The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-03-28

from Lieut.. Thornwell Sowell was re-
Gently received by his father, Mr.. r.
d. Sowell.
Moultrieville, S. c., March 9, 1918
My dear father:
No doubt you are thinking have
forgotten home entirely. If this is
the case I wish to relieve you of that
impression. have by no means for
gotten you nor one member of the
family. 1t was to my own sorrow
that duty caused me to remain silent.
have just returned from across the
deep blue and tonight l am happy.
With $500 troops aboard the ship
not one seemed to realize or fear the
danger we were in, while coming
through the submarine zone. We
sailed from New York on -- of
January and landed in European
port near the first of February.
Dad, sure hated to say goodbye
to so many noble American brothers
at one time. I had rather gone to
the trenches with them. But some
one more capable of seeing the po-
sition / was needed in worse, ordered
me back to America. l went over
with the responsibility of all the lives
of so many noble men depending en-
tirely upon the previous military
training have had. I was gun COM
mander on one of the desperate
weapons we use in defence in a sub
marine attack. I was somewh 1T
nervous but not afraid. can whip
dirty German on land or sea.
am the least bit disappointed that
did not get chance at them. Not
once did l see a sign of a sub.
Though regardless of my disappo:nt-
ment feel honored with the conf
dence my comrades had in me.
Dad, you know life is very sweet.
But am willing to sacrifice it rather
than have such a thing happen in
America as the massacre of Belgium.
A beautiful Belgian girl told me a
story while in London that caused my
blood to almost run cold. She told
me how the German ours approached
her home and completely DESTROYED
it. She said one old German stabbed
a bayonet through her four-year-oll
sister and nailed her upon the door
of the house.
Dad, you know that's not hum IN.
Would / want the honor of your son
If l could have the heart to refus.
to do my bit in preventing this hap
pening in my home? No, indeed. A
thousand times no! If be killed,
just feel honored that your son died
for you and his country. They have
got to murder me before they do you.
You know that cur (the kaiser)
thinks he has divine right to carry
on this way. He can have his be.
liefs. But we are going to show him
that his wooden god is not real. We
have got to come together as one
and destroy that brutal military
power. His doctrine cannot live,
It's beyond reason. The brutality of
the Germans is more barabarous than
that of ancient Rome. Don't worry
dad, we will get them.
l am in school now, studying wire
less telegraphy. / think will like il
fine. We have a small radio station
here. If l finish here soon l will con.
tinue my course in Monroe, Va.
Papa, l have taken 100000 in.
surance and made the policy to you
This policy has been running two
months. In case l die you do rot
get the $4,000 all at once. You
will receive $57.55 per month until
the amount has been taken up, Plus
per cent. will lct you know when
leave for France and you can watch
the death list. In.med ,tely after INV
death you place the matter in the
hands of an attorney at law, so the
payments will begin at once.
Make everyone in the family wri, G
to me.
AS for myself, dad, l am in good
health. You should see me now.
know you would be as proud of me as
l am. l weigh 1914
Regards to all and much love to
you and Aunt H.
Your devoted son in uniform,