1918 LETTER #12:

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LETTER SUMMARY:

[ Information from attached white index card, etc.: ]
"-May Great Million dollar raid on German lines
-Rec My 7 -18"

-- No mail, military insurance matters, etc.

-- COOTIE UNDERWEAR

-- Lizards versus cooties

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SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS LETTER:


3 pages, pencil

Y.M.C.A. (A.E.F.) Letterhead

May 1 1918

Priv H. W. Chapman
Co D. 101 US Eng
A.E.F.

Dear Ma and Pa,

We have not heard from you for over a month.
[...]

Have not received those vests or the COOTIE UNDERWEAR yet.

WOULD RATHER FIGHT THE BOCHE THAN ONE OF THESE COOTIES. The other day I caught a lizard in a stone wall and took my shirt off and put it in a box with the lizard. The lizard didn't have anything else to eat and he didn't look starved when I let him out so he must have ate them all up. I haven't tried the shirt yet, but I can't find any on it so the scheme might have worked.

We have a Cootie steaming machine which is a beaut. It kills the Cooties alright but it makes just abou the right heat to hatch the eggs so when you don the shirt again there's a fresh bunch just waiting to receive you with open arms. A few I have, have got the "Iron Cross" on the back and others with the "Croix des Guerre."

Not much war news, the Boche certainly know we are here on this sector and although it was quiet before coming in but now, well we're here to finish it up and get home.
With love
Bootus

[Censor's script passing letter]

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