Lloyd Staley recalls his impression of New York City as he waits to embark on his journey overseas.
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Camp Mills, N.Y.

My Dearest Mary -

I write this on board a boat that will leave for overseas soon. Our letters are all censored from now on so there is no use wasting my time and the censors trying to tell you some things.

I took in a little of New York last night: I went into the city from L.I. by the way of the tube under the Hudson river. I got out at the Pennsylvania station and spent the rest of the night to 1:30 P.M. just looking around. There wasn't any chance to go to a good show because you know how the advance sales take everything. Harry Lauder is at the Metropolitan and I would certainly like to have seen him. I saw where the film The Beast of Berlin was being shown and right across the street was with Guy Empey Over the Top.

The city is full of soldiers and sailors all the time I guess anyway there were a good many last night.

The city is an easy place to get lost because of the irregularity of the streets. Most all cities out our way cross each other at right angles but in N.Y. they may take any direction. I walked down one street and when I took a notion to turn and go back I wasn't on the same street at all and I couldnt tell where I made any turn.

I got a good look at the city from the water front today. It was a bright clear day and we could see quite a distance. I have seen pictures of N.Y. from the Hudson and I can say that the real thing was just a picture laid before you. I would like to have stayed at Camp Mills until I had seen more of the city but the powers that be saw otherwise.

I can scarcily realize we are going everything moves off without any trouble or delay that it might just as well be a trip up the river.

Well I have been looking forward to this for quite a while and I guess now that the time for going has come it fits right into my scheme and ways of thinking that the going seems only a small part of it.

Well I must close so as to mail this right away. So, good-bye Little girl for a time at least. Keep on writing.

With Truest Love
Lloyd M. Staley
My address { Co. K137 Inf. Amer. Exp. Forces