SECTION 3
1918 Correspondence
1918 LETTER #1:
LETTER SUMMARY:
In this early-1918 but undated letter Bootus again writes to his younger brother Nug, to give him advice about enlisting in the service and coming overseas to fight.
Of SPECIAL INTEREST is a still extant
SQUASHED "COOTIE BUG"
(body lice)
that Bootus has crushed onto his letter page, circled, and located by drawing an arrow (see below).
Also,
--More enlistment advice
--War is Hell
--BASEBALL GAMES & PLAYERS
SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS LETTER:
2 pages, pencil
Ccompay D 101st. Regt. Letterhead
Priv H. W. Chapman via NY
n.d.
Dear Nug,
I rec'd your letter dated Dec 2 on Xmas day. I had to hike 10 miles that morning to get it. After receiving your letter and some packages from home, I spent the rest of the day getting ready to move and pulled out the following morning.
Sargent Lyman gave us a great dinner and that, with the news from home, made it seem somewhat like a holiday. There was about 4 in of snow on the ground. Can you imagine any of the conscripts at Ayer hiking 10 miles to there Xmas dinner (and this country is no plateau). Top off the holidays by sleeping in a hay pile.
Am glad that you sent in an application to the Coast Artillery. I would have hated to see your name in the list at Ayer as I have no use for any of them and most everybody over here have the same idea. I hope that LeHigh will eventually give you your degree as you will need it after this mess is untangled.
If you go to Ft. Monroe don't fool away your time. Get something out of it and play the game for all thats in you. You can't learn too much and above all get into good physical condition. This will be your most valuable asset over here. Don't take any part of it as a joke and tuck this away in your brain as the most valuable advice I ever gave you.
"Sherman was right."
[...]
**********
[ At this point in his letter, Bootus HAS PASTED A DEAD "COOTIE" (BODY LICE ) ONTO THE PAGE AND CIRCLED IT! He drew an arrow pointing to the circled Cootie and continued writing. ]
Say Nug have you got any chums hanging around you like this specimen? I imagine I could find a larger one but am afraid it would walk away with your letter.
**********
I got most of the papers with your games in them, so followed them after the season was over. I see Ed Brown wasn't fit for the service but was in great trim for FOOTBALL. He and alot of others should be over here with the regular boys before the REAL MEN return to the US, there won't be any place for them.
[...]
Mil is well and I feel so good I could clean up a whole regiment of Huns before turning in.
Take my advice to heart Nug and don't forget that only the fit survive.
With love
Bootus
[Censor's script passing letter]
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