Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-20
Co.

IlGaA1AaA lGl1 W.
September Il, 1918.
Dearest Mother:-I haven't had q
letter from home in some time, and 1
was wondering what the dickens the
trouble was, but l know there must
be mail on the way as sometimes they
miss q few weeks and then you get
quite a lot all together, so that's the
way 1t goes
Well, Ma / am o. X. and resting
easily and / may add quite a little
rest is my daily program since our last
whack at the Heinies. We gave them
an awful run this last time, believe
me, but that tires out us fellows, too,
although you never feel a bit tired
while in actual combat, but after its
over and the reaction gets you. That's
the time you are "ali in" Then af-
ter you come out its the real hunt for
coolies, then a bath and some clean
clothes and you forget about trenches,
shells and everything. It's very funny
the feeling that comes over a fellow
just before you go over the top. The
word m at what time the outfit
goes over. The waves are made up.
As the time draws near, every mans
face Is looking as II he just heard a
good joke. 1 smile too Inc / guess the
rest have to force 1t just as much.
The first thing you know the captain
says "in five minutes boys" then two
minutes, one minute, a few seconds
and "Zowiel" every nan at the same
time goes up and over. A nervous
feeling is all through you and you
gives place to a clear mind and you
don't see a thing or hear 1t, except
just exactly what o want to do.
You don't know how glad / am that
l am fighting with the U. s. chaps and
not against them. Their faces are
hardened by grim determination that
absolutely will not be kept down by
anything the Boche throws over One
fellow may go down., we'll dozens
JUMP to help him and the very first
thing he gets is a lighted cigarette.
1 nave seen fellows on the lins ahso-
lutoly refuse to leave the trenches
after having been wounded. They
wanted to try to take a crack at the
fellow who got them. 1 haven't seen
one little speck of yellow shown
since we have been fighting. I bet IL
the Kaiser could replace all the dam
age he did which provoked the sam
mics" into action and thereby end II,
he would do so.
The U. S. fellows don't have to be
doped up by either liquor or eathereal
spray before hitting the high spots"
which rs true of the Germans. When
they come over they nudge close to
/ each other and ONE faltering along,
absolutely terror-stricken. Lots have
their hands up yelling "Kamerad
Mercy" All our fellows ever say.
when some one goes down is either
tough luck pal" or see you later or
! something like that. All up and
| down the line you hear Heaven or
Hoboken' by Christmas or "Mineola"
which is our yell.
One fellow from another outfit who
was wounded when going yer the
top was convalescent when I met him
and he was telling me that while he
was being carried back through all
the shells, tumult, etc. another fell
low stopped and yelled to him Hey.
Racey, leave your razor strop on my
pack, will your" That's how much
the enemy was bothering those fell
lows.
Old Jerry Gas we nicknamed the
| Dutchmen) are giving away fast now
and we are sure the end, which he
will surely get the worst of. Is YER
near. and each and every doughboy
will be glad to pack into the old trans
port for home again.
Well, Mother, 1 haven't heard from
Dick lately, but am positive he is com
ing around fine. He certainly Is hav-
ing a fine time anyway and I am glad
he is.
Well. Ma, I must close now for
awhile. hoping that this letter finds
you well. 1 am as ever your loving
son.
(Signed) ED.
| P. S.-Tell everyone 1 know I was