A letter written to the editor of the Jackson Times, Mr. McCoy, by a soldier in training at Camp Taylor near Louisville in 1918.

Camp Zachary Taylor, Y. M. C. A. -- Building, April 18, 1918

My Dear Mr. McCoy:

Your letter of the 12th inst. came and was appreciated. I noted the remark about your son and was determined to see him, but I met young Lieut. Alfred Marcum on the street the other day, and he said Capt. McCoy was leaving that day for Camp Gordon. I am sorry that I did not see him. I should have looked him up ere this, as I knew he was here.

You pleased me very much in asking me to write a letter for the paper, because I value my friends back there in the mountains, and because I cannot write them all letters. I am delighted to have this opportunity. Just think what they will miss if they do not read The Times.

The Y. M. C. A. work, in which I am now engaged, is very interesting. The fellows could not possible get along without it. There is everything that they need right here. General Hale wished to make the camp so attractive that the boys will not wish to go to the city. The association does as much to fill this need as anyone could. We have fine speakers, fine singers, and entertainments of all kinds for the soldiers. Hundreds of letters are written every day in the buildings. There is plenty of wrapping paper so the men can come over here to send the "citz" clothes home. There is a neat, little "Ladies Rest Room," where a man can have his family come and see him. Every building has a drinking fountain that has ice water in warm weather for the men. This is some "treat" when the men are dry from drill. Our building has charge of the Rifle Range, where the camp send the target practice men.

The other day we lost the finest colonel in the camp; Col. William L. Guthrie. He was a great friend of ours and a wonderful man. I have been taking my meals at the Officers' Mess, of the 309th Engineers, his regiment, and I saw a great deal of him, as he conducted conference with the men almost every day at dinner or supper time. His funeral was a military one, and very impressive. The regiment marched through the camp with the remains on a caisson. Only the flag was draped over the casket. Last Sunday, our building held, at the regular chaplain's morning service, a memorial service for Col. Guthrie. It was very impressive. My friend C. W. Hays, from Jackson, was here and attended.

There is in this unit, where our Y. M. C. A. building is located, the 309th Engineers, the 309th Sanitary Train and Field Hospital Corps, Cooks and Bakery Company, military police, and quartermasters. In this unit is also the Division headquarters, library, Liberty Theatre, and post office. The Press Building is also in our section. So you see we are pretty well located. At present the main administration building of the camp Y. M. C. A. is being moved to this section, within a block of us.

The soldiers take great pride in their grounds. In many places, shrubs have been planted and sod put out. The Engineers are assisting in making out lawn front a thing of beauty. Shrubs will be put out and grass plotted. We will have flowers in a few weeks, too. There is great interest in the army life among the men. They are a very contented lot. Not infrequently companies give their own "blow outs," with plenty of eats and a big program of speeches, just among themselves. Last night I noticed that there was an affair of this kind in an adjoining barrack.

Directly back of our building is a large drill ground for the Engineers. It is an inspiring sight to see the men march in the evening reviews. The other day there was an inspection officer in camp, and he inspected the entire Engineer regiment. They had everything out from a brass band to the motor vehicles. The band is a dandy. To hear them play and to see them, hit it along would make a dumb man speak in seven languages.

I see Lieutenant Benedict every now and then, "Benny" is busy like the rest of the officers. The latter are the hardest worked men in the camp. They drill all day and go to school in the evening. But everybody is working down here. Benedict is making good, as he is given work which shows the trust that is imposed in him. I see Doc. Moorman, Auxier, and Marcum occasionally. They are all doing well. I have had mess with Moorman several times. He is down at the base hospital. That is one of the most wonderful places I was ever in. There are so many men there that they have to place them in the corridors. One day they admitted 120 pneumonia cases and the next 90. There are about 1,500 to 1,800 there now. The patients are given fine treatment, too. The nurses' homes are nearby. One sees the nurses out walking quite often. I have had a number attend the Sunday services for the Barrow Unit, which I have been holding. They are very attractive with their white dresses, blue capes with crimson lining, and little white caps. Mrs. Blake, who has been in Jackson, is here in the hospital. She expects to go with the unit.

I hope to come up to Jackson before we leave for sunny France. We are liable to be called almost any time. I do not know when I will be detailed for service. If we are here any length of time I hope to get up for the Lees Institute Commencement. But even if we are not here that long, I am hoping to get a day there. I often think of the old friends there, and will never forget them. Wherever I run across a person from the mountains I find a friend.

With all good wishes to you, I am yours sincerely,

C. Groshon Gunn