8. Remained at home all day and entertained several friends. The number of friends included Bob and Dan Murphy. I little dreamed the next time I was to see Dan we would both be in uniform and a ways from home. I enjoyed myself first rate.

9. Worked at home all day and in the afternoon I started for the country, but when only a short distance from the house was recalled by Brother Bill, who informed me that a Naval Recruiting Party was in Pittsburg and wished to see me. When I received this news I immediately departed with the intention of enlisting and departing for training camp at once. When I arrived in Pittsburg the Post Mistress informed me that the recruiting party was then in London. I proceeded to London and passed the examination easily, and signed my papers. Returned home and spent the night.

10. The sun arose clear with promises of another beautiful day, one with many charms and one long to be remembered by me. I went to London and met the Recruiting Officer and on train #38 we began our journey to Lexington. In Pittsburg I was joined by Brother Bill and Bob Brown, who accompanied me to East Bernstadt. There I left all those faces which I had known little thinking that the next time I was to see a person who I had known was to be on the other side of the Atlantic………….

….supper. Shortly after supper I was furnished with a ticket and departed for Cincinnati alone. The recruiting party failed to meet me at the Depot, as they had been advised by telegram, so I was compelled to make the trip to the Federal Building alone. The train arrived in Cincinnati at nine P.M.. I was the last man examined that night and the first one accepted. I then took the oath with several others and we were given meal tickets for breakfast the following morning and taken to a hotel for the night. Wrote a letter home and then turned in for the night.

11. Reported to the recruiting office and we were given money for the next two meals and boarded the train at nine A.M. and our journey to Norfolk Virginia was begun. I enjoyed the trip and anxiously awaited the happenings that were coming.

12. Arrived in Newport News and took the ferry across to Norfolk. Went to the training Station and, gee, it was some crowded. Rookies everywhere! A large draft of men was just leaving the station as we entered, and from the first I anxiously awaited the day when I too would be sent to sea. Here my fight for “chow” began and that fight continued during my stay in the Naval Service. The Rookies were unorganized and owing to the large number of men arriving the eats were not as good as could be expected under ordinary conditions. Received my outfit and this night I slept on the floor of the muster hall which in the second floor. Vacinated for the first time.

13. Was placed in Company E and stationed in Bungalow Number 9, which is situated on Second Street. Began to feel at home, and make myself "seagoing".

14. Went on parade ground and drilled for the first time, and "Rookies" we were. But I certainly enjoyed drilling from the beginning and tried to improve all the while.

15. Went to Church after the morning muster. All men in the camp were there for they took us out in Company formation. After we had returned from Church and were settled in our Bungalows we began to play. The result was another fellow and myself mixed up in a good "fist and scull" fight. We were about evenly matched and it was a long hard fight, and finally when we were both bleeding in the mouth and nose with each the proud possessor of a pair of black eyes the other fellows seperated us. After this we were always good friends. We were not in spotless whites when we were seperated tho.

16. Last bag and hammock and move to the main camp" was the musical words that greeted Company E this day. We felt like real Sailors when we passed out of Detention Camp into the Main Camp. When we arrived I was placed in Bungalow #29 on Third Street.

17. Went on parade ground and drilled.