Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-05-03
Glad He i. Over There.

Glad he - Uver here.
Here is . letter from boy in France
printed in the Boston Transcript, which
every American father and mother, sis
ter and son ''over here" should read
The letter is inspiring. We recon-
mend it to all slackers and to those
now occupying ''bomb proof" positions
Stirred up by the suggestion from
home that he might wish to be IL
America, Lieut.. James Cambell Nc
Mullin, I'd, Harvard, IT, and now Of
the Rainbow division, writes to hi
father and mother in Cambridge: III
rereading your letters l came across
something must have missed before
where you say: DO you not some
times wish you were back in the Aver
camp? Be honest now shall, and il
is true when ! say that if today some
one offered me a $4,000 q yeal
position in the United States, and if
were perfectly free to leave the army,
! would not hesitate moment in turn
ing down the offer. No, dearest moth
er and father, there's something q
great deal bigger than pers onal com.
fort and safety and affections concern.
ed. l have had big awakening over
here, and would not be anywhere else
in the world just now, had I the choice.
1t is patriotism, yet it is more than pa
triotism; it is pride, yet it far more
than pride. There is something at
stake in this war bigger than the fate
of q nation, even our own; it is a su-
preme test of might against. right, and
in the face of it all personal consider
alton must be swept aside. The one
great good of this war is that it is
teaching US as individuals, and l hope,
Is . nation, the value of self.sacrifice;
and ] feel only pity for those who can
not attain it. I am fighting in the hope
that my son-should be so fortunate
% to have one-shall not have to fight
In another one, and I want to be able
to tell him that in the great war l was
in the firing line, not safe back home.
I firmly believe that every man who
IL fit to be on the firing line should be
there regardless of any personal con-
Do not blind yourself to
the one great fact: it is our war, over
here % much or more than it would be
on our own coasts, and we are fighting
not only for America, but for the very
rock foundations Of civilization and lib
erty. Under the circumstances, nv
frank and fervent opinion is that any
man who honestly wants to stay in Am
erica when be is eligible and fitted to
be over here is . coward or worse
this il Of course no disparagement to
the ones allotted to do 80 in home SER
vice.
Lord knows. hate fighting and l
hate war. the more 30 since I have
seen some Of it's work, but I remem.
Der and We oil must remember, this: If
) premature peace 10 made, or peace
which does not in every detail crush
German militarism forever, We have
failed and the whole thing will come
back again!
This il . pretty stiff TRADE, / grant
you, but l am making it purposely
ID strong % can, for l want to i'm
press you with the absolute necessity
IF putting al thoughts Of personal de-
,ires aside until the war is won. After
the success, we shall reap the fruits,
but first must come the success. Do
not think for . moment that l do not
appreciate how pleasant it would be to
" near you all in America, but the
1ery fact that I do appreciate it makes
ne al the more glad am over here.
so you see, it is a case of carry
m with determination, and never al
owing Encouragement to creep in for
Is. Then we will win the war by the
My way that can impress the Ger
mans, military victory, and then
veil, then I'll be glad to get home"
.lesk. Carrier Examinations fer cresco.
There will be an open competitive
under the rules of the U.