Evening journal., 1918-06-01
N C0RMACK WROTE
DAY He WAS HURT
First Delaware Boy TO be
Wounded in France Cheer
full Before Battle
AIR FIGHTS GREAT
YOUNG MAN SAYS

Mrs. Mary G. Mccormick. Of No. 627
East Seventh street, and Mrs. Elsie
Mcbride, OF No. COS King street. today
received letters from their son and
brother, Sergeant Leighton Mccormick,
the flrst Wilmington boy 10 be wound
ed In France. The letters were date
May Q, the day he was reported to have
been wounded, and must have been
written shortly before the battle. Be
yond the first oflclal notice, his rela-
tives have received no word as 70 the
sergesnts condition, but are taking the
absence OF word AZ meaning that he has
not died from his wounds. He Is in
Battery A, Seventh Field Artillery, and
was with the first American troops in
France.
The letters, written from trenches in
the thickest part Of the western front
lighting, read as follows:
MY dear mother-Just q few words
10 let YOU know that ! am living, and
am feeling fine. Hope you are sim en-
loving good health Well, mother, we
are in the trenches again. and believe
me % Is sure different from the other
IRONS we nave Deem uus lNu dAN
ing all day and night here.
1T sure is great 10 cit and watch the
aeroplanes on a nnce day. They came
around about o'clock and stay up I'M
IN dark, and believe me, certainly see
some flne fights. / saw an observation
balloon brought down the other day. II
was some sight 10 see n coming all In
flames. Gee, this is a fine day here. II
has been very bad weather up until
now, but think that we will have pref
ty good weather now.
well. mother, l wish you could be
here az night when all the batteries are
firing II sure is pretty. All you can
see is flashes from the guns, and u
makes Il so light that you can pick up
a pin from the ground.
Il am feeling extra good today. Some
one Just came and told me that the First
! Division was going back 10 the States,
but then l hardly believe II, for that IS
too good 10 be true. ! dreamt last night
that was back, and sure was having a
good time. but woke up this morning
and found myself in the same old place.
Il isn't because France isn't good, Tor II
sure is a pretty country, but there Is
no place like the good old U. $. A.
well, mother, received your watch
today, and was very pleased with IT,
and il came Just in time, because ! sure
did need a watch and no one in my
section had one. I received a box OF
candy quite a while ago from Cousin
Esther, and am going to write TO her
after / finish this letter.
Mother, one Of our lieutenants has
lust gone back TO the states, and he
took a picture OF my gun squad, and
he said he was going 10 send you one
He was my chief Of platoon. ] woulf
have written you sooner, but I do no
have all the time should have, but
am always thinking Of you, and hop
Il will be soon that will see you s.
: will close with best love,
Your son.
LEIGHTON"
Dear Sister: Just received your let
ter and was very glad to hear from you
well. l guess you aren't proud o
your husband now? Tell him that
said he is getting pretty popular. and
maybe after this war is over he Nigh
give me a Job | wish him the best Of
luck. but II / come through this wal
nobody will have TO give me Job but
Uncle sam.
ELSIE, this Is sure some place.
thought I had been in the war when
l was al the other fronts, but I now
realize that l am Just starting 10 get
into the war now. We have been
here about three weeks. and have
shot about 1000 rounds out OF my gun,
and. believe me, that was some firing.
Tell Mac that | have some speedy gun
squad. We fired i've shots In i-a
seconds, and that is sure stepping on
their toes.
We'll. Elsie, IL there any news about
the first division coming back TO the
states7 There are enough rumors over
here. or course I want 10 stay IN
the war. but | would Ike 70 get back
10 the States. Even II do not write
a. often as you would like to hear
from me, am always thinking Of you
Write soon and often. With love to all
"Your brother.
LEIGHTON"