Remembering Camp Barkley

When we were taking training in Camp Barkley, our training center was called 'kings row' because the barracks were new and also double decker. There were four of these buildings, two on one side of the parade ground and two on the other. There was a building on one end that was called the 'day room' where the soldiers could go at night to play games etc. On the other end of the parade ground was some buildings where the schools were located.  We were in the clerk school but there was  a cooks and bakers school and also a mechanics school.  Also there was an officer's training school where some of the officers were trained.  Also there was a kitchen and mess hall, the headquarters building and a quartermaster building.

In other sections of the camp there were barracks for some other troops.  I think there was an army division being trained there. A friend of ours who lived here was in that division.  I do not  remember for sure but think it was the 90th or the T&O (Texas and Oklahoma).

We had three weeks of basic training where we learned about army regulations, went on long marches, set up our pup tents etc. Then for eight weeks we attended clerk school where we learned how to do all of the reports and correspondence that would be required to be a company clerk or work in any office.

After the training ended we were sent overseas where all were assigned to some unit. I was assigned to a headquarters in England and wrote special orders. Finally after about fifteen months I was moved to France where I became a company clerk.

In camp Barkley there was a PX also that was in another part of the camp.

I arrived at the camp on or about Jan 9th, 1943. Your Dad arrived the same time as I did.  I left Des Moines by train and stopped in KC for breakfast. Got on the Rocket and went as far as Ft Worth on it but on the way the train stopped at several places.  At one of them your Dad and some others got on the same train. I became acquainted with him and we were in the same barracks while there.  After a few weeks we were able to have a weekend pass so would go to Abilene after noon Saturday and did not have to be back until Sunday night.  The army had a truck to take us there and back. There were four of us who went together, stayed in a hotel on Grape street.  In the morning Bob and I had breakfast at a cafe, went to church at the First Baptist. He had gone in a week before I did and at church met your mother. After church he told me he thought he would go out to see her and asked if I wanted to go along. I had no other plans so we got there after your mom and their mom had lunch.  That is when I met them.  Edna was at work and came about two in the afternoon.  I did not know that Bob had asked Edna if she would like to meet a friend of his.  He gave her a choice of two.  She said she would like to meet me!. That is how we met. We visited for a while and then all four of us went for a walk and ended in Cobb park. Over the next ten weeks I came to see her about a half dozen times. One of the times we went to the movies with her mom and dad. We went to church together some of the time.