Letter #70

Letter #70                                                                                                        Camp Dodge, Iowa

                                                                                                                        August 1, 1918

 

My Darling Sweetheart,

 

            Here I am, take me, oh please.  Ha! Ha!  I’m sure you would not do it if you had the chance, would you dear? For you don’t want to remember the bad, only the good about me. Or are you like myself and only wish to know the good, for the bad will always take care of itself. The good must be nourished and coaxed a great deal, before you can depend on it at all. 

            In the last letter I wrote to you I only told you the narrative up to Tues. evening. Well, to continue, the night was not so cold or did not seem so, for I went to bed dressed for it.  Instead of taking off clothing, I put on more layers, but still it got chilly before morning. We rose at 5 o’clock and had mess before daylight. At break of day, we were already in the front trenches, but not those trench over there, in Europe.  We were safe. I worked for about two hours marking targets. Then I went to the firing line and tried my luck at rapid fire. We were given ten shells to shoot: 5 shells to locate the target, and 10 to shoot in one minute ten seconds. I did not do so well. I only got 16 points the first time. The next time I got 14 points with 5 shells, the other, 5 got caught in my rifle.  So the time flew by before I got them fixed again.  The next shooting place was at the 100 yd target. We were given one minute to shoot 10 shells. I made a better score than a kid the day before at slow fire. I got 43 points out of 50. 

            Now listen to me, to put 10 shells into your rifle and fire them in one minute is no slow process. The rifle holds only 5 shells at a time. Well, that ended my time on the rifle field. The only thing I got out of it was a very sore shoulder, both thumbs cut, a sore heel, and a long hike to camp, with 24 others for guard duty.  Not very much, but it was a big change. Oh, I forgot, I received a great deal of experience on how to handle a rifle, and above all, I began to get acquainted with my rifle, my friend now.

            There were twenty four of us detailed to leave before the company did.  We got home at 4:20, leaving us 55 minutes to take a shower and prepare ourselves for guard duty at 5:15.  I was given the 4^th post to guard, which includes the barns and supply station, and also the barns where the articles are packed already for shipment.  I went on at 5:30 and was off at 7:30.  Then we had four hours’ rest, but you could not take any of your clothing.  I wish there were a barn nearby. I could sleep any place if it were in the barn. 

              Well, it is almost time for the other company to relieve us. I am here at the guard house now.  Can you tell by my writing?   I am only writing on a piece of board, anything to find to write on, now. 

            I have heard Hazel say many times how long she has been without undressing.  Will you tell her she has nothing over me, for I have not had my clothes off since last Sunday night and here it in Thursday night.  There is a pile of laundry, so if you want a job of washing, just come here, dear, and I’ll give you one, but I’ll guarantee it will not last long. 

             This guard work is very interesting.  Everybody must do as you tell them, even the officers.  There are 12 general rules we must know. I did not know all of them when I began last night, but I got them into my mind and know them now.      

            Well dear I received your parcel last night on the run. I took it to my bunk and there it is now, I do not know what is in it, but I’m sure you put some of your love inside.  Something good for me?  You never forget, do you dear? So just take a little love and sunshine from yours truly, and keep the changes until better paid.

              Yes I received something else today, two letters. One was smiling and full of love, and the other one was from Hazel. It surely made me feel fine, for I had just gotten off from duty, when they came I had four hours to read them. So you see, I could enjoy every word of them. No. I won’t forget the pictures, for they were both great. Especially the one of the service flag. The one which was taken in the lake surely was good, for you are the best looking one there. Now I’m not bragging one bit of course.  There is no one here to brag you up but me, so you must take it and say I’m right. I’ll bet when I often get my package, there will be some of the fellows who will say you are some girl.  For every time I’ve opened them they always say, “She surely is some girl!”  But I never say that.  I always say she is some sweetheart, and above all the best in the world. Well dear I must close this narrative, or love letter, until something more happens, for it is time for inspection and then we are off for the night. The weather is still warm here but cold at night.

            Well dear I’m back again.  My washing is partly done, but how can a man wash clothes in cold water? The only thing to do is to use plenty of soap and elbow grease. They have been issuing O.D. clothes; that is, those are the clothes we are to use over sea. I have received my trousers.  My cotton trousers are to be turned in tomorrow. I handed in my overalls today at noon.

                                                                                                                                                                       

            I have opened my package at last.  I surely was surprised!  It made my eyes dance for joy, for it just made my mouth water to look at it without tasting it.  R.L. Evans was sitting on my bunk when I opened it.  He said, “Just cut me a big piece.”  I cut it and gave him a piece, and then I gave the three sergeants a piece.  Two of them were on guar wit us today.  They surely are nice fellows. Their names are McQuiran,  King and Rowe.

             Now to the socks.  They surely were great.  They will surely be worn with the greatest love any person can show can show toward anyone.  They will be kept as a fond remembrance of my sweetheart at home. When I looked at the writing pinned to the sock, I could not have guessed what could have been in the toe.  It was the last thing I expected, for money does not bother me as it used to.  I can’t go anywhere to spend it.  But I can use it for something else, which will be of remembrance of you, dear love.  You are being too good to me, treating me superior.  But dear, if you will have patience, you will be repaid when I return, if not before.  I feel so happy tonight, I don’t know what to tell you so you will know how I feel, in regards to you, dear.  But one thing I can say, and say from the bottom of my heart, my love in increasing so rapidly I can hardly keep it under control, but remember dear all my love goes to you and I surely will have a great deal when I return back home, and the best part about it, you will fall heir to it.  Thanks very very very very very much for the kind remembrance of me.  May God ever bless you, for being such is my desire and love for my future wife.

       I received a letter from Mary and Irvin tonight. It makes me feel better, but if they would tell me more about the place, I would feel still better.  Well, dear sweetheart, bedtime is here so will say goodbye, no, goodnight and a big kiss X.  Thanks.  May God ever be near you, and protect you and give you faith and courage to withstand this great trial you and I have been placed at, and grant as the desires of you hearts, is my faith and love for you.  Give my love to all.

 

                                                                                                    Yours as ever, Henry