CLARK COUNTY COURIER
VOL. XXII. NUMBER 45
17 AUGUST 1917
PAGE 2, COLUME 3 & 4
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM PANAMA
Following are some very interesting extracts from letters written home by Lester Rainey, of Wyaconda, a volunteer in the Coast Artillery, now stationed at Panama:

(Sun. 3 June 1917)

Dear Folks at Home:--3 June 1917. We sailed on the steamship, Cristobal and did not see land for several days, only islands. We were 600 or 700 miles from land, but best of all, I did not get seasick. I thought I was going to get sick when we passed through the Caribbean Sea, as we had a little storm, and my head went round and round for a while. It rained some and then the water began to get rough. You could see soldiers lined up along the railing feeding the fish. A big wave took a soldier off his feet and sat him down quite hard. Later I received the same kind of treatment and didn’t have a dry thread on. We watched the flying fish. They would fly about the distance of a town block. They would sail along like an airship. They are not very large. We saw a school of porpoise running a race with us, and a number of other fish, the names of which I do not know.

By looking at the map you can tell about the route we took. We passed in sight of the Watling Island, Fortune Island and others southeast of Cuba. We went from Colon to Panama by rail. I enjoyed the trip but got tired of looking at the water for six days. We had a jolly good bunch, 139 in all. Had fine meals, all we could eat three times a day. We had a fine 2nd officer. The boys all got mail yesterday and you can see them scattered around all over the squad room writing. Several of the boys are going in swimming. I have to wrap my vaccinated arm up to keep it from getting wet. We met Odd Fellows from other places and we read one another’s letters from lodges and talked about the work. This is the rainy season here and it rains a little every day. It rains for six or seven months. This is a new fort, and it is a pretty place. Everything new and up to date. We have shower bath, good beds, a good cook, and plenty to eat. Have picture shows and ball diamond and nearly every afternoon we have a good game. You can look any direction and see the beautiful palm trees loaded with cocoanuts, and out in the jungles are monkeys and deer. We have a pet baby monkey about two months old. It is like a little kitten and will climb to the top of our beds and curl up to sleep. I guess we will be here for some time. I have my gun, bayonet, and other things too numerous to mention. We drill only about a half hour each day now and have a permit to leave fort one mil on one side and two miles on the other. We have to go to the hospital ten days out of each month for doses of quinine. We are given passes over in the mountains where there are bananas, pineapples, mangoes, cocoanuts, and also all kinds of wild game. Some of the boys brought in a deer and the cook fixed up a fine dinner. I don’t know when I will have to walk post, but don’t think it will be hard as we walk two hours and rest four, for 24 hours. The officers are good to us and help us whenever they see we need it.

(Thu. 28 June 1917)

June 28. Well we will be real soldiers July 1. I mean soldiers that do something in real service instead of drilling all the time. I guess we will celebrate in Balboa, except the guards and kitchen police, and it will just about be my luck to do guard duty. Marvin (Sawyer) and I are going to get a camera and send you some views of our new home and its funny people and trees. Next Saturday is what they call muster and general inspection, of our clothes and equipment.

(Sat. 30 June 1917)

June 30. Well I got the box you sent me and you bet I was glad to get it. I made the box of sweets sure look scant. The cake was fine and in good shape. I hid a box of candy for private use and felt like a king instead of a private soldier. The soldiers that are not on duty have to form a battalion and drill with rifles today and it sure looks nice to see 400 or 500 soldiers marching. We had a ball game this afternoon. Played the First Co. and won the game 3 to 2. The game was 2 and 2 with two outs and a man on second base. I was at the bat and won the game with a safe 2 base hit. I will try to send you some shells from the beach, also a cocoanut. It is great to pass away the time on the beach. I don’t know when we will go up for first-class gunners, but think it is about Sept. 1. It is reported they will send a bunch of men from here to France, but U. S. Coast Artillery men will not have to go in the trenches if they send us.

(Wed. 4 July 1917)

July 4. Well I am on guard duty today. I did not get to celebrate at Balboa, but Marvin (Sawyer) went. I am not very sorry for it is raining now. I had a swell dinner today, turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, cranberry sauce, olives, dill pickles, lettuce, strawberry shortcake and cream pie. Now how would you like to be here? I could hardly get away from the table.

(Sun 8 July 1917)

July 8. I have some spare time today so will tell you about my trip up to Colone. It was my first trip up there to see the town and I sure saw some sights. The people were so queer. Some wore scarcely no clothing while others wore three times as much as they needed. I weigh 165 pounds now. When we left the barracks, I weighed 148. Going some. Don’t believe it is any warmer here than at home. Have a few warm hours but nights are cool. Sleep under blanket and we haven’t felt bad since since we came here. My arm is well now. I am to walk post tomorrow. I will send papa some spick money to go in his collection. It takes two dollars of their money to equal one of ours.

(Mon 9 July 1917)

July 9. Well, we have been doing artillery drill each morning and infantry drill in the afternoon. We were called to arms Wednesday night about 11:00 o’clock. They located a suspicious ship, and we were prepared to meet them in a very short time. Thursday morning, we fired the gun to see how it would stand the racket. We shot close to the shore the first time and about 22 miles out in the bay the second shot. The water shot up about 75 or 100 feet high. We stood over a half block away but could feel the strong suction of the air from the gun. We had a favorable answer from the projector. Marvin and I have been doing kitchen police today and I am awfully tired.

I will be glad to hear from any one at home.
Yours Sincerely.
LESTER E. RAINEY, Panama.
Fort Randolph, Canal Zone, Co. 3