The next letter from Theo is dated April 13, 1918.  I can only speculate on the reason for the seven week gap.  Meanwhile, I will fill in some detail from the describing the problems of the organization and training of the Division. The Thirty Third Division (the Prairie Division) was made up of federalized units of the Illinois National Guard, draftees and volunteers, mostly from Illinois and nearby states. They trained at Camp Logan near Houston, Texas. They remained at Camp Logan until May of 1918 when the Division was sent east to be shipped to France.  The difficulties of organizing a training are documented in the book “Illinois in the World War” published in 1921 by the States Publication Society, Chicago.  Following is an excerpt:

 

“On September 7 the First Engineers (Colonel Henry A. Allen commanding) reached Camp Logan: the other regiments and units followed in rapid succession up to the 21^st, but it was not until October 27 that the last of the state troops arrived.  (Theo’s first letter from Camp Logan was dated September 17,1918.)  Every effort was made by the division commander to have all the Illinois troops sent immediately, and to obtain all material equipment and supplies needed, but, not withstanding his incessant urgings, the desired result were not obtained.”

Camp Logan Tex 2-21-18

 

Dear Mother,

 

I received Anna’s letters of the 16^th and 18^th and also the package with socks and knife, candy and dates.  The socks and knife were fine and I am very much obliged to you all.  I also received two packages from our cousins in New York and one package had a sweater and a knitted scarf and the other package contained a helmet and a swell pair of knitted socks and a lot of candy.  I also received a package from Eva.  We have been eating candy and dates to our hearts content for the last two or three days.

 

            Why doesn’t Alice Hansen’s mother write to Alice’s brother and tell him to see his captain about [his allotment?].  In our company the lieutenant told all the fellows who had made allotment to let him know whether their folks were receiving the money and if they were not he would see that it was fixed up.

 

A lot of the fellows in our company are transferring to other companies.  Our company is getting smaller every day.  I suppose we will get a lot of new men pretty soon.

 

The weather is cold and damp today but we have a nice fire in our tent.

 

I do not know what we are going to do tomorrow; some say we are going to have a holiday and some say we are going to drill.

 

I wrote two letters to New York last night. I guess I have received letters from all of my friends this last week.  Well this will be all for this time.  I hope you will not have much more winter weather.

 

                                                                        Love to all

                                                                                    Theo

This illustration shows the organization of the 33rd Division (former Illinois National Guard) as it prepared to sail to France to join the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

From "The Story of the Thirty-Third Division: The Prairie Division."  Reprinted from the Chicago Daily News.

Mess time at Camp Logan, Texas.  Theo is on the far left.