Saturday there was a wild stampede of horses with artillery pieces out on the target range. The cause was the horses getting frightened at the firing of the pieces, to which they had not yet become accustomed. A number of the teams became unmanageable and the result was that a number of soldiers got quite badly bruised and one had his wrist broken. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Tuesday, April 9, 1918
Major Anson Marston
The soldiers of the 34th division will be offered the protection of their civil rights under the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief act, have been invoked for the protection of the soldiers of Camp Cody, as is explained in the following memorandum issued by division headquarters.
“The insurance feature of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief act provides for the protection of as much as $5,000 of the insurance which was applied for and premium paid on prior to September 1, 1917, by any person now in the military service.”
“This applies to contracts of insurance with only those insurance companies or associations which are required by the law under which they are organized or doing business to maintain a reserve, or, which if not so required, have made provision for the collection from all those insured in such insurer of a premium to cover the special war risk of those insured persons who are in the military service.”
“Insurance contracts protected by this act will not be allowed to lapse while the insured is in the military service, and he will have one year after the termination of his service, or, if he is in the service at the close of the war, he will have one year after the termination of the war, in which to repay any amounts advanced for the protection of his insurance.”
“Additional information and the necessary applications may be obtained at the insurance department of the division adjutant’s office, mess hall 4, section 5.”
“All officers and enlisted men are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to protect their insurance.” – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Sunday, April 21, 1918
1st South Dakota Infantry at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico
Will Give Them a Chance to See a Show
Not only has the Liberty theater come to stay in Camp Cody, as is indicated by its steady popularity among the officers and men of the 34th division, but it is the hope and intention of Lieutenant J. W. Pierce, representing division headquarters in the management of the playhouse, that the friends and relatives of the men of Camp Cody shall assist the soldiers to see the show. To this end he is about to start a campaign through the newspapers of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, for Smileage, to be sent to Camp Cody for distribution among the soldiers.
A soldier’s pay, under existing conditions, with Liberty Loan, compulsory allotment, etc., deducted from it, is no lordly sum, and in order that the men of the camp may have an opportunity to attend the Liberty theater with any degree of regularity, it will be needful for their relatives and friends to buy and give them Smileage books.
This week has witnessed crowded houses at the theater. A feature of the bill is a prize waltzing contest. Eight soldiers identified by the last number on their by the last numbers on their identification tags, are called to the stage at the end of each performance and waltz with eight of the young women of the cast. Individual applause is taken to mean the favor of the audience for any particular couple. At the end of the week the soldier prize winners will waltz against one another and prizes be given those whose dancing meets the approval of the audience. There will be a first and second prize. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Friday, May 3, 1918
WW1 Smileage Book – Camp Cody – Deming, New Mexico
Army field clerk Jesse A. Putnam, of the 34th division adjutant’s office, formerly of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Miss Margaret Danaher, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were married in the chapel of the Knights of Columbus hall here Wednesday afternoon by Lieutenant J. J. Martin, chaplain of the 109th ammunition train. Lieutenant Eugene Field of company K, 135th infantry, acted as best man and Miss Teresa Clark, of Deming, as bridesmaid. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Friday, June 14, 1918
Minnesota Collar Insignia – Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico
Classes in mass singing will be organized here under the direction of Secretary Frenger of the Y. M. C. A. The men of all the organizations, and especially those who have singing ability, are urged to avail themselves of this opportunity. There will be a big regimental or brigade songs as “Over There”, the “Battle songfest monthly, with such inspiring Hymn of the Republic”, the “Star Spangled Banner,” rendered with a gusto that will make the echoes resound through the Boche trenches in Flanders ad in France. These programs will be followed by vocal solos, vaudeville ad speeches. None of the regular Y. M. C. A. programs will be curtailed in order to inaugurate these singing classes. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – January 7, 1918
135 Infantry – Camp Cody Band – Deming, New Mexico
There appears to be a possibility of the Seventh Nebraska infantry, which has been recruited, or very nearly so, in that state, being sent here; not as such an organization but its men as individuals, to help fill out the 34th division to full war strength. It is understood that the war department is willing to allow the men of this new regiment to come here if they are willing to come as individuals and be distributed among the military units here. So far the matter seems to stand as undecided. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Wednesday, January 23, 1918
4th Nebraska And 3rd Minnesota Area at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico
Order Reducing Fares Makes Soldiers Walk on Monday, With Prospect of Further Hikes in Future; More Than 200 Drivers Put Cars in Cold Storage; One Operator Arrested.
