(Page 1) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, Oct. 30, 1917 Mr. W. J. Bray Kirksville, MO. My Dear Mr. Bray, I will try and write you that long promised letter. I am now a soldier and have been one for about six weeks. Army life is not so bad after you get used to it. Sometimes I think I will never get used to it. I am in Headquarters Co. of the 356 Infantry. There are fourteen other companies in the 356 regiment besides this one. There are now about two hundred men to each company making a total of about twentyeight [sic] hundred in all.There will be more men in the regiment however. (Page 2) [no text] (Page 3) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, 191 I think the full war strength of each company will be about two hundred and fiftyfive [sic] men. Headquarters Co. is a new division of troops in the regiment and it is made up of several divisions or platoons. Some of the platoons are: Signal, bombers, Soppers, Orderlies, band and one or two others. At present, with the exception of band, all of the boys are receiving the same training as the regular infantry. But later they will be divided into there [sic] respective groups and receive special training. I am in the band. Earl Hillinger is also in it. The band is composed of Twenty eight men (Page 4) [no text] (Page 5) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, , 191 We practice about four or five days per week and drill the rest. We practiced about eight hours today. All of the boys are signing the muster roll tonight. We will get our pay in the next few days. Everything is on the go and hurry tonight as tomorrow is a special inspection and everybody wants to pass. We are compactably housed in large wooden barracks. The barracks are steam heated (The last two days electric lighted and are complite [sic] in Italy. Each barrack is supposed to hold one company, but by the time about two hundred men get into one there is not very much spare room. (Page 6) [no text] (Page 7) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, , 191 I have never received the Index and would like very much to get it. There are several of the other K.S.N.S boys here and I get to see one (on Tuesday) pretty often. There are about four K.S.N.S boys in this company. Robert Alexander is our Mess Sargent, Ben Craig is a corporal and Earl Hillinger and myself are in the band. A number of K.S.N.S boys planned to have a sort of a reunion some Saturday afternoon but the weather has been so unfavorable that we have not been able to have it. I do not know whether we will have it now as it is getting pretty late in the season for picnics. How is school coming? and how are the football boys this year? (Page 8) [no text] (Page 9) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, , 191 We boys of the band think we are having it pretty easy so we are getting paid to study music instead of paying. We do not have to drill as much as the regulars and also receive more pay. There has been a great campaign on among the soldiers to get them to buy Liberty Bonds. Most every man has at least one. All companies that the men all bought bonds were given passes from Friday night until Monday morning, Our Co. all went home. The visit was very short but it seemed mighty good to get home even for such a short stay.There is some talk of us being moved to another camp but do not think we will be until about (Page 10) [no text] (Page 11) Knights of Columbus Club House and Auditorium ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P. J. MCALOON, G. K., 534, TOPEKA COMMITTEE PAUL HUYCKE, CHAIRMAN J. J. LANNAN, SUPERVISOR E. L. MOONEY, JR., SECRETARY P. H. CALLAHAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN 730 WOODWARD AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. C. Camp Funston, Kansas, , 191 The first of next year and then may be not until we go to France No one seems to know when we are going but I think we will go over during the first two months of next year. That is merely a guess however. well I will close ere I tire you with this nonsense. Sincerely yours, John A. Childers 1 bdgs Co. 356 Inf. Camp Funston Kan. P.S. "Bob" Alexander said to send you his best regards. J.a.c. (Page 12) [no text]