MilColl_WWI_69_Folder3

Fort Sill, Okla. Nov. 2, 1917

Dear Papa & Mama: We are rather rushed for time now as we have classes, machine gun range, flying all during the day & lectures at night. That takes all our time from revoile 5:30 to taps, 9:30 P.M. I have now five minutes to write you a short note saying that up to now I have made six flights which have taken me over most all the surrounding country; I have drawn six maps today spotted artillery fire for one hour and covered all the ground between here and Eglin. The highest I have been yet was

8500 feet. Our orders now are to leave here Monday the 5th for Long Island and immediately to France so I will have to write again & send my address. I will keep you posted all the time where I am. Our commissions will probably be given us before we go so before you get this I might be first Lieutenant, and will sure be on my way somewhere [I know not where]. I understand that I am among the selected far commissions and I am doing everything in my power to insure it. I guess there will

3. be no chance to send that watch to me so give it to one of the kids & tell them that was warn by a soldier. I already have another watch as I had to have one. I will try to [begin crossed out text] be [end crossed out text] send that money that I owe you soon. My Regiment owes me about 40 dollars that I can't hear of now. Love to all, Elbert.

Ft. Sill, Okla. Nov. 6th 1917.

Dear Papa & Mama: I wrote you a few days ago saying that we wold leave Monday for Long Island. We were ordered there but no order was then received for our transportation [??oud??] we have to wait for it. We expect at any moment to receive orders to move. We did not send off any Laundry this week on account of it. We have all packed our grips and [?Lalod?] ourselves in readiness to move at any notice. If you

2.

want to write me again before I sail address it to the School for Aerial Observers, Ft {?arialion?] Field, Minenla or [begin crossed out text] Long [end crossed out text] Gardent City, N.Y. The place is on Long Island. If its [?bebeoed?] now that we will be there for some time before sailing so you can send any mail there just as tho we were not going to sail & I can write you at any time thereafter what to do. I think first class mail will be forwarded our way. I did not fly today