Week: January 2, 1944 – January 8,1944

Location: Ft. Riley, KS/ Detroit,MI

From: Joe/Margie

To: Margie/Joe

Quote: “You see I studied my lessons and when he asked me I knewthem.”

“Just got back from that burg ‘Junction City.’ Twice is enough for that town.” Except for “a couple of dumpy shows,” Joe didn’t find much of interest in the local social life around Ft. Riley. “The place is overrun with soldiers, and there isn’t any place to go. To be frank or should I say ‘frankly’ it isn’t worth getting dressed up for. So I think it just as well if I stay at home andwrite.”

Joe’s lieutenant announced that the troopers would be practicing “horsemanship” in the coming days. “We did some wild riding today. They took us out in the wilderness and we did everything with those horses but somersault.” Joe’s was thrilled when the troopers were ordered to ride the horses with only a blanket for a saddle. “Then we walk them (not bad) then came the trotting (woo woo) then a gallop (wow.)”

Lots of riders were thrown from their mounts, that is, if they were able to get onto their horses. Without any stirrups to climb on the animals, many a trooper had trouble getting properly mounted. The curious jumping activity of riders made the horses more anxious and resulted in dangerous kicks from the animals. At least one trooper launched himself with a bit too much energy, missed the mount, and landed on the other side of thehorse!

While horsemanship could be instructive and even fun, guard duty was much more about monotony. It was a duty to be avoided if possible and consisted of guarding a small defined space two hours on followed by two hours off. The pattern was repeated throughout the night in all kinds of weather. Joe announced a small victory over the duty on the following day, “Feel great tonight; got out of guard duty. I was picked as an alternate or replacement but the officer of the guard said I could forget about it. You see I studied my lessons and when he a