away. He was shot and killed in battle the day before I returned to the squad. I am now the
only recruit from my class left. I fear that this isn�t even the worst part of the war yet. What
will I do when I return home without Smitty? I am wreck right now. I need to find
something or someone who can take the place of him or I think I�m going to lose it. We
were visited by the Kaiser today. He came by and told us that we were doing a fine job and
that the war will be over very soon. Sadly enough, most of the troops believed him, but I
know better.
Nothing at all has happened since we have got to France. Our squad has progressed a total
of 20 yards over the past year. This I think is a load of bologna. This war is doing nothing at
all but wasting a whole lot of time, money, and people�s lives. I don�t see why the politicians
can�t just work things out among themselves. Frankly, I don�t even care who wins the war
at this point, I just want the whole darn mess to be done with.
Although we are doing nothing but fighting, I am still enjoying myself every now and again.
The new recruits we received are very funny although they can�t shoot a gun to save their
soul. We joke around a lot at night to keep our mind off the obvious.
We have received new weapons to fight with at the front. This is good new yet bad
news at the same time. We have better weapons to protect ourselves with, but that the
motherland is still putting all of its effort into fighting this war.
War is a burden that is very indescribable. I have a mad longing for home and I feel that
it is my duty to my family to return home. I am going to desert so I can see my mother for
one last time.
Hans