In the photo (above) left to right are: brother John Kenly Montgomery, Monty in uniform, mother Annie S Montgomery, sister Bell M Tilghman, brother-in-law, Horace L Tilghman

We have Monty’s culmination at the ROTC at Fort Oglethorpe on August 15, 1917. Orders have him reporting to Hoboken, NJ on the 29^th of August 1917. We have a picture of him at home during the short time between completion at Fort Oglethorpe and arrival in Hoboken, NJ. He is wearing a rather new and undecorated uniform. The picture may have been taken just before departure for points north.

The following letter from New York is the first we have as he starts the journey of preparing to depart for the Great War:

Letterhead:

Hotel Martinique[1] “The House of Taylor” Broadway and 32^nd & 33^rd Streets

August 31, 1917 [postmark]                                                                      Thursday night

Dear Mother—

Received both your wires and letter all right and was mighty glad to hear from you. Fully intended to write you sooner but have been so busy chasing equipment that I’ve never seemed to find the time. Stayed in Phila. only 2 hours Monday as couldn’t get any equipment there. Tuesday morning early went over to Hoboken and reported. Was ordered to be inoculated for para typhoid and report again tomorrow—Friday—for further orders. Didn’t mind this inoculation near as much as the one for typhoid. Our information is that none of us will be allowed to go on a transport until we’ve had our second inoculation which comes after a week. It therefore seems now that we will be here until about next Wednesday. I have a feeling, however, that they don’t want us to know when we are to sail and we may be notified anytime to report ready to sail. I may learn more tomorrow when I report for further orders. It was a good thing anyway that we had this much time to get equipment [and to be allowed] to shop all over the city for what we need. Haven’t all of mine yet but hope to finish tomorrow.

This is just a note. Will write you more at length tomorrow or Saturday.

Love to all,

Carl

[1] Hotel Martinique (now Radisson Hotel Martinique) opened in 1910; landmark status in 1988. A 1917 hotel ad gives prices for rooms with private bath as $2.50 (“facing large open court”) and $3.50 (“facing street”). “The House of Taylor” presumes the proprietary sense of president Charles Leigh Taylor.