DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, 1921-1922 | 1922-05-21 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 1

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Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, 1921-1922

1922-05-21 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 1

18th Inf. Camp Dix, N.J.
21 May '22.
Dear Miss Williams:-
It has just come to the surface of my stream of consciousness that I have not told you that I am happily settled at Camp Dix. I'm sorry.
Left Cobleng 22 April, Ar. Antverp 23April. Left Same Day. Ar. Brooklyn 4 May. Left S.D. Ar. New York 4 May. Left 6 May. Ar. Camp Dix S.D.(Assigned to 18th Inf., 1st Division, Per Par. 53. Special Orders 102, 2 May 1922.)
The Eighteenth is a regiment of glorious history in the Civil War, Indian & Philippines Wars, and recently in the First World War. The Eighteenth was first to capture prisoners and first to suffer casualties and to lose prisoners. I mean the first American prisoners the Germans got were out of the 18th. All of which means merely that "My regiment" lived up to the name of the Division and was "first to fight" in spite of the proud boast of the Marines. The Eighteenth Infantry was also first to be decorated, as a unit, with the Croix de Guerre. (Business of sticking out chest.)
We begin target practice in there on four days and as soon as that is over we expect to march to New York and move into decent quarters at Forts Slocum, Hamilton, and Schuyler. I am scheduled to command "F." Co. at Fort Slocum, which is on a little island in Long Island Sound just off shore from Brooklyn.
How are you and your parents and my other friends in Iowa City? All well I hope and as happy as possible under the handicap of my absence. Have any of my college playmates recently

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18th Inf. Camp Dix, N.J. 21 May '22. Dear Miss Williams:- It has just come to the surface of my stream of consciousness that I have not told you that I am happily settled at Camp Dix. I'm sorry. Left Cobleng 22 April, Ar. Antverp 23April. Left Same Day. Ar. Brooklyn 4 May. Left S.D. Ar. New York 4 May. Left 6 May. Ar. Camp Dix S.D.(Assigned to 18th Inf., 1st Division, Per Par. 53. Special Orders 102, 2 May 1922.) The Eighteenth is a regiment of glorious history in the Civil War, Indian & Philippines Wars, and recently in the First World War. The Eighteenth was first to capture prisoners and first to suffer casualties and to lose prisoners. I mean the first American prisoners the Germans got were out of the 18th. All of which means merely that "My regiment" lived up to the name of the Division and was "first to fight" in spite of the proud boast of the Marines. The Eighteenth Infantry was also first to be decorated, as a unit, with the Croix de Guerre. (Business of sticking out chest.) We begin target practice in there on four days and as soon as that is over we expect to march to New York and move into decent quarters at Forts Slocum, Hamilton, and Schuyler. I am scheduled to command "F." Co. at Fort Slocum, which is on a little island in Long Island Sound just off shore from Brooklyn. How are you and your parents and my other friends in Iowa City? All well I hope and as happy as possible under the handicap of my absence. Have any of my college playmates recently