1. Dear Darlin’,
It’s terrible to think that every morning I wake up, I have no way of seeing your beautiful face or
hearing your melodic voice. It’s tough out here, in the cold, dark, and muddy trenches not knowing
whether or not I will live to see another day. Each and everyday I make a new acquaintance because the
one i made the previous day passed away from trench foot, shell-shock, or some other horrid disease. I’ve
enjoyed receiving all of your letters, they help encourage me because I know that someone dear to me
believes that I can make it through this. It’s like when you’re running a marathon, and you begin to lose
faith in yourself, but if you start to visualize the prize at the end, the faith all of a sudden returns. That is
how I feel when I think of you, Laila, you are my prize at the end of this war.
I am currently residing in a trench, which is not really the safest place to live, what-so-ever. My
fellow soldiers and I pray that the weather will not turn on us and have heavy rainfall, mostly because
that is the number one contributor to trench foot. I know that you are fully aware of what this is, and I
do not want to describe the horrors of what I’ve witnessed due to this disease. I’ve had many of my best
friends suffer from this, so I’ve had a front seat at what it’s like and what happens when you get it. Just
know that I am doing well, and have not obtained any of these problems, and I am hoping that I won’t
have to.
My goal of this letter is to let you know that I am in good health and that you have no need to
worry. My love for you increases with each day that comes my way and I hope that you feel the same. I
promise you that I am going to come home soon! Write me when you get this and make sure to tell me all
about what’s new around town and don’t forget to update me on our little boy’s life and achievements. Let
him know that daddy loves him and wants him to be proud of what I’m doing.
Sincerely,
Sam