles and 195 [miles] to San Francisco. San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles are two small towns nearby. We are given half fare on tickets. Possibly I can get down in a weekend. Don’t know how far it is to San Diego. I haven’t seen any of the pretty parts of California yet except in a few small towns. I was so darned sleepy when we went thru LA. I didn’t see it.
Tomorrow is Saturday and that will mean afternoon off. Don’t know what I will do. Probably listen to a football game and think of Nebraska and how far away it is. Boy I seem a long way from home. As soon as my training period is over I will again be shipped and possibly I’ll get closer to home.
Officers seem nice and willing to cooperate. They welcome all kinds of suggestions and provide all kinds of sports. The rec hall has games and magazines of all kinds. Our PX is well-stocked and carries all supplies. Our laundry is taken once a week and for this $1.50 is deducted from our pay. At present I have four shirts and other equipment but tomorrow will get more equipment so that I will have plenty of clothing and uniforms. By the way you could send me something and that’s a white shirt. Forget what I said in the first part of the letter about my address. I was just told I can receive mail. So write. I’ll give my address at last part [of this letter].
I’m enclosing the camp paper and hope you will read it and perhaps get a jist of our camp (and my home).
Well folks goodbye for now but I’ll be looking every day for a letter. That’s the only [way] we can really reach each other. I’ll remember you in church Sunday.
Lots of love,
Address (all of it)
Pvt. Harold G. Moss
Battery A, 51st Bn. FA Tng Bn.
Camp Roberts, California