Collection 2
Dear Mom and Dad,
I miss you terribly. It seems like decades have passed since I slept
in my bed, or any bed, for that matter. I am writing this letter in a
trench. This smell is overpowering, almost too much to bear. I can
hardly collect my thoughts, because I know any second, bombs will
deafen my ears and shatter my nerves. I am afraid that any minute
could be my last. I haven't showered in weeks, but that is hardly
something worth dwelling on in these conditions. There are thousands
of rats, so bold, they come right up to you as if you're not even
there. I am engulfed by sewage and wastes and I'm deathly afraid of a
whiff of Mustard Gas, which is my most feared way of dying. But, I am
slowly adjusting to this way of life, as difficult as it is. The
thought that encourages me to keep on going is your happy faces
waiting to welcome me home. Take care and God bless!!!
Love,
Shannon
Dear Mother and Father,
How are you. I hope all is well at home. I've been busy with trying
to stay alive. The War is incredible! You wouldn't believe what I
have to go through everyday and see. I wake up to the sound of
gunfire, the itch of my infected lice hair and the screaming of men
enduring painful wounds. The conditions are unsanitary, and infested
with rats and lice. Us men have to deal with the cold,mud,unsanitary,
and the fear of death. The men go on strong knowing that they are
going to die as heroes. Even though their fear is death we still risk
our lives for our country. I
hope it is over soon I love you and miss you! Please keep me in your
prayers.
All my regards,
Brandy
January 16, 1916
Dear Mom,
The war here in Europe is pretty bad. Since this is a cold month,
more guys are dying on our side and our opponents side. It is getting
so cold young men and old men are getting frostbite. I've hadn't
gotten it yet, because I'm keeping warm. These other guys think they
are so manly if
they don't have anything warm on. The warfare is pretty cruel. They
throw these gas bombs on us to kill us. One takes two days to kill
someone, two another's takes a matter of minutes, if he doesn't get
medical attention right away. Anyway, They throw these gas bombs
which create smoke also. They wait a few minutes and then come
charging. We don't know where to shoot until they right upon us.
Sometimes we don't even use the gas bombs, we just shoot each other.
And this isn't at close range either. The distance varies from 100
yards to 300 yards. The trenches we are living in are even worse. The
trenches get filled up with water to about the ankles and some even
drown. Or get trampled on. That's not all. There are rats in the
trenches!!!!!! We play with them with pots and pans. And if we don't
wear
socks we get something really horrible.
Well, that's all for now, I've got to go fight!!
Love,
Your Russian son fighting his hardest for Russia,
David Taylor Ross
Dearest Mother,
Sorry I have not written in so long. I have been working 14 hour days
at the infirmary and during my time off I mostly sleep to try to
fight off the exhaustion that is always threatening to overcome
me.
Winter has been hard on us all. Now, along with the soldiers injured
in battle, many need to be treated for hypothermia and frostbite.
I’m afraid I’m becoming to comfortable with the sight of
blood and injury. There aren’t many things that surprise or
disgust me now. I remember that when I first got here, I would vomit
every time I saw a wound gushing blood or an injury infected with
gang green. I soon learned though not to think about it and just to
do what has to be done. I think that is the only reason I am able to
cope so well with the conditions. I don’t let myself think about
what is happening all around me. Instead I often find myself thinking
back to my childhood. I only hope that one day my life will again be
as simple and serene as it once was. When I volunteered to help with
the war effort, I never imagined that I would be place like this, in
the middle of all of the fighting and surviving through these horrid
conditions.
But the good news is that everyone is saying that in a few months,
the war will be over and we’ll all be able to return home. I
look forward to seeing you all again. Send everyone my love and I
will try to write again soon.
Your Loving Daughter,
Laura
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? I'm doing good. As good as can be expected for being in
a war. It's terrible here. Everywhere you look you see people dying.
Sometimes it's even my friend. I never thought war would be like
this. Now I realize this is a nightmare. I am always tired from not
getting enough sleep and there is a great lack of food. Tell everyone
I say hello. It rains here a lot. some guys have lost there feet and
toes from disease and frostbite. So now we must change our socks
three times a day. I wish I could be home eating a home cooked meal
with the love of family surrounding me. I miss you so much. Don't
worry I'll be home soon.
love,
Your son
Jenny