August 11, 1918
Dear Mother:
I guess you have been wondering why I don’t write but here is the whole thing in a nut shell-I am in a position now so I can’t. I wish I could write all about the excitement we are havin up here (?). I also wish you could see my home (under the sod). I am taking a chance when I write this.
We are at the front and hammering away at the dirty Germans and believe me when we are through with them there won’t be enough left to talk about. Don’t worry abut me for the Huns are too thick headed to sabe our moves. For the time up here (ten days) there is but one casualty in Battery A.
This is Sundy and the Y.M.C.A. man just hiked out here over the hills, thru extreme danger to bring us two sheets of paper and one envelope apiece and so here I am under cover of camouflage and writing on the cover of an ammunition box.
This is a beautiful day the first real day since coming here. It rains nearly every night, due from heavy fire from howitizers, etc. Our journeys thru the mud and cold rains at night are not very inviting but others have done it and are doing it so I guess I can.
The country here is grand. We are on top of a high hill and in the distance are green rolling hills with many thick, wooded forests and numerous valleys with here and there a completely ruined town.
Last night the Germans were sending over pretty hot messages so our little dug-out, which is compsed of a stair-way, hall and sleeping room, with entrances on either side, came i handy, Tis du0out is not bomb proof but is a good protection against shrapnel or shell that scatters along the ground and does considerable damage.
I have seen shell holes ten feet deep and thirty feet across.
The other day we experienced an aeroplane flight. There were a number of loop the loops and high dives, etc.; but the best high dive was by the German after being struck by a Allied plane.
My head is full of War news and only wish that I could be at home to tell yu about it. Don’t know when that will be. Perhqaps the next letter I write will be from Berlin. We have such a long way to go to get there and this is such a scientificwar that progress is slow.
The days pass quite quickly although we sometimes fire day and night. We have some awful arguments as to what day of the month it is but today the majority ruled that it is Sunday.
I am no longer a driver but a cannoneer. I like the latter best.
Just finished a good dinner of stew, biscuits, prunes and syrup. The general run of rations over here is breakfast-bacon and coffee, Supper-stew and coffee. Hardtack is not a stranger to us but most of the time we have fairly good bread.
I hope the wheat and bean crops will be good in the States this year so that the Allies will not want for grub this winter.
Well, take good care of yourself. I think of you every day and only hope that someone will soon put the Kaiser away so we can all go home. I couldn’t think of wanting to go back until the War is over.
From Warren H. Peterson, Battery A — 77th Field Artillery A.E.F.