Letter Home #2

April 1914

Dear Pa,

The army isn't that bad, but the front is horrible. The trenches fill with water and my friends are dropping like flies from trench foot. Meaning they get to go to the hospital and out of the front. Now they are making us change our socks and powder them twice a day. I don't understand how we can when there is never a dry day when we can stop running from the shells. In the past four months there were about 20 dry days, if that. The food that we have is eaten by rats, I hate those things. They get into everything, all the food that we finally receive is taken by those fat and dirty creatures.

I will be home on leave in a few months, keep my bed warm. I'm excited to see everyone. Tell everyone hi for me. Oh, and before I forget don't tell mom about the front. You know how she worries, we don't need that. Just tell her that it isn't as bad as what people are saying.

Sincerley your son,

Joseph