Mrs. George Lockard
Mulberry Street,
Scottdale, Penna

My Dearest Mother:-
Have just finished another long hike and think that it will be the last for a while. We are up where things are doing now and ready to do our bit. I know that you must want to hear from me more often than you do but I have never been more busy in my life than at the present. I haven't heard anything from home for a few weeks now and that along with the censorship makes letter writing a task. I am still in fine health and enjoying the trip. It has been over four months now since I last saw you and have been going some ever since that rainy day I started out for the "great adventure". "Hump" + "Fratz" + I all met accidentally in a small village near here night before last and immediately held a reunion. Keller met his brother Joe over here about a week ago quiet (sic.) by chance and both were equally surprised and pleased. Well it won't be long now till the 4th and we look forward to having a great celebration. Somewhat different than previous ones perhaps. We see some stirring scenes every day. I haven't been keeping my diary but some of these sights I know I'll never forget. There are a great many people at home there that I would like to write to but there is hardly any chance at all. You can explain to Aunt Annie and Uncle Frank, also to Florence and Uncle Will how I am situated and tell them all that I haven't forgotten any of them. It surely is a great war! You folks can't realize what it takes to carry a thing like this out. It all seems extremely foolish at time and especially when you think of one guy starting the whole thing. I am becoming very proficient in the art of washing my own clothes and sometimes cooking my own meals. Also in sewing, patching and general repair. Yesterday I cooked my mid day meal over a small camp fire. I had a big piece of beef steak, three eggs and the rest of the skillet full of potatoes. One of the sergeants came by and was surprised when he learned that it was for me alone instead of for the whole company. It was fine too, even if it did contain a little charcoal and dirt. I try to remember how you used to prepare these things and then go about it that way. Everyone laughed when I sliced my spuds into a pan of water. They just cut them up into the skillet. Of course I didn't know what the difference was but simply did it that way because I saw you doing it. Lots of little things like that that make you go back and you think of a hundred little things in connection with them. You know how I used to pick on fried bread. Well you would have had a good laugh had you seen me trying to fry some the other night. I knew that you used to dip it into some batter before putting it into the pan but as I couldn't have the trimmings I put her right into the grease. Ah! Those were the happy days! We will all know something more than when we left. They say that we are going to get mail today & I hope it's so for I'm surely anxious to hear from home at all times. Now, Mother dear, you write often and keep Grace and Florence "behind their pencils" for I want to hear from all of you. Love to Dad. love to all.
"Au revoir"
 

WH lockard Pvt.
Int. Sect. Hdq. Co. 112th Inf.
American E.F.

Your loving son
Walter

R.F. Reynolds, Jr.
2nd lieut.
Via N.Y.          [Name of censor]