Letter #71
Camp
Dodge, Iowa
August
3, 1918
My Dear Sweetheart,
Saturday
once more and I’m still here feeling O.K. I suppose. We are out of quarantine again for they have
granted passes to us tonight. I have applied for one, but whether I get it, I
don’t know. I’m going to Des Moines with R.L. Evans. We have a few things we
wish to do before Sunday.
Well
dear, I’ve got two nights’ rest since writing to you last, I certainly feel
like a new man now. I have all my washing and ironing done for the week.
Say,
you surely think a great deal of my stomach.
I’m afraid I’ll get fat if you don’t stop sending me such good
things. I received the sweet box of
candy today at noon; it surely
was good; for all the fellows had a taste of it and then came back for more.
The reason why I gave them some was because we had an inspection this afternoon,
and everything we had must be taken out and placed on the blanket. They told us
to get rid of everything we did not want to take with us.
So you
see dear I had to either throw it away or give it away. But it was received and eaten with the same
love I always show when I receive anything from you. I surely hated to get rid
of it in such a hurry as we did, but I had one thing which I hid so I could
have later. That was my cake. I wrapped it up in a newspaper and put it in my
raincoat, so you see I’m having something to remember you by, dear. They also
told us to send away all the things we have here which will not be of value to
you. Well, I was afraid they were going to tell me to send my socks home, but luck
was in my favor. They asked me if I had
anything personal I wanted to take along. I told them I had a toilet kit and
two pairs of socks. They did not say anything so I suppose they will let me
take them. I do not know what I will do
if they tell me to send them home. But dear, I must do as I’m told and do my
duty, for those are the kind of soldiers Uncle Sam wants today. I surely want
to thank you for being so thoughtful of me. For I am sure I’ll need them this
winter, when it becomes so cold, water freezes before sticking the ground.
Yesterday
was a lucky day for me, for it was pay day and you know what pay day means to a
soldier, if he only gets a few dollars. I received $23.40. Some pay check! But it looks like a great deal to me. Not that I’m broke, for I’ve never been without
money. I’ve always had $10 to $15 on me.
I’m going to try and save at least ten dollars a month of my wages. Had I known what I do now, I would have made
an allotment to mother for $15 dollars, and then the government would have
given her another $15, so you see I could have been saving $30 dollars a month. But
one never knows what to do until it is too late.
Before
I forget, do not send any more parcels, for I may not be able to receive
them. Not that I do not care for them,
dear, for I just crave something from home. The candy and cake here does not
taste like that which I received from home. You know, dear, how it is to
receive anything a week or a month late.
It may be packed and shipped with the greatest care, and when you
receive it could be spoiled or ruined. Which in that case will be a loss of
time and money to you, and a big punishment to me. The only thing I ask of you
dear is to just send me your sweet love and remember me always. Now dear, don’t
feel like I did not want them, for I do, but if you were here and saw things as
I do, it would be different.
This is
just a short letter, so as not to disappoint you. I will write tomorrow. Geo.
says hello. It is almost bedtime, so I will say goodbye. Why do I keep saying that? Good night. XXX, wishing you the blessing of
our Lord and Ruler. I send my love and
best wishes to all.
Your
Soldier-Sweetheart, Henry
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