100 years ago in The Saratogian
Thursday, Oct. 11, 1917
The men who selected for military service in the July 20 draft lottery and have since reported for duty in training camps across the country are often referred to as “honor men.”
But as Daniel L. Moriarty writes in today’s Saratogian, “I would be pleased if you would inform me which are the Honor men – the ones who gave up home, family and positions of their own free will or the ones who waited to be forced against their wills to go and protect their homes and country from the insults of the German empire.”
Moriarty is a soldier in Company L. of the 105th U.S. Infantry regiment, currently stationed in Spartansburg SC. Company L. is Saratoga County’s National Guard company, which did borderpatrol duty in Texas in 1916 before being called back into federal service shortly before the U.S. declaration of war last April.
The men of Company L “look through your paper daily for some little item to show that we are not forgotten, but are nearly always disappointed,” Moriarty writes in today’s People’s Forum section, “There is not one line about us or our camp life such as there was last year; and the men feel it very keenly.
“And if you want to start a howl just show the boys a paper with a lot of news about the so-called Honor men and you are sure to get it.”
Saratoga County’s “Honor Men” are training at Camp Devens in Ayer MA. Moriarty thinks these new soldiers have it too easy.
“The boys at Devens write about their fine bunk houses, mattresses and beds,” Moriarty complains, “but it would be better if they were to start roughing it a little.” The draftees most likely will end up at Camp Wadsworth in Spartansburg after the 105th goes to Europe, “and then they will find a vast difference between real soldiering under canvas with only two blankets and living in a nice barracks.”
Responding to Moriarty’s letter, The Saratogian acknowledges that “There is not little reason for the sentiment expressed … Yet there should not be. There is honor enough for all our soldiers, Regulars, Guardsmen and Draft men.”
The main reason for the disparity in coverage, an editorial writer explains, is that the paper has been unable to get any Company L soldiers to write articles for publication, while a Saratogian staffer, Frank J. Sullivan, is one of the Ayer draftees .
The writer assures Moriarty that “the draft men will get all the work that the ‘L’ boys are now receiving, as soon as they are in condition to stand it.”