From Trench and Camp, printed
weekly for the Y.M.C.A. by courtesy of the Charlotte Observer for Camp Greene, Charlotte, N.C., February
4, 1918
Thousands of Letters
are Penned There During Mud Siege
The new Y.M.C.A. hut at the base hospital was fitted up just
in time to counter attack the drive of bad weather forces, which have besieged
the camp during the past two weeks. During the time when the hospital camp was
knee deep in mud and water, stubbornly resisted the charges of driving rain
clouds, the Y.M.C.A. quarters was the veritable “Isle of Refuge” to which men
of the detachment floundered their way every evening.
“The club,” as the red triangle quarters is called by the
men, served as the show, the post office and study room for most of the medical
soldiers during those trying shut-in days.
Thousands of letters were written on the plain bench tables
over the week-end. In the “Y” room alone 263 letters were mailed on Sunday.
Hundreds more were dropped into the boxes at the detachment office and
administrative building.
“The bad spell gave us a chance to catch up in our letters,”
was the general statement among the soldiers. Mail clerks at the hospital say
that the out-going mail was the heaviest last week that it has been since the
holidays.
Plan Formal Opening
As soon as the weather becomes more settled in its ways
there will be a formal opening of the hospital Y.M.C.A. There will be special
music. Dr. J.O. Grogan, camp secretary, and J.T. Mangum, camp social secretary,
will be speakers on the dedication program
The piano for the hospital “Y” has arrived as far as
Charlotte. It will be brought to the cacp building when the highways become
passable again.
Impressive Service
Those who braved the storm Sunday evening to attend the
service at the Y.M.C.A. found themselves in one of the most earnest religious
gatherings of the year. Every man present aided in a spirited fashion in
singing the familiar hymns.
Secretary John W. Day delivered a most inspiring talk—one of
those warm messages with its word pictures taken from everyday life. His
subject was “The Courage of the Common Place.” He spoke of the opportunities in
everyday living for building character to stand the brief but telling crises of
peace and war.
Twenty of the camp nurses attended the service. They joined
in the singing and added muc to the harmony of the song.
Sergeant Zunder has been presiding at the little organ. He
obtains both volume and melody from the small instrument, but it keeps him
mighty busy pumping.
“I believe I ran 20 miles tonight,” he said at the close of
the last number. He will no doubt be ready to represent the base hospital in
the long distance runs in the approaching field meet. If he runs as well as he
plays he will bring back the medal.
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