Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1918-10-19
SOLDIERS LETTERS
An Enlisted Boy Writes an Interesting
Letter to His Sister From Some
where in France.

| DEAR SISTER :-
Just a few lines in answer to your let
ter You wanted to know whether or
not you could go to dances. Well Logo
to them myself and if things were as
they used to be | would give you my
permission but this is war time and the
real men the nation are at war and
| the young men who are home at pres
ent are nothing but the crumbs and /
don't want my sister to be one Of the
women that help make things pleasant
| for them while some one else is over
! here fighting for them and letting them
stay home. After the war is over and |
get back, | will take you myself and
help show you good time but at pres
ent what you want to DO is help make
them feel by your attitude that they
ought to be over here instead of at home
enjoying themselves
There are men up there at the front
that are being killed and wounded and
gassed or working for hours in gas and
are almost exhausted when taken out
They are doing ii ali for principle.
while Others stay home and have the
girls help entertain them Remember
that while they are dancing another
boy, another mothers son, is out at a
listening post IN "NO Mans Land" try
ing to gain what little information he
can Another boy is up in the front
line trenches watching to see if the
enemy is coming over so he can call for
barrage and warn his comrades. Back
in the gun pits with the Artillery is a
boy waiting and watching for a rocket
from the front lines that will call for the
barrage. The Infantry is depending on
him. They know that within twenty
seconds after that rocket goes up a shell
will be on its way to cut off the Hun.
And be must be worthy of their trust.
Back of them in their dugouts are the
gun crews sleeping in their clothes wait
ing and ready to get to the guns the min
ute that first shell goes.
This is what is going on every night
whether it is quiet or not. There are
thousands of boys 90 on guard each
night and on each one Of these is placed
the responsibility of looking after others
lives. Think of this when you want a
good time, and when you look in to a
dance hall and see some young fellow
who looks good to you just ask yourself
why isn't he ''oyer theTe?" He is yell
low or else he would be. Any young
man who has a good enough physic to
attract a girl should be over here. His
country needs him and if he was the
man he ought to be, he'd be here.
SO as long as the war lasts whenever a
young man asks you for his company,
Just tell him you don't care to go with
Stacker and if he pleads his case and you
care for him, tell him to come over here
and prove his worth and when he comes
back you'll talk it over. Now you may
think I'm preaching but I'm not. | am
just stating facts.
There was a Colonel spoke to US on
the night we finished school and one of
the remarks he made was, 81 never con-
gratulate or praise a man. We are at
war now and when a man is doing his
damnedest, he is only doing his duty"
This applies not only to those of us who
are here but those who are at home, so
when you size up men and women today
just ask yourself whether or not they
are doing their damnedest.
Tell the folks that when they are max
ing Red Cross goods not to knit scarfs or
helmets for soldiers. We cannot use
them up on the front at all on account
Of having to get our gas masks on quick
ly when the alarm is given and we can't
bother with taking off helmets or scarfs.
The sweaters are alright but We get that
stuff issued to us anyway.
Must close or | will tire you.
Your LOVING BROTHER.