The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-01-04
Ward %, Base Hospital,

Ii CiQ III Ills FlClHllJ
Ward %, Base Hospital,
Camp Meade, Md, Dec. 29th, 1918.
Dear Friend Mr.. MI suppose you
will be somewhat surprised when you
receive this letter as | understand l
am reported killed in action, but, as
| have said before, mistakes are liable
to happen. l am very anxious to see
you all, but as luck has it | am not SO
fortunate. l received a five days fur
Tough last Tuesday and as hat was
the first pass I had received since en-
tering the service | thought possibly
/ might secure an extension of time
of nine days and be able to run down
to Atlantic City, but as the saying
goes, you're in the Army and
take what they give, SO that's the
way it is in this case. Well, Mr.. NJ,
maybe | will be able to strike better
luck later on. I had expected to re-
ceive my discharge soon but as my
service record is still in France it is
impossible to know just when. Well.
the only way to do is to keep up a lit
tie patience and wait for luck to
change. There is a whole lot | could
tell you in regard to my past expert
ences were we together, but which it
is very hard to write. One thing |
can say and that is the treatment we
are receiving here is simply great;
for instance, today's dinner consisted
of Chicken with filling and gravy,
French friend potatoes, celery, coffee,
cake and ice creami And still some
of the boys were complaining Chat is
the fellows who didn't "get over").
| was telling some of them what we
had to put up with over there-Canned
corned-beef with salmon three times
a day, with jam about three times a
week-one can for eight men-with
English Hardtack, which you could
soak for a week and then couldn't
break, and for drinking we had to de
pend mainly Upon water from the
shell holes. In regards to sleeping we
had one blanket on the ground with
one over us and for I'VE two months
slept with our shoes on. About the
time one got to Sleep a rat about the
size of 4 half-grown kitten, would
crawl over your face and after waking
I'D long enough to knock 1t OFF the
next thing would be to find a couple
of the varmints crawling over your
feet and by this time a fellow would
be pretty wide awake and then the
cootie would make himself felt. l
will tell Jou of this ever-present ami
NAL some time again. Then the boys
over here talk of hardshipsl Why,
they don't know the first thing about
real hardshipsi Well, here we are
back to the States and Civilization
again after putting in almost nine
months in France, which were filled
with thJfg experiences from the first
dav weNy nded on the other side. 1t
rained fiJly t%wo-thirds of the time and
this was by all means the greatest of
our troubles. Notwithstanding all we
went TIL hugh in the line of hardship
and sufft hing. there were many pleas
ant thifsA which we will never forget.
The co~nA3anionship with manly, brave
and pathnt men is something worm
remembering while other Things "ouiu
better be forgotten. We went over to
do our bit. have accomplished u pur-
nose and sare now back to start lie
anew Wild higher and better aims for
the futrke. Believe me, YOU IN
realize Hw it has changed most of
tbe feIloJs. but you will learn it more
and mord as the bows keep on coming
home. dive my best regards to all
tbe friends and tell them l hone to
soc themkoon. Wishing you a Happy
New Veal. and that this will find YOU
in the list of health, I am, Your
Friend,
EDGAR F. DANIELSON.
Young banielson was an enthusiast
tic memtJr of Troop No. 1, Pleasant
Vile Boy Scouts, and very active in
oil lines of athletics, ESPECIALLY in
Base Ball His parents and friends
are rejoidng over his safe return af-
Ter havind suffered no little worry and
anxiety oler news that he had been
killed.