World War 1 Soldier

Dear Emily,

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better darling, that makes me very happy. I certainly hope that your recovery did not take as long as t did to receive the letter, mail runs so slow here. I write you as often as I can, though I'm sure some of the letters are lost en route back home to New York. I hope everything is going well with you. I'm alright out here, I mean to be alive is lucky and with so many dying around me I'm not going to piss and moan about the cold, or the stench, or the discomfort of the trenches. Every time that I start to feel down because of predicament I think of the poor civilians on the Lusitania, I think of you and Molls and Bella under the cruel regime of the Kaiser and I am motivated to go on.

I went on a quite holiday about two weeks ago, into the French countryside just outside Paris. It was so beautiful and peaceful love, someday when this is all over we're going to go back there. Walk along the same dirt paths up through the hills and the woods but no one will fear us because I will no longer have this gun strapped across my back. I had received a pay advancement for this trip and I assure you I spent it all on fine wine, bread, and cheese! Sadly, I can no longer send you those beautiful sentiments about the French country side, after a few weeks near Paris I was sent by train with only my gun, one blanket, and some ammunition out to the trenches. It's miserable in down here Em, there's no other way to explain it. I can't sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, even write this letter without cowering behind one of my dead friends. The snipers are everywhere Em, I can't escape them. I have seen such horrible things my darling. Men wandering blind through the maze of the trenches, eyes burned and blinded by mustard gas. I have watched a friend die in the middle of dinner right after he asked me to pass him the bread. It feels so desolate here, so lonesome.

Father has been sending me a few articles from the newspaper. He sent one about you love, about how you are the head of the scrap metal drive, about how you are trying so hard to help us troops. We all thank you here, me and the boys, it's your spirit that keeps us going. I've also seen the sad headlines, like that Alice something or another picketing at the White House, fighting for "woman's suffrage". Sure, big supporter of the socialist party I expect. I'm proud to know you aren't a part of that ridiculous group Em, you don't need to fight Wilson or America when they're busy with the Kaiser. It's very unpatriotic, but I am glad to hear about the new Espionage and Sedition Acts, they should really help put a damper on those damn socialists that keep infiltrating our country with their poisonous ideas.

Hopefully it'll be over soon Em, and I'll be home. I hear the French are really pushing Germany back, it's not like Somme or Verdun anymore, the allies are really getting moving. I can't wait to get out of here love. Please keep writing and letting me know about what's going on back home, I already feel like I'm so far behind I'll never be able to get back into the social scene. Thank you for the new sweater darling. I must be honest, I don't wear it very often, it's far too pretty to be seen amongst the macabre gore of these trenches. It does not belong here, neither do I. Our officers keep tell us to hold out, the an armistice will come soon, that we will win this war and come home soon.I sure hope so Emily, and I hope it's not too long in coming.


All of my love,
Sam