The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-08-23
LETTERS FROM FRANCE

Somewhere in France, ally 70, 1918.
Miss Willie Barrcntine,
Fitzgerald, Ga
Dear Willie:
AS | can't hear from you though |
would drop you few lines to let you
know that | am still existing. | am
on duty at the first aid dressing sta
ton, right up on the front. Of course
there isn't much doing just at present.
| am gas instructor and also-well, |
don't know what to call it. Anyway,
| give gassed patients their first aid
treatment. only had one patient
last night and two the night before,
and l drill the men about so minutes
every morning and in case l don't
have patient / don't have ANYTHING
else to do the balance Of the day, but
sit around and watch our airplanes.
But ! had my mule scared last night
tor the first time A German airplane
woke me up about II o'clock and in
about 5 minutes after | awoke he
dropped bomb just about 40 wards
from where | was sleeping. When if
exploded it dug hole about Is feet
deep and about Is feet wide, and it
shook the whole earth for 100 wards
around. But as luck would have it
there wasn't anybody hurt, and the
German plane was brought down, and
the two Germans escaped but were
captured this afternoon. They brought
them by here at noon. They don't
get by with anything They have
already lost out but they just haven't
enough sense to know it.
by the way, here comes patient)
Well, just had gas patient and
bad one. lie had the mustard gas
mats a gas that irritates the skin,
and 1t is dangerous handling a pa
tent, for it gets off him on yourself
But ! have good rubbet gloves and
coat and hat. We just give them
trst aid and hustle them right on to
he base hospital, that is. if their con-
d1tion is bad, and most OF them are.
swell, we just had a big debate on
the duration Of the war SO we de-
clded that peace would be declared
before Christmas, That's our most
important subject Some of the bows
nave 1t inquired out even to the hour
and minute, but imagine they are all
guessing. But 1t really looks as if it
couldn't last much longer unless the
Germans mend their gate and go op-
poslte to the way they have been 60
ing Tor the last lew weeks Let us
hope for the best, which is sure to
come TO those that love the Lord.
| hats otlr great consolation, and
must say that there has been a great
change in lots of the boys. But any
body that wouldn't change in place
and time like this ! would think
would be Interchangeable.
| have been awful lonesome for the
last few days. For one thing, don't
get any mail. Have had two letters
from home, and only one from Nancy.
Jack Cooper had reed from his wife
70 letters up to the 18th of this month
and just think, | have only had one
from Nancy. That is somewhat dis
heartening, and it looks as if YOU
would drop me few lines to cheer
the old boy up, especially here on this
front whore the big guns are sending
forth their shells of destruction and
their airplanes Smelling continuously.
All we can think Of in case like that
is safety first which means the near
est dug-out. However, | figure on
eating Christmas dinner in the good
old l. ). A., the only place in my
estimation, and in the meantime NV
one request OF you IS to write me lots
| of long letters and tell me all of the
news in and around old Fitzgerald.
Thee isn't anything you could do for
me that | would appreciate more than
write me real often. VIII close for
this time, with love and best wishes
| to all.
MACK II ODOM