Nebraska Soldiers & Letters Home

G.P. Cather, Letters, 1914-1915

October 2, 1914

Rifle Range Ft. Riley, Kan. Oct. 2nd 14,

Dear Mother:

I arrived here late Sunday Sep. 27th.

We have a nice camp down here. Will be here until about the 10th or 11th. We have had fine weather ever since I arrived. So far there are five rifle teams Kansas State Team Arizona State Team Indiana State Team Kansas Agriculture Team

and the Army Team from San Antonio, Texas. The only thing I can enter is the Individual Matches.

In the Leech Camp Match I was 36th man; 16 men being below me.

All the ranges are new to me. 800, 900, and 1000 yds. I never have shot over 600 yds.

Well, how are you feeling now? Let me hear from you.

Lovingly, G. P. Cather Jr.

May 7, 1915

515 So. 22 St.

Omaha, Neb.

May 7th 15

Dear Mother:

Your letter of May 1st at hand. We are having nice weather down here now. I guess spring has come for good this time.

I happened to meet Frank when he was down here last week. A stenotype is a short hand machine. I am taking the Stenotype course.

I have been changing around in working for my board at different restaurants as an extra but I have got on steady at the Y. M. C. A. Cafeteria now. I worked at the Woodman Cafeteria for two weeks.

There isn’t any news to write.

Lovingly,

G.P.

September 29, 1915

State Camp Grounds

Fla

Sep 29th 15

My Dear Mother:

I am putting in some hard practice down here for the National Military Rifle Matches. There are about three thousand in the camp. Some of the best rifle shots of the world are here. The Matches begin the 2d of October and end the 22d. There will be between 800 and 1000 competitors in the individual Matches.

I expect to be inside the prize money.

I got 10th place at Sea [lsnt?] in the 1200 yd Spencer Match and 11th place in the 500 yd Money Match.

It is very warm down here and rains almost every day and night. Our tents all have floors in them.

Our camp is about 17 miles from Jacksonville, the largest city in Fla.

The 23rd U S Infantry are doing the work in the target butts.

Well, my address will be State Camp Grounds

Fla.

Lovingly,

G.P.

October 11, 1915

State Camp Grounds

Fla.

Oct. 11th 15

My Dear Mother:

Your letter recd this morning. Was glad to hear from you. It was a nice long letter full of news. the kind of a letter I like to get.

Well I am doing my best but it seems some one else always beats me out a point or so.

There are so many expert rifle shots from all over the U. S. down here that one has to be a real expert to win and thing. I have come within one point twice but that don’t count.

In the Marine Corps Match I was in the first hundred on the first half of the shoot. The second half is shot in the morning. I am in hopes that I will be

able to win something in the morning. I got 94 out of 100 at 600 yds this morning. The day before I got 97 out of a hundred at 300 yds at rapid fire. I have won three 90% medals but nothing else. Came within one point of winning a gold medal and 50.00 prize money. Was seventh place from the top in the pistol Match. There are about

five hundred picked riflemen here from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guards, and Civilian Riflemen.

The last day of the Matches is Oct 23d, I will start home the 24th but will probably be a week on the road.

Write again.

Lovingly,

G.P.

October 22, 1915

State Camp Grounds

Fla. Oct 22d 15

My Dear Mother,

Your letter recd this morning.

The matches are all over and I only won three prizes. Two at Sea burt and one here. I shot in the pistol matches today and came very near winning a medal and $20.00 prize money. The score that I made day before

yesterday in practice would have gotten me the medal had I shot it today but some way I couldn’t make that much today.

I sail for New York on the steamer Lenape of the Clyde Line the 24th at 2 PM and arrive in N.Y. on Wed. will go from there to Atlantic City N.J. and then home. My return ticket is from Atlantic City.

That was the only place I could get a rate from. Some of the teams left tonight and most all of them leave in the morning.

I will stay in Jacksonville tomorrow night. The camp will all be torn up tomorrow.

Lovingly,

G.P.

403 St Marys Ave. 

Omaha Neb. 

January 31st 16. 

Dear Mother: 

Am getting along nicely down here. It has been rather cold this last week. I hope every thing is all right at the ranch. I havent heard from Myrtle this week yet.Will be down here until about the first of September, as far as I know now. There isnt much to write about down here. The town seems to be busy most all the time. 

Lovingly, 

G.P.

 Febuary 6, 1916

 Feb. 26, 1916

 March 12, 1916

 March 26, 1916

618 So 19St.

Omaha, Neb., Mar26th,16.

Dear Mother:

Your letter received. Am always glad to hear from you. It rained most all day yesterday here in Omaha.I am boarding at a resturant down on 16th Street now at 2.75 a week. and paying 1.25 per week for my room. That 5.00 board was too high for my financial condition. I have no news to write.

As ever,

G.P.

  April 2, 1916

618 So 19 St.

Omaha, Neb. Apr. 2, 16.

Dear Mother:

Your letter of last week received.The spring rains don’t seem to have started yet down here. Villa seems to be rather hard pushed, left leg ampitated and the U. S. Cavelry close on his trail. It will soon be time to plant corn now. One of the Fire trucks ran into a telephone pole just in front of our rooming house and smashed it all up. It was a large hook and ladder out fit. I suppose it must have been worth $10,000.00.

Will close

Lovingly

G.P.