Letter Home #1

November 1916



Dear Mom,

This war is gruesome and I cannot see how people can call this a holy war. The soldiers come in here sick, dying, or dead. If they are alive they beg for an escape. Some of the soldiers come in with missing arms, legs or have bubbles on their faces. I feel so bad because I cannot take all of their pain away. The soldiers are giving up so much for me and there is nothing I can do for them. The soldiers who come in with gangrene have to get an amputation, which is messy, but the worst are the ones who come in from the gas. The ones with gas die a slow and painful death. Their face bubbles, they feel like they cannot breathe and this lasts for weeks and there is nothing to be done to ease the pain.

They will do anything to stay away from going back to the front. I'm going to tell you something, but you cannot tell anyone. The doctors here let some of the soldiers pay to say that they cannot go back to the front. I don't know what to do anymore the soldiers shouldn't have to go back, but the doctors accepting pay like that is wrong. Please help, oh and p.s. I'm fine and healthy.

Sincerely your daughter,

Molly La'Fronte