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Dear Emma and Children,
The other night just as I was crawling into my blankets a soldier handed my two letters from you. It was fine. I see Emma you are putting your ambition into effect in regard to giving lessons. I think this is very fine but do not overdo it, now that the war is over we should have that great pleasure of all being in good health when I return. 
I have been through so much the last two months that it seems only a dream, but so many real thumps and still alive makes me feel very happy, and to know we will soon all be home, most of us before Christmas. I am now right near the border of Belgium and Luxumbourg. Have been riding and walking about two hundred miles in good French mud for the last two months. Have had to wear my helmet since I left Montmireilee. Was gassed twice but it did not stop and am quite well now thanks to a good old soldier that has been with me most of the time. He was assigned to me, and surely a solider who had been through all the experiences of the war, so when we had to work in the dangerous places he knew the best time to do it. We get very little news now so do not know just what is being done. I hope they are demanding the lives of the military leaders of the Germans. In the district we are now in they left many civilians, old people and children, compelled them to put white flags on the public buildings so the French artillery would not fire on the retreating army of the Germans, at the same time they blew up bridges and roads which delayed us very much. Many places we had to stop for hours in the mud waiting for the engineers to fix a temporary bridge. The French civilians are delighted of course, being the only American here in this sector am quite a curiosity to these poor people that have suffered [?] indescribable horrors for more than four years. Even at the last moment during the retreat of the Bosch they take everything that is beautiful with them or burn it, or smash it. 
There are so many things I have seen with my own eyes which are so horrible that if it were not for that I could hardly believe it. As far as eating goes some of my best meals have bene near the first line, in cave but some of our meals have consisted in a little physical exercise in tightening our belts, and think of the good meals we have had. Revetment at some places was very difficult and with roads blown up our revetment wagons and kitchens were often lost or stuck in the mud, if we do not get orders (our division) in a day or two to move we will have to clean our pots and pans for food, but we expect our movement orders soon, and today the sun is shining and we all look for the arrival of some paper today even if they are a day or two old we do want to know what the rest of the world is doing. Paul will be just in time to miss the war. Our Directors will soon come and see us or let us know what to do, and when I get my Permission will go to Paris and see your people. Am waiting for the other photos you said you would send. The other ones are fine. Received them in a cave. I was gassed and was trying to get away from the gas the Fritz were sending to us.