In Their Words

Pfc. Vernon L. Scobie

“August 24, 1919. Got up at 4 oclock and made up my pack, then ate breakfast and then left camp and hiked about seven kil to the boat docks where we took a ferry out to the U.S.S. Von Steuden and got on board 12 P.M. Pulled out of the harbor of Brest at 130 P.M. for the good ole statue of Liberty. Loafed about on decks remainder of day. August 25. Loafed all day on different decks of boat. An abandon ship drill in morning also. Took in a movie show in P.M. Pretty windy. August 26. Was on police detail in quarters all day. Was pretty windy and raining in morning also in P.M. August 27. A heavy rolling sea last night and today. A great many of the troops were sea sick all day. It didn’t affect me very much, only was a little dizzy in A.M. but not sick to my stomach. About in two hours we aught to be half way across the pond. At 8 A.M. this morning we steamed 1202 miles from Brest and still have 1963 miles to go yet so the total distance from Brest to N.Y. is about 3165 miles. August 31. Went to some boxing bouts last night, also movies today. Are at Amorose light house about 7 P.M. where we got our first sight of N.Y. Here we dropped anchor and stayed over night in N.Y. harbor. September 1. Another day. Pulled anchor aboard and we got off the boat at 1130 A.M. We got a fine dinner at the Red Goose and then got on ferry and took it to the Long Island rail road depot and then we got on train and proceeded to Camp Mills. Here we stayed in barracks. Took a bath and drew some new cloths in Evening. Send telegram home to mother.”

Entries from the diary of
Pfc. Vernon L. Scobie, Ambulance Co. 2

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