April 16, 1918 – Full diary entry:

“Am in a tent with seven other Camp Dodge boys:

Heisen, Hebners, Burgie, Erickson, Ikjlekjon, Green & Templin.”

I’ll just apologize to the memories and families of these fine men now, because that is really the best I can do in transcribing their names. Any and all corrections are welcome. Here’s one possible translation of the worst of these names:

This name is from a roster of the 140th Infantry, where Robert was eventually assigned. It’s close enough to make me suspect this might have been the name he was trying to record.

But I’m a little too obsessive to not look a little further. Turns out they were two St. Paul boys who ended up both serving in Company B of the 140th Infantry Regiment.

Mr. Igelkjon was on the same ship as Robert when they returned from France almost exactly one year later.

These are from the  U.S. Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, showing the soldiers aboard the Nansemond in the spring of 1919.

But now I’m getting way ahead of myself.

Tents at Camp Mills, July 1918:

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.