Monday was automobile-less day at Camp Cody in Deming, New Mexico, with the prospect that it was merely the first of a number of the same kind of days. For the first time since the camp was established there were practically no service cars plying between Deming and the camp. Several thousand soldiers who came to tow had to walk in ad walk back, for cars were not to be had at any price.
The reason for the new state of affairs is the order promulgated last week by military authorities that beginning April 1 no service car driver would be allowed to charged more than 15 cents for taking a passenger to or from the camp. The price has been 25 cents, and rather that stand for the decrease the more than200 service car drivers, almost unanimously, refused to operate their cars.
Not more than a dozen service cars entered the camp during the day, and most of there were small cars, the owners of which are willing to take a chance on making money at 15 cents rather than give up the business. However, even they were few and far between. Military authorities believed that with the approach of night, when the soldiers come to town by the hundreds, and every driver would be sure of capacity loads, the striking drivers would give in. Soldiers had to walk to town from as far away as Yucca avenue, a distance of five miles being unable to find any service cars.
At present both sides are playing a waiting game, the military authorities feeling confident that enough drivers will resume operations to handle the traffic, and the men equally confident that the authorities will have to rescind the new order in order to secure enough cars to take care of the business. The authorities say that 200 cars are many more than the traffic justifies and that when the number is decreased the ones at remain will be able to operate on the 15 cent basis, due to the increased patronage. The owners say they can’t make money at 15 cents eve with a capacity business, as the rush last only an hour or two at night when the men come to town and return.
Although there is considerable feeling among the drivers there were few breaches of the peace Monday. One driver who refused to operate his car was arrested on the charge of trying to obstruct traffic. It being alleged that he interfered with a driver who was carrying soldiers. The first driver who reached town with a load of soldiers Monday evening was set upon and beaten by a striking driver, following an argument.
A company which operates a bus line into the camp is doing a capacity business and it is reported other buses will be added. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Wednesday, April 3, 1918
Jitney Drivers
Sergeant Arthur Bogen, of the 109th sanitary train, and Miss Leonie Kraegie of Sioux City, Iowa, were married in the chapel of the Knights of Columbus hall on Tuesday morning by Lieut. J. J. Martin, chaplain of the 109th ammunition train. The groom was formerly a resident of Le Mars, Iowa. The witnesses were Leroy J. Murphy, secretary of the Knights of Columbus hall, and Sergeant Edwin Held, of the 109th sanitary train. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Wednesday, July 3, 1918
Camp Cody Wedding – Deming, New Mexico
Pvt. Al Schmeeman, of the 135th ambulance company, who has just been detailed to duty at the division exchange theater in charge of all entertainments at that place of amusement, is with stage manager Pvt. Fred Meinar, hustling to arrange a series of programs which he expects to announce a week ahead of time. Heretofore programs have been gotten up so much on the spur of the moment that they were not sufficiently advertised.
Also, stage manager Meinar will put out a light on a green flag every night when there is anything going on there for the men to go to and a light on a red flag when there is nothing. The purpose of these lights is to save the men the inconvenience of have to go over to the theater just to find out whether there is an entertainment or not. Mr. Schmeeman also proposes thoroughly advertising all entertainments at the division exchange theater.
The show for tonight is the Camp Cody minstrels for the 6,000 new select draft men in the “casual” camp only, who are still held in quarantine and have no entertainment except what is provided for them by their older comrades, like the minstrels. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Friday, June 7, 1918
Camp Cody Band Members – Deming, New Mexico
Brig. General J. R. Lindsay has informed the members of his command that in recognition of duties performed in the service of the country, each soldier upon being honorably discharged will be furnished with two scarlet chevrons to be worn on the left sleeve, point up, midway between the elbow and the shoulder, one on the coat and one on the overcoat. This will serve to indicate to the country while in uniform is being worn that the wearer responded to the demands of the country, performed creditable service in the army, and finally received an honorable discharge there from.
Where practicable, these chevrons should be sewn on the garments before discharge. If this cannot be done, they will be presented to the soldier with his discharge papers. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Saturday, December 28, 1918
126th Field Artillery Medical Unit – 34th Division
