Norborne Mo Sept 29/18

Dear Brother.-

    If one of the Kaiser fly machine was to drop a bomb in you camp I doubt if it would suprise you any more than this letter will.  Some how I felt you was in in uniform and where I have wonder many times.  I had'nt the least idea you had lived San Antino all this time had though of writing into the Adj. Gen. office Washington D.C.  I was told several years ago by a man visting here from near Wyoming Ill. that Uncle Marsh was dead and his wife did not live there any more so I keep watch on Army and Navy Journal and so far there has been two Shore mention both of wounded in action.  One was from Boston, Mass and the other from in North Carolina.  I am inclined to think this one is a distance relative of ours, as I have heard father speak of his father having a bro start from England, to land somewhere down the coast there.  Well I thought I try my hand at finding folk.  I wrote to the P.M. at Wyoming and today received a letter from Aunt Delia giving your address as well as some news, saying you had three daugthers.  Well that beats me.  I have married ten years this last month  we have one girl.  She will be nine 15 of Oct. she is in the fourth grade in school and learn fast so her teacher says and she busy enough for three or four around home.  I have been here for 11 years it will be this coming Dec.  Never intend to stay that long when I came but my pay has been raised and work taken off till it proved to be a good place after all.  I come as near being my own boss as one ever does, and that make it nice in a good many ways.

II

Wife and Edna are up to Plattsmouth Nebr now where my wife Mother is very sick  She is away up in years and I cannot see much hope for here.  I could see for the last two years she was breaking fast.   We have at Camp Dix First Lueit. John Sawyer if his Co. has not been shipped over sea and also Sec Lueit. Terloar Lester who has been recommend for a first  both of whom are royal good friends of mine   Lester was in the July 17 and 18 drive.  Went in with 52 men came out of it with 3  -  he has been sent back as an Instructor  was home on a 10 day furloug was asign to Camp Dix  arrived there a week ago today.  He say the only really good times he saw had gone west, and there was some he could vouch for would never pull trigger again.  Age had me blocked till this last draft call or rather registering and now I can get in.  I hope I put in over five year in   (unreadable)   started as private and went to Liutenant for 4 years commission   (unreadable)   Dec. 7 - 1899 -- that one examination I will alway remember   the ex board was Lieut Col Herdick now retired Major Clay C McDonald who was year in U.S. Calvary now Major 1-batt. 139 inf 70 Rng 35 Div  and Adj John McNeely not Col. the 139 ---    There was 19 of us before the board and two of us passed.   They milled me for three hours.  My Capt. told me to look out for the Major his long suit was the tatics.  do you remember of the March on the border that was talk of so much in the paper  that was Co A my Capt. Herndrige Comd. and a New Hampshire Co relieved and coming in this same Major pull that so far at that no such a distance had ever been march by inf in the given number of hours.

III

in all probaly I will get up the line in service and I look to be put in signal work as I have 15 or over of pratical work with electricty and am now Chief Electrician and Engr. for a plant here that has a repation for the best service in the state.  We have one man out of the station over there now.  I pity the Hun that ever show his head in front him for he sure will part his Hair in the middle with chunk of lead.   though I have been here a long time I wish I was back in a hill town   have you ever been East of Kansas City on the Wabash or Sante Fe R.R.  if you was you went through here.  there has been troop hauled through here till one wonder where they come from and now another Div. ready to go out to Camp Fuston    We had a good many go and get married think to escape the draft but it not going to work for them this time, as some of them have found out to there sorrow   (unreadable)   it the 4th loan is going high now that sure here.  on the other one this county went  %170  on the quota    Well I must close and get this in the mail  We have one train that takes the air line for the East, and is some hours faster than the other trains.  if I figure out Aunt writing of your address right this letter should reach you O.K.   with best wishes to you and your family.

I am your truly

A A Shore

Norborne Mo
300 - W - 2-st.