[Letter of Robert O’Connell to his mother, 31 May 1917]

Co. C, Washington Barracks
Thursday

Dear Mother,

	I got the tracings and your letter and am sending back the papers. I hope I can get 
three days off to see the folks. They give two day passes but longer ones are scarce. They 
say there is not much chance of our starting earlier than August. We are drilling hard every 
day but as new men come in every week, it will take time to train them. The regiment is nearly 
at war strength, though some of us are going to the rifle range next week to shoot and get 
practice in bridge and trench work. I hope I am picked to go along. For a week back, we have 
had a half-hour lecture daily, mostly army regulation, but today he told about the

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work as they do it in France. The engineers lay out the new trench lines as the men go forward, 
put up barbed wire, drive mine tunnels, manage the poison-gas machines and when they aren’t doing 
that, they repair roads, bridges, etc, or superintend new trench work. I was surprised to hear that 
the Regulars would be sent to France but it will be something to tell about, if I get back. 
We had a little celebration here, yesterday. They had racing and other sports between the companies. 
C’company was either last or about the middle in everything. We lost the tent-pitching by a few points. 
Each man carries half a small shelter tent, on the march, and the men are formed in double lines to 
pair them. The front man sticks his bayonet in the ground at his right heel and uses his rifle for 
the front pole,

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beside the bayonet. The rear men craw into the tent, which they have buttoned together, and braces 
up the back of the tent with his own bayonet in its sheat. Yesterday, one of the bayonets fell while 
the colonel was inspecting the tents. Some of the older men called to the kid to put it up. He should 
have remained 'at attention' in front of the tent but the calls fooled him and he took a chance and 
the colonel saw him. He walked right over and scolded him a little, and fined the company ten points.
The final score was 40 to 38. We had the 38. I was in that and surprised myself, because I was never in 
a field meet and thought I might get smacked up. The sergeant was sore at losing and yelled at us as we 
marched of the field. This was in the morning and in the afternoon, I took a walk for a couple of
hours around town and then

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went back and cleaned my rifle for the monthly muster today. They are very particular about the least
dirt or oil on the gun at inspection. Every Saturday morning and on the last day of the month, the
whole barracks is inspected and all the floors must be mopped and all brass work and wash bowls, etc.,
must be brightened up. Each man has a wall-locker for his suits and toilet articles, etc., and a
truck for underclothes. Every article of clothing must be hung up or folded neatly or Lord help us.
Even the screw heads in the rifle must be cleaned out with a match and awkward corners brushed out
if they can't be reached with a piece of rag. A toothbrush is fine for that. I use my army tooth 
brush and bought another for similar use. We have physical inspection every ten days when every man
and the underclothes he is wearing are looked over by the

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head doctor. As all the men are lined up by their cots, there is no chance to hide any disease or wear 
dirty cloths. Last Sunday morning, we expected a nice easy day, as usual but right after breakfast about
a hundred men, in all, were picked from the different companies and taken in teams to the freight
yards where 250 horses and mules were waiting in cars. We had to get them out and lead them a mile 
through the streets to the barracks and then water and feed them. It took till half-past eleven and
in the afternoon we had a few showes to finish the fun. Last night we had movies in the gymnasium.
One was taken here and showed the men building a pontoon-bridge. We all liked that. The next was
"The Third Regiment," which I didn't care for and the last was the "Chaplain

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Revue for 1916." It is the funniest I have seen in a long time and kept the crowd going. The show
was free for the men and the operator was a recruit. My glasses are coming in handy as I read quite
a lot after supper. I got a postal from Sarah and a letter from Mame today. Ihave been wondering
what the ________ will say when the news gets out about that trip to N.Y. I got a letter from Ellen
last week. Tell her I have got all her letters, so far. It will cost ____ somthing for writing
paper if he stays in town and I stay in the army and she writes the same as usual. Poor Curran 
must be having a hard time and Mrs. C. must be swearing to herself.
	Friday
It was too much too finish last night. Today we worked all morning cleaning the grounds. I didn't
mind carrying

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boards and rubbish but if I was home I should have felt awful. One of the sergeants said we are
liable to leave at any time and finish training on the other side. If I can get only two days,
I will despatch and hustle home. I can leave here at 8.15 morning and reach New Haven at 4.09,
then take teh trolley home. Pay day is next week. Tomorrow, instead of the weekly inspection, 
we are going on a ten mile practice march. Some of the '400' are putting on an amateur play,
in the open, at the Wash. Monument, tonight. I think I will wander over and see what Washington's
society looks like. I sent Garfield a postal when I first came here but have not heard from him.
I may see the new furniture, after all, and the new pup, too, if you get one. Lambert Degnan was here

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today. He is the first I have seen from town. He is studying for the Engineer COrps and will be an
officer if he passes. hey expect to start for France in two weeks. I have written about all I can
think of so I will finish, hoping I have a chance to get off.
	Your loving son,
		Rob. 

[Transcribed by W.J. Shepherd on 4/23/2009]