The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-10-26
A Brave Boys Letter

our son, B. Hammond Tracey, Jr.,
. may be OF interest to you and may
also help some other young fellow to
see his duty in a clearer light. Our
boy left last February for France,
With the Harvard unit, sailing on
he same boat with young Craig.
Was with section at Verdun, where
ne attained his majority. Later,
was in the Champagne district, en-
camped on the ancient battlefield of
Attila. the Terrible Hun. This let
ter was written from there. He is
. now with section 3, Armee d'Orient,
OH the Macedonian front.
l------- FL A.asa4aAFD-T
Wenham, Sept. 20.
, Dear Mother and Father:
Your letters came to me yesterday,
and now | wish l had said nothing
about aviation until nearer the end
Of my ambulance service. l am sor-
" you take aviation so hard, for the
mortality is only per cent. more
lhan that of the infantry. The whole
argument amounts to this: L am
drst OF all of military age, and must
take up some service, now that we
are at war. am physically fit for ava
lion, while there are millions over
and under age available for ambu-
.anciers and camions. Do you wish
me to be called an ambuSCade when
l come home? And that is what they
call us here, now that America is at
war. The air life is bit more dan
gerous, but death comes from lit
lie bullet and is quick and clean.
One is not blown into nifty by
marmite or other high explosives
which leave unbelievable holes in
ones body One fights man to man
n the air.
| must do some military duty, and
my six months experience and my
knowledge of French are of value to
those whom l am trying to help. At
GER all, if | am not to survive this
var, what difference does it make
low l go about it? No one wants to
come home more than l do. No one
IS more fed up on this war than
IN, but my wishes and your wishes
re almost nothing. Our sorrow is
ike sunshine when you think of the
sorrow caused by the death of the
100000 men who have died since
August, 1914. One learns to feel
Eat death is easy after watching
these Frenchmen die.
And are you, my mother and my
rather, going to refuse to sacrifice
enc son, when millions of others
cave done far more? Could you
nave followed me through some of
he places l have. been the last week,
you would have infinite confidence in
NY luck. Something more than the
power of a piece of gold is guiding
ne through these bursting shells.
J. is going into aviation,
and his mother has no dear little
listers to take his place. Perhaps |
an wrong to urge you to let me go
on, but l have all the papers made
cut and take the medical examina-
ion soon. In America we are tau
sht that ones country comes first,
and am l now to throw over the leg
acy of the Revolution? In France
an aviator is considered worth 1000
! men. Can you imagine my being
worth 1000 men? However, this is
10 time for joking. Only think Of
he millions who have lost more
han l can ever be, of mothers who
Lave lost several sons, as well as
heir husbands, and their daughters,
ruined by German officers; of hus-
/ lands fighting, never knowing the
tate of their sons, wives ad daugh-
ters. God is watching me, and if
! anything should go wrong, sorrow a
! little and thank God that you could
sacrifice one so dear to you in the
( cause of right When you have de-
! cided, write to me at once. All my
! plans shall stop until l hear again.
! Let b read this letter. | do
hope he will never be called to
cave America for this God forsaken
/ country.
| have little news to tell. This is
7 reconquered territory, and no one is
living above the ground. Wheat
fields are the only gardens, with
patches of radishes and lettuce
bout. Weather is wonderful.
Once more, let me assure that |
realize how much | owe you and
Dad, and will come home at permits
son, come home only to return, for
/ | could never stay away from this
war now until it ends.
! HAMMOND.
/ New York Herald.
! L.