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My Dear Family;
You all are near to me and my thots have been of you and home this
evening. We were denied passes to Nancy. I can't say why but they hand out
these jabs every so often just to let the enlisted man know that he is
still in the service. So we are here in our cell like billet doing our
best to stay on good terms with each other and eat our sardines and cheese
with something akin to relish. Some party! Six homesick boys in one room
and as one guy just remarked "Damn the man who wouldn't get homesick on
Christmas Eve."
Your letter of December 3, 1918 reached me today and also one from Mrs.
Florence Hemp. They surely came along at the right time and I read them
again and again. Now it seems queer that you haven't heard from me since
Nov. 11th for I sent another cable soon after that date. It took you 15
days to get my first wire and that kind of service is not much better than
writing. Lines are busy now, tho, we all know.
Oh yes! I had a letter from Florence of Dec. 1st. I'm glad she received
the medal. Mighty sorry to hear of Ray dying. He was a prince and a
gentleman. Give Vernia (sp) my deepest expressions of sympathy. Last year
and this! What a difference! What a comparison! What reasons we have for
thanksgiving to the One who was born under surroundings less than I enjoy
tonight!
Last year life was going on for me in such a manner as is not good for
anyone. I was fast degenerating to the level of a bum. I knew what I
wanted to do but they didn't seem to want to give me the chance to do it.
Not only for patriotic reasons did I wish a place in the scrap but also to
prove to my own self whether I did or did not have any "guts". Can you
imagine what I would have been had I been refused the opportunity to prove
that I had what I was beginning to believe I lacked.
It was not proven the minute I donned the uniform but later, the second
day in the Argonne. I was sent to find the Colonel and the road I was to
travel was being continually "sniped" by German sharpshooters and machine
guns. When I had reached the orchard south of Mount Blameville (sp) the
fire was so heavy that I was forced to take shelter behind a strip of
camouflaged road. There I met two other scouts and one Lieut. There was a
narrow opening through this screen and we knew our only chance to reach
the Col. and the line was through this hole. The officer raised up to try
for it and was knocked dead beside us. The bullets were cutting the high
grass just over our heads. We lay motionless. Soon the second man tried it
and made the hole and then plunged through face forward, wriggled like a
chicken and lay still. The remaining scout and I lay still and merely
looked at each other. Words were useless we both knew that some sniper was
guarding that hole from the wooded hill beyond. Soon things quieted some
and he made his trial only to be knocked sidewards as tho struck with a
club and slid down slowly beside the big tree. I shall never forget his
last look as he sank down, staring at me until his eyes became glassy.
I knew instinctively that the moment had arrived when I was being tested.
I thought of those long hours I had spent last winter before the fire
thinking what I would do under circumstances like this. I thought of how I
could creep back to safety and report not being able to locate the Col.
The minutes passed like hours. I lie there looking at my three dead
comrades and the longer I remained the less incentive I had to go forward.
Then hardly conscious of what I was doing I began doubling my legs under
me for the spring through the opening and talking to myself like this;
“your time is now”! "If you fail you’ll be 'gutless’ the rest of your
life"! "Go on"! and with that I made the jump, cleared the hole, and found
shelter behind a disabled tank in the road. The Huns saw me because they
rattled steel off the armored tank for fair.
You can’t imagine how good I felt. All I could think of was. "Damn it you
did it"! "Damn it you did it"! And while they peppered the tank before me
I almost sang this aloud. I felt good! I had passed the greatest moment of
my life! Later when I heard him open up again and the bullets were not
striking the tank I knew that he figured he had fixed me and had turned
his attention elsewhere. I made another break and reached a trench ahead
from there worked my way to the Col. and delivered my message.
When I had time, I dropped down by myself and drew your pictures from my
pocket. Nothing looked so good. There you all were smiling out to greet
me. Dad seemed almost to be with me and to say, "Kid, I always knew you'd
come through.” It may seem that I am talking too much of myself tonight
but it is only for you to read. Think what it meant to me that day. Think
what it would have meant had I turned back.
It was a turning point and I turned the right way. Now I can come home and
meet life's new problems knowing the there is no yellow streak to fear.
Hump has been in my mind a great deal this blizzardy evening and I am glad
that he had time to think of all his dear ones before he went to join
those who left him years ago. What a welcome he must have received ! Now
this is a Christmas Eve letter from son to family so keep the contents
within the circle. This year has meant much to me! God bless you and keep
you. Just a few more months .
Love to all!
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