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My Dearest Mother:-
We just came back for a few days rest after our go at the Hun.
[Fismes Sector]
We had some hard work to do the
last month back and we did it well. Best part of having been up front is
to get back to a rest. It is like hitting yourself on the finger with a
hammer. It feels so good when you stop. We gave a good account of
ourselves up there and didn't lose so very many either. I haven't seen
Hump for some time but guess he is all together yet.
Just received your letter of July 20th and can't understand why you are so
long getting my mail. I have been writing under all conditions at least
once a week. Your mail reaches me in the order in which it is written and
always in less than one month from the date you mailed it. Of course your
mail is not censored and ours is, so that may take more time. I sent you
my pictures in a letter over a month ago. I'm sorry you don't hear from us
more often but it is not our fault, Mother, you can rest assured.
The weather here has been rainy and cold for the last few weeks and it
happened just at the time when we were out most of the time. I took some
swell duckings! Came thru O.K. however, and still feel fine. I told you in
my last letter about meeting all the boys. I saw Webb Stauffer, too, the
other night. He was going as we came out to rest. He is still in good
shape. We passed in the dark, and it just happened that I knew his company
and called his name. He was near and dropped out for a few minutes to
shake hands and talk a little while. First time I had seen him on this
side. Your letters and clippings have all reached me and I devour them
both. Every mail I hear from you and from the rest. On an average of two
or three times a week. Unlike Frank McCanns and those fellows, I can't
write you all the details because we are in such a position that we see
infinitely more than they do but can't tell you about it. Can say, though,
that we are all at the front of the front and in the big drive that you
said caused so much hilarity at home. Our time has been so taken up that
yesterday was the first chance we have had to take a bath since things
started on the 3rd of July. I was lucky so far as “cuties” were concerned
and didn’t have one.
It makes me feel blue to think that my old dad must go to the mines to
earn his living and I surely hope things will pick up for him soon. I’m
glad Grace can take things so easy and from the looks of things now I
think we can be home this time next summer. Some think it will be sooner
than that, but I can't see where Fritz will be licked before next spring.
He still puts up a strong resistance.
It surely must be a dead town with so many gone out to war and I’m glad I
didn't have to stay back by myself. All the towns we see now are fine
examples of how Fritz leaves things in his wake and we never see any women
or children anymore. nothing but soldiers everywhere. The little boy we
had with us could not be taken up here along so was sent to the home where
all refugees are taken care of. He was a fine little fellow and we hated
to lose him. Now, mother, please don't worry about me and about sending
things. We get plenty to eat and don't have a chance to spend any money.
As long as I can keep my health and stay lucky I'm not going to complain
because when I get back it will do you all good to see me eat lustily of
all the things I used to turn my nose up at. Everything but cheese. I’m
still against that. Can’t get it down.
It happens that paper is scarce just now so I am using the sheets you sent
me. I had a letter from Florence, written since she was home for those few
days. I’m sure it is all fitting and proper that she should give the
benefit of her training to Uncle Sam. She is lucky in choosing her
profession for instead of being looked askance at, a nurse is envied by
most of her sisters in civilian life now-a-days. I think all Government
nurses at home have good positions and even if she is sent here she will
be taken good care of. All the field work is done by men, you know, and
the nurses handle the more serious cases back at the base. Base hospitals
are always far back in some town or city.
We hear some good stories of their devotion and some have even surpassed
soldiers by winning the war cross and other decorations. It is hard work
no doubt but then she has that all figured out. There were a few nurses on
our boat coming over. They had the best staterooms aboard and a deck to
themselves. No one was permitted to talk to them, not even the officiers.
Besides all this they are needed! I have been in several large hospitals
over here and theirs is a great work. Especially the gas wards .
If I was an artist I would like to draw you a picture of my home here on
the hillside. It is a small tunnel for my sleeping quarters and then two
sheets of corrugated iron covered with sod to form the roof of my veranda.
Every fellow or two fellows occupies a dugout or bombproof of some
description. We go about our duties same as ever except when Fritz sends
one close then everyone dives for shelter. He has a bad habit of doing
this about mess time. We hope to go back to a regular rest camp soon.
Dugouts are allright only the dirt will fall down your back and being a
mouth breather I sleep with an old newspaper over my face.
I told you that I had heard from Ben again. He writes me good letters and
not being a letter writer I send him Graces letters to me along with mine.
I know she writes him often, but then every little bit helps and I know he
enjoys anything that is from his wife. Have you had any roasting ears yet?
We have been feeding fine for the last while back. All we can eat. I
suppose you are in the midst of your canning season at home now. I'd like
to taste some crabapple jelly or some of your other specialties which
government recipes have not spoiled. "Oh, well. It won't always be like
this." as the boys over here say. So Uncle Jock married the widow, eh! He
surely is a bird! A good husky woman ought to be able to handle him by
this time. How are Uncle Jim's boys? Do you ever hear from him? The sun is
trying to make up for lost time today and is very hot. The only thing they
aren't fighting here is flies. They are just the same as U.S. flies only
more plentiful. I had a chance to read a bundle of C’ville Couriers last
night. Sloane's wife sends him a bundle every now and then. I’m sorry if
you can’t make this pencil out but I have no pen and the fellows who have
haven't any ink, so there you are.
Grace and Florence H. seem to be enjoying life a little with receptions
and brides dinners. Hope they can keep it up then first thing they know it
will be time to take turns asking Uncle Walter, the old bachelor out to
eat. See Frankie Walker joined up. What position does he hold? Aide-de-campe
to Pershing? They tell me that my little friend of long ago (Edith Evans)
is about to take the plunge. She has my permission and best wishes.
Wish you would explain my position to Uncle Will and Frank and the rest.
Someday I might find time to write to them all. I'm going to number my
letters. We'll call this #15 and then you can tell how they come to you.
Wish you would write me under this address, it gets to me sooner. Love to
Aunt Anne & Lib and a thousand kisses each for you all. I am still
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