Army 'Big Hike' to American Lake Begins
Sixty-six infantrymen from Fort Lawton trek through the mud to set up a target range at American Lake.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Sixty-six brawny, husky soldiers of Uncle Sam left Fort Lawton this morning on what they term the 'big hike.' Under orders from the department commander, General Funston, Company M, Nineteenth United States infantry, has been ordered to make a practice march to American lake and go into camp there for target practice. The company left Fort Lawton at 7 o'clock this morning and will probably reach Tacoma Monday evening. They were ordered to go in heavy marching order, which means that each man, in addition to his rifle, must carry a change of underclothes, a pair of shoes, 50 rounds of ammunition, a shelter tent, a haversack full of things that he will need, a blanket, and several other articles. The men have not been looking forward to the march with unalloyed pleasure. Part of the route is through the White river valley, where a fine quality of mud is known to be plentiful at this time of the year.
“The men have not been looking forward to the march with unalloyed pleasure. Part of the route is through the White river valley, where a fine quality of mud is known to be plentiful at this time of the year.”
This march highlights the origins of the military presence in the South Sound, which would eventually solidify into the massive infrastructure of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The physical labor and 'mud-slogging' of these soldiers predate the mechanized military footprint that now defines the American Lake region.
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